How to Create Lists on Facebook and Optimize your Experience & Effectiveness
23. Aug, 2010 
53 Comments
Do you ever feel like you completely miss out on a bunch of your friends updates in your news feed on facebook?
Do you sometimes want to send out a business-related message but don’t want to be a bother to your friends and family?
What about getting sidetracked by friends wanting to chat when you’re on facebook during your focused business time?
Or how about privacy…..do you feel good about who is seeing what on your profile page?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then it’s time to create some lists! I made the mistake of putting this off for my first few months as a social media marketer. The funny thing is, I put if off because I didn’t have the “time” it would take to set it all up, and ended up wasting a whole lot of time in the process!
I made a quick video tutorial showing you just how easy it is to create lists, and sharing a few very cool tricks that will save you time and make you more effective and confident in your communications.
One more thing I didn’t mention in the video, is that you can send messages and event invites to specific lists of people all at once. Just keep in mind that messages can only be sent to 20 people at a time, so that feature is relatively limited. Just type in the name of the list in the Compose section, and you’re good to go. When you send a message to a Friend List, the message will show all the recipients’ names, but the title of your Friend List will not ever be visible. As I mentioned, who is on your list is NOT public information.
As far as inviting people to a group or event, you can enter the list you want to invite, and the friends that qualify to be invited will appear in the invitation queue. Keep in mind that a friend may not qualify to be invited if he or she is not a member of the network a group the event is registered under.
I hope this has been helpful, if so, please pass it along with a ReTweet or Share on Facebook. Thanks guys, and make it a great day!
In Health & Prosperity,
Hey Beth great video!
Lists have been so helpful for me in the past. Im someone who likes to keep their personal and business stuff on FB very separate. How easy and cool is the list feature to use.
It actually got to the point where I changed my permanent setting to my “business” list under my account settings so I didn’t have to constantly worry about it.
Thanks for sharing this info
cheers
Nat
.-= Nat´s last blog ..Find Out How I’m Able to Easily Follow and Syndicate Up To 72 Blogs A Day =-.
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Wow … I’ve been reluctant to use facebook in my business because I have been using it for some time as a means of connecting with friends around the world. I had no idea of the power of lists on facebook!! This video has solved a problem for me and I can’t thank you enough!!
Wendy
.-= Wendy Hewlett´s last blog ..The 11 Forgotten Laws- 7 – The Law of Non-Resistance =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 24th, 2010 at 1:16 am
I’m so happy I could help, Wendy! I can completely relate. With 400+ friends and family on facebook, a place I’d cultivated as a purely social place…..it was SO hard to start adding business contacts and figuring out who I was showing up as. These strategies, along with a Fan Page, change everything for me. Now, I get my best contacts from relationships I develop on FB. You are most welcome!
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Beth, Great post and video tutorial! I am going to have to take the time to set up some lists on my Facebook account. You really explained it well, and I think it will help me stay more focused and organized! Thanks for the very useful information1 ~Joseph McDevitt
.-= Joseph McDevitt´s last blog ..HTML – Understanding The Basics =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 24th, 2010 at 1:20 am
Thanks so much, Joseph! Glad I explained it well and that you’re going to take it on. As I said, you’ll be SO happy you did.
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Beth,
We so agree that lists help keep us focused on who we want to be in communication with at any given time. And… it is pretty ironic how spending a little bit of time setting up lists can save a lot of time later.
Thanks,
~ Pat and Lorna
http://TheCoolestCouple.com
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bethallen Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Yes, that is an irony about most organizational things, isn’t it!
Thanks for stopping by Pat & Lorna!
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Lists are always important but with the way social media is going, they are integral.
Everything is moving so fast that if you don’t have lists you will quickly lose track of who is who.
Thanks for the reminder, now if only facebook would let us message more than 20 people at a time from our personal profile.
.-= Jose H. Caraballo´s last blog ..Passing Success on to The Next Generation =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Hi Jose! Great to see you. Yes, lists are indeed essential with the fast pace of social media. And that 20 people limit gets me too….but if it wasn’t that way there’d be a lot more spam going on I’m sure. Keeps you focused and selective….or at least I guess that’s the point!
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Beth,
Fantastic tip ! You have a great looking blog also.
It was fun visiting.
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bethallen Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Thanks so much, Keith. Glad it was helpful and you enjoyed you’re visit!
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Twitter: christine_tulsa
24. Aug, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Hi Beth,
Creating (and using) lists in FB can be a powerful & time-saving tool. Like you, it took me a little while to figure this out, yet once I did, wow! I luv how you can also use lists to filter thru your Newsfeed & keep up with specific groups/individuals. I appreciate you sharing
Christine
.-= Christine Casey´s last blog ..How do you use Facebook =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Hi Christine ~ Yes, I had that same experience….wow! Why didn’t I do this sooner! Yes, the newsfeed feature is what I use my lists for most. Incredible time saver!
