The weekend is a good chance to play around with web apps and social networks. With that in mind, on a rainy Sunday I found myself checking out Sarah Perez's classic post from May: How to Make Facebook Useful Again. You may also want to read the comments for other useful suggestions. But if you just want the highlights and then do some experimenting within Facebook on a lazy Saturday or Sunday, then here they are:]]>
Note: All of the content below was written by Sarah Perez, with some of the suggestions coming from Susan Beebe. I did some light editing at the start, for this post.
How to Make Facebook Useful: Part I - Use Facebook's Features
Use Facebook Email: Here's an answer that speaks profoundly to the generation gap. For some, Facebook email isn't useful at all, while for others, it's one of the most important features.
For true Facebook'ers, real email is for business only. Using Facebook (and MySpace) is how you talk to your friends.
"If I'm talking to any friends it's through a social network," said Asheem Badshah, a teenaged president of Scriptovia.com. "For me even IM died, and was replaced by text messaging. Facebook will replace e-mail for communicating with certain people." (excerpted from CNet)
Use Facebook Events: You don't need an online calendar to plan your schedule - Facebook has an Events app built-in. Here you can manage your events, see your friends' events, and even see when people's birthdays are. Your use of this feature is another telltale sign of which generation of Facebook users you fit into.
Block App Spam: Facebook finally added the "Block Application" option. Whew!
Go Mobile: With this application, you can use Facebook when you're on the go. You can upload photos and notes from your camera phone (mobile@facebook.com) straight to Facebook. You can also receive and reply to Facebook messages, pokes and Wall posts using text messages, or use your phone’s mobile browser at m.facebook.com. To actually use the app, activate your phone here. Don't forget to also add Facebook Video so you can also send in your mobile videos to video@facebook.com, too.
How to Make Facebook Useful: Part II - Get Things Done
If you're really going to take advantage of all Facebook can do for you, then you have to find a way to do everything you need to do right in Facebook. Some of these tools (below) can help:
Check eBay: A great example of how the info you need flows into Facebook, the eBay app lets you check on your eBay auctions...and, in true social spirit, those of your friends as well. You can even just comment on auctions without even needing an eBay account.
Use Paypal: Just bought something on eBay? Might as well add Paypal too.
Upload Your Resume: Use an app like Professional Profile to post your resume on Facebook. It also lets you sync your LinkedIn profile and recommendations. There are also other apps for LinkedIn: LinkedIn Contacts and My Linked Profile, too.
Create a Business Card: The business cards app helps you create a custom business card that can be attached to your Facebook messages. (It's email signatures 2.0!)
Use Zoho: Access all your Zoho Office files in Facebook for free. (An unofficial app exists for Google Docs).
Share Files: Who needs Pownce when you can share files in Facebook? Add an app like Box.net or DivShare to do so.
Use Blackboard: Ugh. We know you don't want to, but you kind of have to, so you may as well add Blackboard Sync to Facebook. (Online assignment system for college students).
Make a To-Do List: Some people just love lists. Task Manager can help you GTD.
Use a Calendar: Need a more traditional calendar app? Try this one from 30Boxes, or one of these unofficial Google Calendar apps. Or you could just sync Facebook with any other calendar, both online and off, with fbCal.
How to Make Facebook Useful: Part III - Bring Web 2.0/Social Tools Into Facebook:
No need to leave the comfort of Facebook's walls to use the social web - you can just pull the social web into Facebook. Some of the most popular Web 2.0 applications are available as Facebook apps.
Use FriendFeed: No need to go without your daily fix of lifestreaming. The early adopter crowd loves this one.
Use Flickr: Take your pick from 100 applications for using flickr on Facebook...or just use this one.
Use Twitter: Post to Twitter and make your latest tweet your Facebook status.
Use Upcoming: Plan your events via Upcoming and see events taking place in your area, too.
Get Movie Recommendations: Get movies reviews via Flixster so you know whether to rent that flick or see it in the theaters...or not.
Get Restaurant Recommendations: Use Bizzlr to get recommendations for where to eat. (our coverage)
Share Books/Book Reviews: Depending on personal preference, you may like Shelfari, Visual Bookshelf, Goodreads, or Bookshare.
Find People: Use Spock's people search app to find anyone, anywhere.
Link to Other Profiles: With As Seen On, you can link your Facebook profile to other social media profiles.
How to Make Facebook Useful: Part IV - Bonus Content!
Here are few other great apps worth an honorable mention, at the very least.Make Firefox Better: You can find great add-ons for Firefox with Rock Your Firefox.
Search the Web & Share: Think Microsoft should put Live Search in Facebook? They just did.
Reading the Daily News Facebook-Style: No need to go off-site to get the latest news - customize your own morning paper with Zine.
And More!: Check out our series from last July to get ideas for other Facebook apps for Work, Utilities, and Media.
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