Having a great Facebook account is important for connecting with friends, family, and the wider world. There are a few key things you can do when setting up and using your Facebook account to make sure you get the most out of the platform.
Choosing a Profile Picture
Your profile picture is one of the first things people will see when visiting your profile, so you want to make sure it represents you well. Use a clear, recent photo of your face – no sunglasses or hats that hide your features. A friendly smile in your profile photo will give a good impression. You may also want to consider using the same profile photo across other social media platforms you use for consistency.
Writing an Informative Bio
Take the time to write a short bio that tells people who you are. Include your job/field of study, interests and hobbies, places you’ve lived, or anything else interesting about you. This will give visitors to your profile some context and talking points when reaching out to connect with you.
Customizing Your Cover Photo
Your cover photo appears at the top of your Facebook profile and timeline. It’s a great opportunity to showcase a favorite photo or graphic that captures something you love. You can use shots of family, friends, pets, favorite places, illustrations or graphics related to your interests, etc. Change up your cover photo every so often to keep your profile fresh.
Adding Friends and Following Pages
Search for people you know and send friend requests. The more friends you accumulate on Facebook, the more news and updates you’ll see in your feed. It’s also a way for more distant acquaintances to learn what’s going on in your life. In addition to friends, search for bands, businesses, influencers, and communities you’re interested in and follow their Facebook pages to get updates.
Filling Out Your Information
Add information about your work and education history, relationship status, family members, and current city to fully flesh out your profile. This info gives visitors additional context into who you are and what you care about. The more details the better, but only share what you are comfortable with publicly posting.
Joining Groups
Facebook groups around specific topics are a great way to connect with people who share your interests and passions. Search for relevant groups to join – whether it’s your college alumni group, fellow dog owners in your city, baking enthusiasts, etc. Engage in group discussions and get to know like-minded people.
Downloading the Mobile Apps
Getting the Facebook mobile apps for iOS or Android allows you to stay connected on the go. You’ll be able to update your status, view your feed, react to posts, message friends, and get notifications even when you aren’t at your computer. Use the apps to integrate Facebook into your daily life.
Adding Multimedia to Posts
Don’t just post text updates – incorporate rich media like photos, videos, GIFs, stickers, voice messages and more. Multimedia will make your posts stand out and engage your audience more. Take and share quality original photos and videos that give people a window into your life.
Going Live With Video
Broadcast live video is a popular Facebook feature. Go live to show your friends and followers an event as it happens in real time. You can go live from your phone or desktop and interact with viewers through comments. Use live video to showcase a special moment like a concert or party.
Utilizing Your News Feed
Your news feed is the constantly updating list of posts from your friends, groups, and pages that you follow. Be an active participant – react and comment on posts to show engagement, click on links and videos to learn things, and post your own status updates. Stay involved with what’s happening.
Resharing Meaningful Content
When you see a post from a friend or page that resonates with you or provides value, reshare it to your own timeline. This exposes your audience to content you find meaningful. And your friends/followers get insight into the ideas and people that influence you.
Using Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace allows you to buy and sell locally. Tap into your community by listing items like furniture, cars, and clothes you’re trying to sell. Or search for great deals on used goods in your area. Marketplace facilitates connecting with others nearby.
Showcasing Your Personality
Let your personality shine through in your posts, photos, videos and more. Share funny observations, post stories and life updates your friends would enjoy, and spread positivity. Be authentic and engage your sense of humor. People will get to know the real you.
Following Facebook Etiquette
Politely interact with others, following basic etiquette rules. Say please and thank you. Don’t spam friends with game requests. Wish acquaintances happy birthday if you see a notification. Build goodwill through courteous online conduct.
Respecting Privacy
Be mindful not to overshare private details about yourself or others across your Facebook account. Do not share contact info, physical addresses, ID numbers, etc. Understand privacy and security settings so you can control who sees what. Keep personal details limited.
Reporting Concerning Content
If you come across offensive, abusive or harassing content, report it to Facebook. You can report posts, comments, photos, pages, groups, events and profiles. Do your part to keep Facebook safe and friendly for everyone.
Using Secure Passwords
Make sure you use a strong, unique password for your Facebook account that you don’t use across other sites. Update your password periodically for better security. Enable two-factor authentication for logins to add an extra layer of account protection.
Avoiding Scams
Watch out for scams and spam. Don’t click suspicious links from strangers. Ignore messages requesting personal/financial information or login credentials. Only friend request people you actually know. Stay vigilant against threats.
Conclusion
Following tips like choosing a good profile photo, personalizing your content, engaging with friends and communities, posting multimedia, and employing proper security/etiquette will ensure you have the best possible Facebook experience. Approach the platform mindfully and make meaningful connections.