Great post by Brian Solis on Facebook and its powerful use in as a personal brand.

I got an invitation to join from a friend so did and now find it has become an integral part of my business day. So what have I achieved in the last 2 months.

• Two old school chums have found me and got in touch. One is in the same line of business as myself so it is brilliant to have a fellow traveller to talk to.
• Five old work mates have got in touch and one we are starting a collaberative project with. The others are within organisations we would one day love to work with so aprt from the socialising element there is business networking
• Three prospective clients have contact me. We already have a costed proposal in with one and the other two we are to meet. 
• I have joined a number of special interest groups on social media and podcasting and attended some meetings which has been good socially but also professionally
• I have been bitten twice by vampires but obviously not so bad that I felt the urge to become one myself and bite people
• A relative found me and it is really nice to see what she is upto with her new born son. We exchange FaceBook messages but I would never have thought of phoning her or writing.
• I have had a sheep thrown at me, been hugged and had drinks bought for me and was once 'bitch slapped'. I am still trying to understand if this is the online equivalent of office banter and ribbing.
• I have had three instances of people seeing where I am have suggested meeting for coffee as they are local to me and in one case we found we were actually both on courses at the same place. Without Facebook how would I have known.

The whole process of keeping track with people means I will never have the send them the Christmas card with the note - 'we must meet up soon' standard message. They can see what I am upto and where I am (businesswise) and contact me or comment as relevant.

I have personal information on my profile. No harm in people knowing what music, books and films I like. Who knows what similar interests some of my new and old 'business friends' will find we have and vice versa? A case of Alan Partridge - 'Knowing me. Knowing you' but in a business context.

So far I have found Facebook a great business and business socialising tool. I love it.