Those who know me well know that I’m a social media junkie.  I know that Facebook is a complete productivity drain, but I love it.  I enjoy recieving updates on how my friends and colleagues are doing, watching pointless funny videos,  seeing new articles, reading blog posts, and dropping mom jokes on my best friends’ status updates.

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That said, I feel that there are some general ettiquette rules that fitness professionals and enthusiasts need to follow when using Facebook to stay connected.  Below are just a few suggestions that you might consider.

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1.  Introduce Yourself

Many fitness people like to connect with other like-minded individuals to learn, stay in touch, or even get noticed by others in the industry.  If this is you, then you should consider that most others are as busy as you are and don’t have time to sift through your profile and friend list to find out who you are.  This can be a quick way to get declined, or more likely, you’ll end up being one of the anonymous faces that someone will pass by on their news feed.

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Next time you click the link to add yourself as a friend take note that there is a link to add a message to your request.  Make sure you do this if you want to connect with someone…or at least post a brief intro on their wall.  If you have nothing specific to say just let them know how you came across their name or that you’re a fan of their work.  Compliments go a long way.  If you have something in common (i.e., you are both totally awesome) let them know that too.

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2.  Don’t send mass group requests?

As much as I love interacting with people, I don’t want to join your bootcamp group if you live 5000 miles from me.  I also don’t want to ”like” your totally impersonal fan page.  I especially don’t want to support your random relative’s cake baking or photography page.  And my joining the group to end world hunger isn’t going to end world hunger.  Stop with this nonsense.

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3.  I don’t want to join your farm, gang, or anything else.

In fact, if you invite me to join your Farmville village I’ll raid your farm and cut up all your cows into tasty steaks.  That’s right.  And then I’ll start a group to allow all my Facebook friends who hate Farmville to come and eat the virtual steaks too!  I should also mention that you aren’t a superhero or anything else that a Facebook quiz tells you.

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4.  Don’t poke.

Facebook “poking” is so 2008.  Get over it.

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5.  Don’t drop F-bombs all over someone else’s wall.

Post them on your status if you wish, but don’t go on my wall and make my family’s eyes bleed with profanity.  That is not to say that I don’t swear…but please let me choose when to offend and alienate my own family.  

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6.  Don’t be a hater.

I know a lot of people in the industry talk about being professional and politically correct on their Facebook.  I, on the other hand, feel that if you come onto my Facebook then you’ll see me as I am.  I’m not about putting up fronts and pretending I’m someone I’m not so you might see some inappropriate content that contains vulgarity or is not suitable for work.  However, if you make a racist comment, openly slam gays, or anything similar you are deleted.  Don’t be a bigot!

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7.   Include a photo.

If your facebook profile doesn’t include a photo of you how on earth do you expect people to connect with you?  Just sayin’.

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8.  Watch what you “like”

If you “like” one of those applications that talks about how so and so got revenge on his ex girlfriend that includes a photo of a scantily clad woman everyone will know you’re a perv.  Yes, we know why you clicked it you pervy bastard.

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9.  Limit the Quotes

Have you ever noticed that the people who put up motivational quotes all the time are the most miserable people on the planet?  Quotes are okay, but not every day (hey…that rhymes).  If all I wanted to do was read quotes I’d look them up myself.

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10.  Learn to spell.

Seriously.  If you can’t spell you need to spend more time in front of a dictionary than on Facebook.  People will overlook the occasional typo or spelling mistake (we all make them).  But if you kant spel moste ov tha wurds in yur sntence thn yu neede to sorte that owt.

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So that’s my summary.  Go friend me up.  Introduce yourself.  And then drop a comment below to let me know which rules I’m forgetting.

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PS: It is also a rule to share all of my posts (like this one) with all of your Facebook friends.  Seriously.

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