How I Use Facebook and Twitter

I'm no expert on Facebook and Twitter, but I thought I'd pass on some thoughts on how I use Facebook and Twitter without spending all day wading through stuff...

I check FB early in the morning after I do devotions and send out GraceNotes.

I check FB in the evening if I'm watching some TV or before I go to bed if we've been out for the evening.

I only post to FB using my Twitter account. This keeps the posts short. I sometimes post links to my GraceNotes page on the Resource Ministries web site using Twitter and a URL shortener.

When I'm skimming through FB I always skip the quizzes and games and flair and other time sponges.

• I look for short, meaningful posts.
• I look for newsy posts.
• I look for heart cries that prompt me to pray for the person.
• I look for photos.
• I look for links that seem like they'll be interesting.
• I write quick, short comments for posts that catch my eye or my heart.

I use TweetDeck for Twitter. It's easy, it's intuitive, it's free, it saves me time and work.

I post to Twitter from TweetDeck or from my phone.

I have tweets from a few key Twitter peeps sent as text messages to my phone. Just a few.

I like FB and Twitter a lot. I think FB has a lot of static, but with discipline and a plan I can skim through it quickly and get to the good stuff.

I've reconnected with friends and family all over the world on FB.

Recommendation: Decide how much time you can invest in social networking, make a plan for how and how much you'll use it. Keep your eyes and ears open for new tools that make it quicker and better.

This is just a quick off-the-top-of-my-head note. If I think of some other stuff, I'll send it along another time.

What ideas and suggestions do you have to share with the peeps?