Why I unlinked Twitter and Facebook

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I’ve been on Twitter now for nearly 3 years. On day 2, I linked them.

So what I said on Twitter, I also said on Facebook. Why would I not do that…it’s a no-brainer, right?

Killing two birds with one stone. With one text message, blasting the exact same message on Twitter and Facebook…it seemed that this was a great idea!

But over time, I’ve realized that it wasn’t. It actually could have damaged my brand if I’d kept them connected much longer.

“Oh…who cares about my ‘brand’?” you ask.

“Everybody that follows you on Twitter and Facebook do.” If they don’t care about your brand (who you are as a person/organization as represented online), they’ll quit following you. It’s as simple as that.

Here’s why I un-linked Twitter and Facebook

People on Facebook get angry. Especially when you post all of the time. They’ll block you…then start dropping passive/aggressive things like this in a conversation they have with you in person, “Can you believe how often some people post to Facebook?!?” My response: “Yeah…it’s hard to believe…” And inside I’m thinking, “If you only knew how much I decided not to post…”
People on Twitter (largely) don’t mind how often you post. There’s an over-the-top level where you can wear people out, but I don’t think I’ve reached that level yet.
People on Facebook don’t understand Twitter lingo. The whole RT, @replies, and #hashtags don’t translate well into Facebook.
Facebook became more personal. For me, it seemed to be more about sharing pictures, stuff that’s happening in my family, and things going on locally here in Clarksville. I’ve seen more and more trivial things posted on Facebook. That’s not a slam…just an observation.
Twitter became more business/sharing-focused. For me, I began seeing Twitter as a way to share thoughts, ideas, resources, and other sites and articles.

At the end of the day, Twitter is more about sharing and giving. Facebook is more about connecting people to my personal life. And, from time to time, those mesh. But most of the time, I’ll keep my thoughts separate.

What about you…have you connected Twitter and Facebook?

Or decided to un-connect them?

Share and Enjoy

Micah

This is why I use selective tweets allowing me to #FB when I feel something is worth sending to both. This also allows me to carry separate identities. My FB identity is a very cheery happy person always positive all posts thought out as to who in the church will read them. My twitter identity is much more cynical and used for venting. Since only our pastoral staff uses twitter my tweets are less filtered. Twitter is also a much better place to discuss share ministry ideas that I wouldnt want plastered all over my wall.

http://www.benreed.net Ben Reed

So you’re a split personality?
Eliwestfall

How does the #fb work?

http://www.benreed.net Ben Reed

Eli,
I haven’t used it, but I believe that it’s a built-in function on Tweetdeck (and maybe other platforms, too) where you can tag your twitter update with #FB and it automatically goes to Facebook, too. I believe you have to set this up on Tweetdeck. But I’ll let Micah correct me if I’m wrong.

http://twitter.com/jasonvana Jason Vana

I’ve been contemplating unconnecting them for a while now, especially after I started getting more active on Twitter…and using it more than I do Facebook. I originally connected them because I could update Twitter on my old school razor phone by sending a text, something I couldn’t do with Facebook. But now…yea, I have a ton of Twitter postings on my FB wall.

Great thoughts man. Helping me decide what I want to do.

http://www.benreed.net Ben Reed

Have you gotten any complaints from your FB followers?

http://twitter.com/jasonvana Jason Vana

Not really, but I did just start getting more active on Twitter in the last 3 months. I’m thinking I might get the connecting app that would allow me to choose what post goes to FB. Probably try that for a while and see.

Anonymous

Totally can’t stand when people link them. They are two different audiences and shouldn’t be “assaulted” the same (ha!). I linked them a few years ago when that was the trend. People soon found out that it was not a good fit. Don’t see it much anymore—and I’m grateful. Great post!

http://www.benreed.net Ben Reed

Thanks Toni!

Eliwestfall

Mine are connected and I never thought to unlink them until now. Food for thought. I will need to think about what I want to say to each audience.

http://www.benreed.net Ben Reed

If you use Hootsuite (or Tweetdeck) to update, you could select each and every update…and tell the updates to go to Twitter, FB, or both. Just a thought.

http://theperkinsblog.net MichaelDPerkins

Unconnected. And for the same reasons as you.
http://www.bigb94.webs.com Brandon

I am not on either of them…

http://www.benreed.net Ben Reed

I weep for you, Brandon.

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http://www.abrahamchronicles.com Dustin

Unconnected – largely for the same reasons. I had them connected for about 6 months when I first started with twitter about a year and a half ago, but I think I ended up not posting as much as I wanted to because I knew some folks who do FB just don’t get the RT, @, # lingo. So, I unlinked and haven’t turned back.

http://www.benreed.net Ben Reed

Yep, I felt freed up when I unlinked them…freer to post more often and more Twitter-specific, that it.

http://AandBCounseling.com Don Ibbitson

I too have disconnected them and the reason is that I use my FB page as a combination of info for friends and also connecting with people who might have an interest in learning about our ministry. I don’t want to bombard FB friends and will post something different there than on Twitter.
http://seekingpastor.wordpress.com seekingpastor

Unconnected, although I will often post the same things on both. When I do not it may be that I am sure some of my Facebook friends will not understand the humor or one of them will become angry.
http://www.jrforasteros.com JR. Forasteros

I had them linked, but have now moved to either Selective Tweets (using the #fb hashtag) or Hootsuite, which lets me update both or either one.
http://www.tonyjalicea.com Tony J. Alicea

I would never connect Twitter to FB. There are two completely different animals. I tweet 30-50 times a day. I update my FB status MAYBE once a day. I definitely don’t want to see someone else clogging my FB stream with tweets.

I also interact very differently on the 2 networks. I talk a lot more on Twitter because I’m getting to know people. I (for the most part) know all my FB friends pretty well.

I mainly use FB to share pictures and my blog posts. I keep up with others status updates and the like but I’m definitely not on FB as much as I used to be. Definitely on “the” Twitter more often these days.
Randy Kinnick

I use Selective Tweets. That way, if I want something to appear on FB all I have to do is include the #fb hashtag.
http://marccardaronella.com Marc Cardaronella

Definitely unconnected. I played around with the connection thing for a while when I started using Tweetdeck but I found the same things you did. People didn’t understand the Twitter lingo and it was too much. I still link them sometimes to share an article but mostly not. It is kind of different conversations. Plus, you can say more on FB and be more expressive and that’s kind of nice.
http://www.dadlife.net kevin

I 148% agree with this. Like some have mentioned, I also use Selective Tweets, any time I think a Tweet is FB-worthy. Good stuff!
http://www.mustardseedyear.com Jason Wert

I never connected them in the first place for the reasons you mentioned.
http://jonathanpearson.net/ Jonathan Pearson

Completely agree with this bro. Especially with tools like Hootsuite and Tweetdeck that make it so easy to post to each as you choose. Good stuff!
http://larryhehn.com Larry Hehn

I had them connected very briefly, then got a bunch of complaints from relatives about all the things you mentioned. Very true that they are distinct and work better separately. I’m relieved to hear that you experienced the same thing and it wasn’t just me!
http://mwerickson.wordpress.com/ Matt Erickson

Thanks for posting this, Ben. I have used HootSuite for a long time now to selectively send things to Twitter or Facebook. Although many times I send them both places, I do not always do so and continue to use Facebook as a more personal connecting point.

I agree that Twitter has become more of a info-sharing and marketing tool than a personal connection space.

Why I un-linked Twitter and Facebook

Here’s why I un-linked Twitter and Facebook

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