I recently linked my Facebook fan Page to my Twitter account. The thinking behind the move was simple. First the audiences for both my Page and Twitter accounts are similar making the content of the Page post and tweet relevant in both cases. Second, when I update my Page Facebook creates a tweet giving me one less thing to do. Sounds simple enough, but it’s not.
I imagined that any link contained within the Page post would be sent (probably in shortened form) in the tweet. Instead Facebook send Twitter a link to the post on the Facebook Page (here’s an example), and not the link posted to the Page.
What this means is that users are taken to a page on Facebook that contains the original post. From there they must then click through to the article. It’s a long way around.
Facebook may be trying to help Page owners by driving traffic back to the Page post and therefore the Page. I’d like to think that’s the case. A more cynical view is that Facebook is attempting to grab a few extra ad-carrying page impressions. Maybe that’s going too far. Whatever their reasons it’s a clumsy arrangement that doesn’t work well for the end user.
As of yesterday I’ve unlinked my Facebook Page and Twitter account until they get it sorted out.
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I’ve had mine linked for a while, but am considering to unlink the two after reading this post. Thanks for sharing.
I also have my reservations about syndicating content through different social networks. How can you really connect with your followers on one site if you send your content from a different site that is far removed (like pingfm)
I think it is good for your Twitter network to be driven to your fanpage, but checking out the link page you shared they don’t even give people the option to become a fan. What is the point of this?
I tend to agree with your cynical point of view Peter, I don’t think it’s going to far to suggest they are grabbing extra page impressions.
I’m also sure that avid Tweeters are aware when they see a tweet that says ‘from Facebook’ that they are going to be taken to the FB gateway page before actually getting to the content.
If all your content on Twitter is coming from your fan page does that mean you’re not a genuine Tweeter?
Syndicated content also raises the issue of duplicate content Josh. If not handled correctly it can drag search engine traffic away from your site despite you doing all the hard work the first place.
I haven’t really utilised my Facebook Fan Page at all (really should get better at that!), but with my personal Facebook/Twitter thing, I have basically just resorted to copying and pasting anything I want specifically on both.
I see Twitter and Facebook, for the most part, as different – for one, you can update Twitter more frequently and it not look too strange… whereas on Facebook people tend to be more sensitive to the whole “filling the feed” thing 🙂
I recently unlinked mine also Peter. I now have nothing linked. I am certainly not a fan of seeing tweets on LinkedIn. Each of the big three social media platforms hold their own place and tweets should remain on Twitter; posts for Facebook and Professional Updates for LinkedIn. Well, that’s my philosophy! 😉