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Did not know I could set privacy setting on the individual list. Very very helpful. Old Dog here learning a new Trick. Thanks Beth for the delicious “Milk Bone”
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bethallen Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Yes Nelson, whenever I hear people complaining about facebook and privacy, I realize just how many people don’t know about these privacy customizations. Glad you found the milk bone delicious, Old Dog!
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Beth, great video and tutorials. It is really amazing the power of a list, whether it is a written to do list or a list of friends on Facebook. There is so much noise online that if you don’t carefully and consistently categorize friends, followers, etc. into lists that make sense, you are bound to miss the important. Thanks!
Scott Pollov
.-= Scott Pollov´s last blog ..Raising Capital Check Out SBIR-STTR Grants =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Thanks Scott. Yes, lists definitely help with cutting through the noise and staying focused on what’s important. You are most welcome!
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Thanks for this great info, Beth! Now that I’m delving into Facebook more and recently added a business page, creating lists is a necessity to manage everything effectively and stay focused.
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bethallen Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Sure thing, Paul! Yes, you will be glad you started off creating lists now. One list that has been really helpful is my “Fav. Fan Page” list. That way I can easily keep tabs on the pages I want to, and stay in the conversation. Thanks for stopping by!
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Hi Beth,
Great tutorial. You have taken the next step for video and the one that I am about to embark on as well.
I have been using lists on Facebook for quite sometime and I have found it very helpful to stay focused on the specific group I want to connect with. The addition of the privacy settings was a big plus and I glad you covered it.
See you again.
.-= Don Enck´s last blog ..Are You A Living Legend Creating A Lasting Legacy =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Thanks Don ~ yes, this is my second ever tutorial….my biggest challenge is that using Jing you only get 5 minutes, and I almost always seem to have 30 sec. left when I’m wrapping up. So it takes me a few tries to get it under 5. Otherwise, easy peasy.
Look forward to seeing yours!
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Beth,
Great tips about organizing Facebook. I started using lists a bit ago and am so glad I did. It makes it so much easier to connect with your different lists if you do this. I had not known about the privacy setting. Thanks,
Val
.-= Val Wilcox´s last blog ..A Mind That is Stretched… =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Hey Val ~ yes, the privacy settings are great to know, so that when you hear people complaining about FB privacy, as happens often, you can actually help them enjoy their experience! Glad I could pass this along.
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Beth,
Another great video. Thank you so much for explaining how to set up lists. I have been wanting to do that but did not take the time to learn. Now it is a matter of taking the time needed to set up the lists. It certainly would have been easier had I done it a year ago.
Erica
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bethallen Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Hi Erica, Great, so time to get it done now, right?!
Yes it would have been easier to do earlier, but now you know how and it really doesn’t take too long. As with many things, the longer you wait to set up organizational systems the more likely you will be to put it off, creating a vicious cycle. So best to take it on early….but better late than never! Your contacts will only continue to grow.
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I love lists!
I organize all my friends into lists. From family & friends, to networkers, to core leaders & influencers.
Having your FB done up in that fashion makes it extremely easy to see what everyone is up to, as well as to connect to the people you want to be connecting with.
To the top,
-Gregory Elfrink
.-= Gregory Elfrink´s last blog ..Eat Horse Shit or Give Up on Your Dreams =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Awesome, Gregory. Sounds like you’ve got it down! Thanks for visiting my blog, we’ll have to connect on FB and add each other to our great lists.
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Hi Beth,
After Scott’s training call the other night about how to use Facebook effectively for marketing, I realized how many months had passed since I last updated my lists. In fact, I saw that I had only 4 lists, and most of the people I am now connected with on Facebook were not organized into ANY list!
You have created an excellent tutorial here about how to fix the “lack of lists problem” most of us have on Facebook. Like any other tool, Facebook is so useful in many ways — IF we take the time to learn how to tap into all of its features! Thanks for stepping up and making such a useful training video.
Mary Lou
.-= Mary Lou Kayser´s last blog ..Are You Too Busy to Build Your Network Marketing Business =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Hi MaryLou ~ well now you know how easy it is to add people to lists as you go….so time for some updates! Glad my tutorial was helpful.
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Thanks for posting this, I do use lists but I hadn’t thought of using them in this manner.
I have used FB for primarily personal purposes but have been thinking about adding the business side to it and this gives me one more way to make that work!
.-= Stacy´s last blog ..My First Free E-book- Blogging Basics =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Hi Stacy, yes, if you’ve been using FB primarily for personal use, you will LOVE all the cool things you can do with lists. I started off the same way, and didn’t know how to manage when I wanted to post something business related but didn’t necessarily want it blasted to friends. Lists are awesome for this! And then of course, it’s really smart to start a fan page for exclusive business stuff. Glad I could help.
