by Olivia Gregory

Created on: February 26, 2010   Last Updated: March 26, 2010

How important is it to maintain a professional Facebook profile? Making a good first impression is vital, and with today's popularity of Facebook for social networking, people can learn much about someone just by visiting his or her Facebook page. There is just as much value in maintaining a professional appearance on Facebook as there is in a real-life social situation. Whether you are looking for a job, seeking to make new friends, or marketing your business, other people will form their opinions about you based on your Facebook profile. Here are some reasons why it is important to maintain a professional Facebook profile:

* The words you use on your Facebook page can communicate volumes about you. The impression given may or may not be accurate: if you constantly put negative comments as status updates, you may be viewed as having a negative attitude in general, which may or may not be the truth. On the flip side, if you are always posting that life is perfect, you may not be taken seriously. The goal is honesty, but also be sure to assess what your words communicate to those who see them.

* Also, bashing another person in front of a room full of people is not socially acceptable, so why should it be encouraged in a virtual social situation such as Facebook? It is a privilege to be able to express political, religious, or other views in a public forum, and even if you are passionate about said views, they can be expressed in a professional and respectful way.

* The pictures and videos you post on a Facebook profile can be a way of interpreting a your character, either accurately or inaccurately. It is good to keep in mind that pictures and videos uploaded on the internet can still be found long after status updates and comments are gone. If you flash inappropriate pictures around at a social function for work, your professional reputation can easily be damaged. The same is true if this occurs on Facebook—maybe even more so because the exposure is to so many more people.

* Finally, the groups you choose to join on Facebook can reflect your interests, motivation, and opinions. It is wise to select these groups thoughtfully, remembering that those who view your Facebook profile could make decisions and assessments based on who they perceive you to be.

Having a Facebook page is fun and interesting, and it can be a great way to form new personal and career relationships. Taking personal responsibility by maintaining a professional Facebook profile is a great way to help achieve these goals!

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