So what are your goals for social networking? Are you trying to have the featured farm of the week in Farmville? Or are you trying to build your own empire and crime syndicate in Mafia Wars? Or could it be this: Are you trying to build awareness for your brand, product, book or self?
That’s what I thought!
With that said, my 5th social networking etiquette tip is this:
Be responsible — Not only for what you say, but for your time and your image. It will hurt your credibility if you tell people how busy you are and they see you taking those “Who am I?” and “5 Favorite” quizzes on Facebook every day. When you’re online assume everyone is watching and behave accordingly. If you have to, create a separate account for your crops and your crime family, and leave your brand out of it.
It all depends on how the games played.
I actually got work through Farmville. It turned out it was a guilty little pleasure of not only mine, but also a FB Friend who was in a position to hire for an upcoming contract. Much as how deals are made on the golf course, we struck a deal between discussions of building a Farmville barn.
I do not post any of my gaming for the general public to see. It is easily possible to only game with Friends who are also into it. This way the rest of my Friends are not disturbed by gaming posts, while I build online relationships with fellow gamers who enjoy it.
This is NOT WHY I take part in gaming, I just enjoy it, but it is a social interaction that can be commercially beneficial.
So, I suggest that gaming not need be removed, just practiced… discreetly.
Thanks! Nice perspective.