Creating my Facebook Business Profile

I have just finished creating a new Facebook profile and page for my business self. It was a great experience and I find myself surprised at just how much I enjoyed it. Starting out, I couldn't help feeling like I had no clue what I was doing or if it sounded too dry and at times too silly. I hope it is effective in providing some insight into what kind of employee I am, as well as a taste of my personality.

My classmate Mareli has posted an example of a realtor's Facebook Business profile on her blog, check it out to get an idea of where to start. Here is a screen shot of my new Facebook page, and here is the actual page on Facebook, let me know what you think!

The impact of Facebook in business and careers today is profound. Employees and Interviewees are changing their privacy settings to reveal next to nothing. People are getting fired for posting comments about their bosses on friend's walls, or for inappropriate photos taken on the weekend. Facebook is a great way for an employer to find out just what sort of person you are, or at the very least what sort of person you wish to be portrayed as. While creating my business profile, I considered this and made sure to portray myself in a professional manner, while letting some individuality shine through as well. Every word I typed, every page I "liked" and "favorited" on my business profile was thought about several times. I want my potential employer to see how devoted I am to my field of Nutrition, and also that I am a fun and outgoing person on top of that. 

My ultimate goal was to get the reader (potential employer) thinking "She sounds like an enthusiastic Nutrition Nut, but a competent, fast-learning and effective worker as well". I believe that having a positive attitude and great personality is just as important to an employer as are your work skills. Overall, making a business profile was a great experience. Every step I considered that this wasn't just another Facebook page, it could be setting me up for my future position. 

Introduction Post

Hey there!

My name is Annalise, I am currently in my fourth year at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Specializing in the Nutrition Program, I am still aiming high to graduate a Registered Dietitian. I simply love food, there is no other way to put it. I love eating, cooking, tasting, savoring and even analyzing the science behind food. Health and fitness really interest me as well. Running triggered my interest a couple years ago, and some time before that working out began to pull me in as well. I live a life that is based around my field of study, and I mean that in the best possible way. My love of food since birth and my newly discovered passion for the body's health and fitness have brought me to who I am at present. With a kitchen stocked full of fresh produce & farmer's market meat, a drawer designated to workout wear and two pairs of running shoes - that's my life today. 

Social media has really boomed over the past decade. I remember being in Grade 10 and thinking I wasn't allowed to join Facebook because my sister told me it was for College students. Today, ten year olds now have Facebook accounts. My personal experience in using Twitter, blogs and podcasts have proved just how effective the Nutrition community can be when using these tools. For example, on Twitter I follow Monica Reinagel ( @NutritionDiva ) a licensed Nutritionist. She links articles to my feed, which I may read if they interest me and tweet back at her if I have any questions. This type of communication is so easy and accessible, I have advanced my knowledge in many areas of Nutrition and Food simply by following one Nutritionist on Twitter. 

For those who don't like to read, there are podcasts. Fortunately, my favorite Nutrition Diva also has her own podcast ( Nutrition Diva's Quick & Dirty Tips ). With this type of social media today, I can now tune in to programs in my field of interest as opposed to listening mindlessly to another song on the radio. 


Another advance that communication offers the Nutrition industry is the ability to post surveys and questionnaires on blogs or Facebook. Offering these surveys to an entire network of online profiles will yield great feedback about what the everyday consumer wants. This will give Nutritionists an idea of what areas they should be focusing on most in terms of relaying information to the public. An example of this is the ALES 204 survey posted on the blog. Hundreds of students filled out this survey, leaving the blogger with a better understanding of their audience. 

New types of communication, available through technology, facilitate a Nutritionists' access to the public and vice versa. For example, I can connect with my classmate Michelle by accessing her blog online. Here, I have the opportunity to learn about her interests and we can pass information back and forth using comments on each other's blogs. However, personal interaction will always play an important role in my profession. Nutritionist's must meet their clients in person in order to assess the patient and establish a trusting relationship. This may only be done in a personal setting, and wouldn't work over other methods of communication. 


My profession definitely benefits from the social media that modern technology has provided for us, but will continue to use traditional means of communication as well.