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Had know idea about FB lists – Very Cool! Thanks for sharing this powerful info.
.-= Tim Somers´s last blog ..TSA Gives My Send Out Cards Blog A Boost =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Yes Tim, lists are very cool ~ glad I could introduce them to you. Have fun with it!
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Beth,
Thanks for pointing out the importance of creating lists! I will begin to create some now. Thank you.
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bethallen Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
No problem, Darcy. You will be glad you did!
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Twitter: julieannevanzyl
28. Aug, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Great video Beth, I don’t know what I would do without lists on Facebook, I have about 6 or 7 so far. Most of my family lives a long way from me, and I keep upto date with them, see their photos etc on facebook. Without a list, I could easily miss what they post.
.-= Julieanne van Zyl´s last blog ..Searching content on a Facebook page =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Sounds like we’re on the same page, Julieanne.
It is so cool to able to go to facebook and see all the updates of exactly who you are looking to connect with. Great stuff indeed!
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Twitter: passion101
28. Aug, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Beth,
Thanks for the great post, using lists would certainly make my FB experience more efficient. Question: is there something that I can do that is equivalent to lists for my FB Fan Page, which will ultimately replace my friend page in usefulness?
Thanks,
Adam
.-= Dr. Adam Sheck´s last blog ..Get Your Man To Share His Feelings =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Hi Adam, I’m not positive, but I have not seen any lists for fan pages. I know you can’t have a fan page without a personal profile…..but I see what you mean. To be able to organize lists could be a powerful feature, although we’re not friends with everyone on our fan pages, so it might not be possible? Interesting question though, sorry I’m not more helpful. If anyone else knows, please feel free to chime in!
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Twitter: prfuller
28. Aug, 2010 at 11:15 pm
Hey Beth
I have to admit I have not yet used lists on Facebook.
What has your response rate to targeted lists been with Facebook?
Peter
.-= Peter Fuller MBA´s last blog ..Why Are You Making It So Hard For Me To Share Your Content =-.
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bethallen Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Hey Peter ~ well, I don’t know how to define my response rate, but I think targeting is always a good thing. I can use my lists to send out specific messages I only want certain people seeing, which is awesome. I can also target the people I’m looking for with lists, which enhances the effectiveness of my communications and time spent on FB. Hope that helps.
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That was a great training Beth!
I started using lists on FB but then just stopped. Now I see the full power of creating lists, i’m going to continue where I left off. Thanks for the info.
Denise
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bethallen Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Thanks, Denise! Glad I could share the full power (and I’m sure there’s even more cool things I don’t know about!). So yes, get back to using those lists!
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Hi Beth,
great video. I’m using lists on Facebook and find it so useful. Especially because I like to separate my personal and my business life. By creating lists, I’m able to communicate personally with the people I want.
Thanks for your very powerful content.
To your unstoppable prosperity
Paola
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bethallen Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Thanks Paola. I too like to separate my personal and business lives, most of the time, and lists are great for this. Glad you find them useful too!
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Hey Beth,
Facebook is a great tool for creating massive followings but at times can become quite overwhelmed with spammers telling you to buy the next best course or join the new hottest business.
You techniques here will dramatically help people to reduce the amount of spam they see just by following the steps you outlined.
.-= LGN Prosperity´s last blog ..HUGE LGN Prosperity Commissions Update =-.
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bethallen Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 3:52 am
Oh yes, it is LOUD out there in the online world! It takes wisdom, integrity, insight and focus to cut through the maze…..and having tools to assist in these areas are always beneficial. Thanks for stopping by!
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Hey Beth,
Great tips, on the use of lists and great video tutorial.
Lists are crucial for organisation. My only point to add would be to try not to over complicate your list system, it’s easy to forget what lists you have and why.
I recently streamlined by lists recently and haven’t looked back.
Beth
Beth Hewitt´s last [type] ..Halloween and Successful Internet Marketing
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bethallen Reply:
November 3rd, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Oh yes, no need to over-complicate the lists. Create lists that make sense and you will be good to go! Glad to hear you found a system that works for you, Beth!
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Thanks for the tip and the video. I organize my friends on facebook too, I separate all of them by groups which makes it so much easier to find and contact them. Also having all of your friends in just one big list is such a mess.
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bethallen Reply:
September 24th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Oh but with all the new FB changes, this post is not so relevant any more! It’s hard to keep up with facebook these days!
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Hi Beth,
Facebook is integrated in our lives and become very essential for online business therefore it is good to know about facebook at its best and thanks for sharing list building idea, I will definitely try this.
Pete Goumas´s last [type] ..Gaiam Coupons & Review
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Hi Beth,
I create list on facebook and it seperates my business,close friends,family and friends life.I found it very useful and thanks for giving awareness to other on this list building idea.
waterpearls´s last [type] ..Webhosting Plans
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