Facebook Unveiled

This month I’d like to give you a peek into Facebook’s user data.. Facebook is doing an amazing job of collecting tons of personal data about it’s users. With over 400 million users the amount of data is mind boggling. First off how are they getting this info?

We are gladly giving them more each day. All you have to do is update your profile, get a new friend, “Like” a Page or Group, start a group, click on an Ad, or do virtually anything else. When you do they track it and continue to grow data about your habits.  WHY? For the love of money of course.

This user data is invaluable. And we continue to give them more.

Have you ever created a Facebook Ad?

The tools available to advertisers allow us to show ads to a very targeted group of people. Here is a quick look for a local ad in Longview.

Estimated Reach: 18,920 people
* who live in the United States
*who live within 50 miles of Longview, WA
* age 18 and older

We can further our target people based on many things in their profile including relationship status, languages, education, workplaces, connections, even send them ads on their birthdays. This is just the beginning.

Try a Google search for me “Oscar Myre IV” and you will find a page about me that includes a list of my “likes” all of this data was just for me and my friends before the last privacy update. Now it is live to the world.

Do I care? Not really. Can I make that info private again? Yes, but how often will I have to make it private again with new updates?

Microsoft is jumping on board too, with Bing, it’s new search engine. It is designed to leverage our social data. The search engines understand that search data is big, but Social Data is HUGE!

Facebook Privacy

But don’t worry, Facebook is looking out for me, right? Remember how valuable your info is, Facebook is looking out for Facebook – NOT you. My 4 cents is that you should consider EVERYTHING YOU POST IN FACEBOOK AS PUBLIC.

Eventually, for the right price, it will be. Facebook continually updates their privacy setting to improve the users experience. The small print is the updates are actually to leverage more of your data for more FB $$. If you want to keep on top of the privacy settings, the best article I’ve found is
here…http://www.allfacebook.com/2009/12/facebook-privacy-new/

My disclaimer: This article is out of date as settings continue to change, but will give you an understanding of the privacy settings.

The Good and the Bad.

Good for the advertiser. Their targeted online advertising is very impressive. This is an opportunity that your businesses should seriously consider. I invite you to call my office to learn about a Facebook Ad consultation to jump start your efforts.

Bad for people. Not, so bad as long as you understand that your data can and will used against you.

God Bless,
OM4

Facebook Class: Learn more @ omOriginals.com

Oscar Myre IV is the owner and Creative Director of omOriginals Marketing, a Longview based web development and graphic marketing firm. Call them at (360)575-9839 or online @ omOriginals.com, also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Become a ‘Fan’ today!