The February edition of my Web Law Connected column is now posted over on Slaw. In this month’s article, Closed Networks & The Problem with Facebook, I address some of my biggest concerns with social networks (or any web product for that matter) that attempt to exist in a vacuum.
This is a bit of a turn-around for me. I’ve always liked the potential of Facebook, and what it could potentially deliver for professional networking. And for the most part, I still see that potential. But, as it exists, with a distinct lack of content ownership for authors, and its data stores shut down to the rest of the Internet (including Google indexing), my opinion is definitely headed south.
Now, I’m not advocating that lawyers go and shut down their accounts. At least not yet. :) But I do think it’s time for everyone to ask the question: Is this the best use of my marketing time & effort?
Writing this article also pushed me to reconsider how I approach Facebook. I want to be investing my marketing time into public-facing web technologies, like blogging or micro-blogging, and specifically in tools where I maintain control over the original content. I will continue to import my content into the Facebook sytem – eg. automating the imports of blog posts or twitter exchanges. And I still see value in having a Facebook profile. The small amount of time it takes to manage FB relationships frankly isn’t prohibitive. But when it comes to drafting original commentary, or documenting anything important via their in-system messages, I’m afraid I’m out. That type of content must always be free for me to use, and at my whim.
Good point. Facebook isn’t a great place to promote yourself through blogs, commentary, etc. More often than not, it’s just an easy way to manage and stay in touch with your contacts (as you mentioned).
I came across Ning.com a little while ago. Ning allows you to create your own social network with blogs that are indexed by Google.
Of course, you start out with no existing member base. Just a thought.