Facebook’s privacy settings have been an item of concern for several people recently – even driving some individuals to delete their account and quit Facebook.

Today Facebook unveiled an update of the privacy controls available to users.  I guess you could say they listened and took action.

The number one thing that Facebook executives heard was that there needed to be simpler way to control your information and who could access it.  This being the case the number one change is a simpler way to control your information.  There will now be a single control for your content and more powerful controls for your basic information as well as an easy control to turn off all applications.

With the new privacy controls being added to Facebook starting today Facebook  will:

• Provide an easy-to-use “master” control that enables users to set who can see the content they share through Facebook. This enables users to choose, with just one click, the overall privacy level they’re comfortable with for the content they share on Facebook. Of course, users can still use all of the granular controls we’ve always offered, if they wish.

• Significantly reduce the amount of information that must be visible to everyone on Facebook. Facebook will no longer require that users’ friends and connections are visible to everyone. Only Name, Profile Picture, Networks and Gender must be publicly available. Users can opt to make all other connections private.

• Make it simple to control whether other applications and websites access any user information. While a majority of our users love Facebook apps and Facebook-enhanced websites, some may prefer not to share their information outside of Facebook. Users can now opt out with just one click.

The video below is the statement that Mark Zuckerberg released to the press outlining the new privacy controls

I have talked to many people who want to jump online and start using Facebook but are afraid to do so because they want to keep some privacy around their life.  In a lot of cases I have encountered someone who has been using Facebook to keep in touch with family and friends and then all of a sudden they receive a friend request from their employer or a client.  This often throws them for a loop because to a point people do want to keep their personal and business lives separate – even though in today’s world they are quickly merging.

It is possible however to use Facebook for staying in touch with both your family and friends as well as your employer, co-workers and clients and keeping the level of privacy that you desire.  Lucky for us Facebook users, the team at Facebook saw this as a potential issue and created some privacy features that allow you to choose who sees what information.

The feature that is being covered today is Friend Lists

Friend Lists

One of the top ways to separate what information you share with who on Facebook is to use Friend Lists.  This feature in Facebook allows you to privately group your friends into lists.  This helps for organization as well so that you can look at a particular list and only see the status of those on that list.

You can add people to multiple lists if they belong in more than one.  I have several lists and I use them in various ways.  Here are just a few ways that I use my lists:

Family – this is where all of my family members reside and if I have something that is family related I select this list as the list that can see it

Photos – This is the list that I allow access to my photos.  For me since I use Facebook for both personal and business reasons I don’t want everyone seeing photos of my kiddos.

Buddies – These are my close friends that I do things with on a regular basis

Co-Workers –  This is where I list those that I work with on a daily basis

Real Estate – This contains others that share a passion of Real Estate

Marketing – This group contains those that I get and share marketing info with

One way to use these lists for privacy is to select which list or lists you want to see what you post and share on Facebook.  If you are posting a status update and you only want certain groups to see this then you tell Facebook that.

Here is what you will see when you are updating your status:

If you click on the arrow by the lock then you will have the option to select who you want to see your post.  To select a particular last you will need to select the customize option and pick the lists that you want to see it.

Here are some additional resources for information on Friend Lists from Facebook:

Facebook Help Center: Friends: Friends List and Limited Profile

Organizing Your Connections on the New Friends Page

HOW TO: Create Friend Lists on Facebook (via Mashable)

As you begin using Social Networking and Social Media tools to market your business and connect to your customers and prospects you need to include a FaceBook Fan page into this mix.

A Facebook Fan Page will allow you to engage your target market on Facebook and reach out to them to share more information on your business as well as connect with them.

Here are several reasons that you need to create a FaceBook Fan Page and begin connecting with your target market via this tool:

• Facebook Fan Pages are free – Facebook allows you to create and maintain a fan page for free

• Search Engine Optimization or Link Love – Google and the other search engines like Bing love Facebook because it is one of the top visited sites.  Having a fan page will allow you to obtain another link in the search engines back to your business

• Instant Mailing List – You can communicate with all of your fans with one message, it provides you with an instant mailing list

• You can have an unlimited number of fans – Facebook doesn’t limit the number of fans you have

• Community – a Fan page allows you to build a community with your fans and engage them.  Often fans will contribute content and provide information so that you can determine their needs and provide them.

• Exposure – A fan page will allow for more exposure for your business

• Viral Marketing – Fan pages are a viral tool because often people will share and invite others to become a fan

• Increase influence – a fan page will allow you to share information and in doing so will increase your influence and help build your credibility

• Natural Promotion – by having a fan page and sharing information you are able to promote your business naturally without truly advertising