David Lee King

social media | emerging trends | libraries

Don’t Set Your MySpace Page Profile to Private!

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library myspace pageI just saw Plainfield Public Library’s MySpace page (via Michael Stephens). Well, not really – take a look at the screenshot – their MySpace profile is set to private.

So what? Well… it’s a usability and experience thing. There will be MySpacers that want to peruse the page, see what programs the library has to offer, etc – and not want to sign up to be a friend of the library. By setting their profile to private, the library is basically blocking all their great MySpace content from ALL POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS. It’s sort of like saying “yes, you can enter our library building! Of course! But – do you have a library card? ‘Cause you can ONLY enter our fine library if you have a library card.”

The newspaper article about the page (aside – extremely cool they received press about their MySpace page!) quotes a librarian saying they’ve added more than 80 friends to the site since August. My guess? They’d get more friends if the profile WASN’T set to private.

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Comments

  1. Although by being private, there is added incentive to be “friends”. If you want to see what’s on that page, you need to be their friend – maybe being a bit elusive makes it more desirable??

  2. Although by being private, there is added incentive to be “friends”. If you want to see what’s on that page, you need to be their friend – maybe being a bit elusive makes it more desirable??

  5. Well, you must care enough to comment… I’m not worrying – just pointing out that there’s a better way to do things.

  6. Well, you must care enough to comment… I’m not worrying – just pointing out that there’s a better way to do things.

  7. basically yes if they would have set there profile for public that would get them away much more friend than 80 they stated . but may be there are some reasons behind it to keep it private ? why not?

  8. basically yes if they would have set there profile for public that would get them away much more friend than 80 they stated . but may be there are some reasons behind it to keep it private ? why not?