Dear FB friends,

I’m allocating an hour or two today to mastering how to reach the hundreds of people I’ve ‘Not Now’d’ when they requested friendship.

A good friend in a similar situation suggests the following, and I’d appreciate any help/comments/suggestions. (I’ve always been a consensus/let’s-do-it-together leader)…

For example, do I really have to re-apply to FB – with my own name or another version of it? Different email address? How do I send invitations to all in the queue at once rather than one by one? And I get up to 10-20 friending-requests a day: do I have to reply one by one to divert them to the new page or is there a smarter way? Bill: you’re good at this sort of thing, but make it simple/step-by-step for a techo mug like me…

Remember, I already have a

*  John Mark Ministries  page –

–> http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Mark-Ministries/115304245217403

and also a

*  Wednesday Koinonia  group about something starting next Feb.   (Is that the same as a page?) –

–> http://www.facebook.com/groups/227186623991739/…

Will those do, with posts on both/each/either shared back to my personal page?

Anyway here’s the email (slightly edited to make it anonymous):

~~~~

I noted your words on Facebook about the need for a cull but I did not say anything. I read it again here on this letter so let me say it.

Drawing a limit of 5000 FB friends I think is not a pastoral response. I know we have wheat and tares in our lists but the good book urges about thinking we know which to pull out now!

Asking for a self-cull is not effective for some who read your material sometimes will think they should defriend you thinking they will prevent more enthusiastic and active types from receiving your updates.

When Blackburn Baptist was reaching capacity you did not close the doors but you looked for a more creative solution.

I think on Facebook it is better to start a Facebook ‘Page’:

https://www.facebook.com/help/search/?q=facebook+page

The Facebook Help centre goes into detail about how a PAGE differs from a personal account but with the former you LIKE the page not ask to be someone’s friend.

The facebook Page does not have the 5,000 limit…

It helpfully allows you as the administrator to see how many people view your posts–the original friend account does not do this. You can also get your JMM helpers to help post things by making them administrators along with you when you’re on sabbatical.

I have started a [Special interest] Page…

I have also started a [my name] page and I simply have a pro forma when people asked to be my friend and I write them a message saying:

Unfortunately, I have reached the limit (5,000 friends and pages) on my Facebook account but ¢â‚¬ ¦

I hope we can connect on this new one (link below).

I have noticed that some people have started a Page and then sent an ultimatum saying: “I am changing to a Page. Please check LIKE on it and the original account will self-destruct after 14 days. Unless you are Justin Bieber many people don’t bother to make the transition and you lose this marketing group that you have worked to build up.

I therefore have two [my name] Facebook accounts–the original with 5000 and a [my name] Public Page. I often post things on the latter and then use the SHARE button to reach the 5,000 on the first.

I am not an expert but I have watched with interest the many who are now facing this same dilemma.

Over the holidays I spoke to a few people who said: “I read many of the things you post and I always see your photos but I never add a comment of tick LIKE.”

It is good to remember the many who do not appear to be active yet who benefit from what you write and post. These are the ones who like Nicodemus come to your Facebook Page by night.

~~~

Thanks everyone!

Shalom/Eirene/Pax/Salaam

+R