Facebook group or page and other related issues

[Blurock]

I am happy with the Forum as it is. It allows me to choose what I want to read and where I want to make a contribution. The different categories makes it easy to navigate. It is after all a forum, so if it is too much of a bother to sign up and fill out a profile...

No, I am not against change. In fact I regard myself as a change agent.

The problem that I have with Twitter and Facebook is the noise. It is almost as bad as sending SMS's. It is not categorised and it would be easy to miss a post. I am not interested in messages such as "I think I'll have some tea now". If you have nothing to say, don't say it...

[Just Gone]

From what I understand having a facebook page is not going to affect the forum whatsoever. All tha the fb page does is advertise this forum and supply and link to this forum.

[Norri]

Blurock, that wouldn't be the purpose of the Facebook page (it wouldn't be there for existing members to use as a replacement for the forum). It's there for folk who are already on Facebook, spot an interesting post, and then click through to interact on the forum or, even, interact on FB. Yes that will mean some of the FB people will miss what goes on in the forum and some of the forum people will miss what goes on in Facebook but, in general, there will be cross-pollination which will help build MORE people coming here and contributing advice, experience & questions

[Mark Atkinson]

Once you have 100+ fans, you can have something like: http://www.facebook.com/just1.co.za

I believe it's actually 25+ fans before you can have a personalised link.

Dave, if you like I'd be happy to help you moderate the TFSA Facebook page (and yes, a page is a million times better than a group). I spend a lot of time on Facebook managing my other fan pages as well as our client Facebook pages - one extra page that interests me anyway isn't going to hurt.

Also, I'm sure people would use the feature in time. I'd venture to say that there are only a few people who are concerned about anonymity. Obviously I and many others are not.

I would love the option to be able to share TFSA posts via Facebook easily. I already tell half the folk I know that they should join TFSA - it would be a lot easier if they had something to look at straight away.

[Mark Atkinson]

The one downside to using social media that I've experienced is that you're going to end up spreading your interaction a bit. People will end up commenting on Facebook instead of TFSA. Whether that is a bad thing or not is for you to decide.

With my new Red Giant Design blog, I share my posts via LinkedIn. These posts attract quite a few comments and other interaction. The problem is people comment on the LinkedIn discussion thread as opposed to on the blog! Obviously for a blog in its early phases you want people to be commenting on your blog as much as possible. I've even installed a plugin to break the LinkedIn frame on redirection to the website, to no avail.

[Norri]

Thanks Mark Jovana also pointed that out. I think it used to be 100 - but maybe I'm just mis-remembering.

Yep, the spreading of interaction is a real issue. We (GuitarForum.co.za) almost didn't start a Facebook page because of this but, despite the spreading of interaction, we've found Facebook to be an invaluable tool for growing our forum subscriber base. So the odd guy posts on FB, no biggie. I think they sooner or later realise that the actual forum is where the action's at, and then we gain a member

[Norri]

Also, what's nice about FB is that people on there ALREADY KNOW how to interact on a discussion online. I won't go so far as to say that they have any netiquette (they usually don't) but at least, when they convert, you're getting people who will begin interacting almost immediately. On a forum, that's priceless. We have over 5,000 members, most of which are on our newsletter as well, but we're lucky if 5% of those people actually post on the forum on a daily basis. So any way I can find to get pre-educated users (people who know how to use the internet), is considered gold to me and my partner!

[Dave A]

Dave, if you like I'd be happy to help you moderate the TFSA Facebook page

Your kind offer has been accepted.

Thanks Mark.

EDIT: It seems there might be some settings that need tweaking - and a suitable "profile pic" image would be cool too

If you could deploy your expertise in these things when you've got a chance, that would be great.

[Dave A]

Mark has been weaving his magic - and thanks to all the support already our Facebook page is now www.facebook.com/theforumsa

I'm impressed! I thought this would take much longer.

[Blurock]

Thanks Mark. We'll give it a try.

[Mark Atkinson]

EDIT: It seems there might be some settings that need tweaking - and a suitable "profile pic" image would be cool too

If you could deploy your expertise in these things when you've got a chance, that would be great.

Will get to it early next week. Away on business from tomorrow morning for the weekend.

[Dave A]

Oh my - Mark's been busy decorating our TFSA Facebook page!

Always amazes me how a few well thought out touches can change the whole look and feel of a web page.

[Norri]

Well done Mark It looks good!

[IanF]

That is looking good Mark and Dave.

[Plumbing Supplies]

Well ... i think ... PAGE