by Ann E. Smith

Created on: October 06, 2009

So you just joined Facebook and are learning the ropes of this social networking site. You are in a whole new world, one in which you can virtually connect with high school friends from 20 years ago, your neighbors, your family members and your friends who live far away.

While Facebook is a really cool experience, there are no real hard-and-fast rules. Yet, there are still some things you need to consider. For example, is it appropriate to add colleagues as friends? How many pictures should you post? And what types of information should you put in the Status update?

This article will attempt to provide some guidance on how and when to use the Facebook Status feature. Specifically, this article addresses Facebook etiquette: Tips for posting your Status updates.

* Do not post too frequently

Status updates are so tempting, especially when you are bored. You can simply type in a few sentences about where you are or what you are doing.

The problem, though, is that you probably have a lot of people in your network, and you need to consider your audience. Do these folks really need to be informed when you are doing laundry or if you completed your morning jog?

And do they need to be updated more than once a day? The answer is probably not! You will turn off people if you update your Status too frequently. In fact, they may choose the option to Hide your updates if you get too carried away.

Really, updating your Status about once a week is more than enough. If you need to communicate with certain people frequently, use the phone or e-mail to do so.

* Keep it interesting, without trying to be too clever

Sure, you want your Status update to be somewhat interesting. However, do not make the mistake that far too many people make. They try way too hard, and come across as thinking they are really clever. In actuality, they come across as goofy.

So you want to be yourself, but don't try to turn yourself into a copywriter if you are an accountant. Just keep it simple and real. Humor is good some of the time, but not necessary all of the time.

* Do not share too much information

You know the types - people who do not have appropriate boundaries. You run into them in the grocery store and leave shaking your head. Why did they just tell you so much of their personal business when you barely know them?

While you do not want to make this mistake when talking to someone, you certainly do not want to disclose too much on your Facebook Status updates. This is not the place to post that you are having marriage difficulties. It is not the place to discuss job interviews. Nor is it the place to vent about your boss.

* Keep your updates appropriate for your entire network

If you are like most people, you have all kinds of people in your Facebook network, and not all are close friends. Some are merely acquaintances. Others may be church friends.

When you post your Status updates, remember to make sure the information is appropriate if read by anyone in your network. After all, you likely have your account set up so that all of your friends will be able to see these updates. Keep that in mind.

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