Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home

D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance · #1 (**permalink**) 08-25-2010

Hello Everyone,

I was just curious how many of you out there are "friends" with your clients on Facebook?

reneeshupe · #2 (**permalink**) 08-25-2010

If my client has a Facebook account, then I become Friends with them.

JKVirtualOffice · #3 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010

I'm friends with several of my clients on Facebook. But then again I also make good use of my friend lists to make sure only certain updates go to certain friends.

D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance · #4 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010

Kimberly,

Wow, I had no idea you could set Facebook up so that certain status updates go to certain friend lists. Interesting. Just looked, so when you post an update - you can make it visible to "specific people" and then choose a list or lists from the drop-down provided. I really had no idea and that is why there are pros like you out there to help out the rest of us.

leedrozak · #5 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010

I am friends with several clients. This lets them see the other side of me. However I still post more personal information or things I do not want all to see using the customized option. This gives me the best of both worlds.

Funny that you should post this as yesterday I met with a new client and we were discussing social media, Facebook in particular. She was telling me that she connects with all the people she networks with but will quickly hide them if they (1) slam the page with updates, (2) have too many political or religious updates, (3) only play games or join crazy groups and pages.

We also talked about how your updates will send a perceived work ethic. Meaning if you are posting update your clients will see, do they really need to know that you are napping all afternoon or shopping with friends. I laughed as one Saturday I posted about sitting be the pool, catching up on my reading. She came back with, "Judging from your tan, I could clearly see you were in the sun but I was hoping it was not another business book".

Your Virtual Wizard · #6 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010

I'm the odd woman out...I don't friend any clients on FB in my personal account. I've always wanted to keep business separate from my personal life. They can friend me on my FB business page.

I don't really want clients to see the other side of me. I'm not sure how things I say will be interpreted (not that I'm terribly 'wacky'). I can't rely upon FB's privacy settings.

Janine

D_Victoria_Virtual_Assistance · #7 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010

It is interesting. I am actually torn on the issue. Part of me still thinks of FB as a personal space - but I am slowly coming around and have friended some people who are associates or past podcast guests. In general, I don't post things on Facebook that I wouldn't otherwise 1. Say in real life (with my polite filter on, of course) 2. Say in a podcast 3. Say on Twitter. I always think twice before posting something - although there have been times I probably should have thought three times before posting.

Lee - you brought up a great point and the point that is at the source of my issue. I don't necessarily want my clients to know when I am playing tennis or going to an amusement park. Of course, I don't have to post that info, but sometimes I like to. So, I am still on the fence. I did friend one client yesterday (first time) - so I will see how it goes.

Your Virtual Wizard · #8 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010

Darlene,

I notice that some people post work-related posts on their personal page, which is perfectly fine. For some business people, who they are personally is also part of their business brand. I chose not to go that route because my friends on FB are not interested in my business-side. I do keep my website address on my personal site and my fan page in case anyone wants to Like me there.

The same holds true in my mind about friending business folks on my personal page. I just think that business people would not be interested in my personal posts. And I am not sure if they really need to know some of the things I say, particularly if I post about my teenage son and his goings on.

But many business people are successful with mixing both personal and business. I just haven't found it. If you set the business people up not to receive personal posts, it was my contention they could still view the posts. Perhaps I am wrong.

I did accept a friending from someone I interviewed for my blog, though. She wasn't a client. I was OK with that.

Janine

leedrozak · #9 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010

I am fortunate that I can mix business and personal. Could be because I have done it for years or maybe I am just one of those people. I like Darlene never post anything I would not want to surface later on ANY site or forum I am involved in. I practice the you never know.

I do post downtime things and usually my clients know I am taking some me time or closing the office for a while. However, I just don't see the point of letting people know when I am laying on the couch or doing something mundane.

Janine, I used to randomly post about my children until they told me to stop. LOL, now I do it occasionally just to get on their nerves but again I follow the same rules for them. We learned this when my daughter was applying to colleges that they look everywhere for you. I guess when she tries for the FBI I will be doubly thankful of that rule.

JKVirtualOffice · #10 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010

I'm in the same camp with Lee in that I think my client's also like to see a more personal side of me. And I'm okay with that. I also understand Janine's policy as well and I know of other VAs that don't become friends with clients.

What's interesting to me, is that I don't think I've ever sent a friend request to a client but they have always been sent to me. The other reason I have client's as friends on FB is that it used to be (a couple of years ago) that you had to be friends with someone on Facebook in order for them to be an Admin on a business page. This meant that I had to be friends with some clients in order to be an Admin on their page from my account.

And lastly, my clients all tend to be pretty long term, so many of them that I'm friends with on Facebook have been or were clients of mine for a year or more. I think this also helps with my level of comfort in allowing them glimpses into my personal life.

@Darlene- Hey glad I could help you learn something new about how to use Facebook! Now you can hide those updates from Mom that you don't want her to see