Facebook is a great social network to use in your social marketing toolbox, if you do it the right way.  Unfortunately there are waaaay too many people who don’t have a clue how to effectively promote their businesses using Facebook.

If you’ve spent any time on Facebook, then you’ve probably already seen too many bad social marketing offenses to count… I know I have!

So here are what I consider to be the top 3 most stupid Facebook marketing mistakes:

1.  Saying too much in your friend request.

I have several different accounts on Facebook and it always amazes me how many people do “in your face” marketing when they send you a friend request.  Let me explain…

When you click on the “add as a friend” box, you have the option of including a personal message.

Most people don’t bother with including a personal message, then just send the request.  Others will write some kind of reference so that you know why they are requesting you (we’re in the same group, I like your blog, we have similar interests, etc.).

However, about 5% of my friend requests will send me something like this:

“They say opportunity only knocks once.  Well it’s knocking, so let me in so I can help you get on the road to success.”

“Join me now in XYZ company… we’re making millionaires!

http://www.link-to-promotion-page.com“

“Come and join me at PeopleString where you get paid to network!

http://www.link-to-signup-page.com“

YUK!  Do you think I’m going to add any of these people???

Of course not!

Facebook is about networking with people who are interested in you and the things that you write about.  It’s about building rapport and establishing a relationship.

When you ask someone to connect with you on Facebook, it’s kind of like introducing yourself at a party.  You don’t walk up to someone, shake their hand, and then immediately try to recruit them into your business or sell them your product.

You shouldn’t do that on Facebook either.

2.  Using a promotional image in profile.

I NEVER add people as friends if they use a promotional image as their profile image.  It tells me that they are only there to make a sale and that they aren’t REALLY interested in establishing relationships.

They are just opportunists.

In my experience, these types of people send tons of junk email, spam my wall, and bother me ceaselessly without any type of meaningful interaction.

From a business perspective, it makes no sense for me to try to connect with people like that… it’s a waste of my time if I’m not connecting with real people.

3.  Spamming other people’s walls.

This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine.  I absolutely hate it when people spam my wall with advertising for their opportunity, business, or product.

It’s my wall.

If you want to talk to me, then I would love for you to leave a comment, but my wall doesn’t exist to be a billboard for your advertising!

And the same goes for fanpages and group pages… NO SPAM!

As a matter of course, I usually “un-friend” people who spam me and delete their posts.  I just don’t want to deal with people like that.

And that’s my Top 3 List… do you have any stupid Facebook marketing mistakes that you think should be in the top 3?