Check In on Facebook

Do you know people who “Check-in” on Facebook? Their post is a map with a pinpoint on their location and they make a comment such as “Meeting lots of old friends at this conference.” “Really enjoying the exhibits at the State Fair.” “My first time at a World Series game!” You get the idea. You have your own examples.

Last week someone asked me: “How can we get people to check in on Facebook for parish events?”

There are two questions here:

• How do I check in on Facebook?
• How can I make sure that people are able to check-in at my parish, school, or other place of ministry which has a Facebook Page if they want to? Not everybody wants or knows how to check in.

Let’s also keep in mind that there are some benefits and some cautions to checking-in.

How do I check in on Facebook?

It is very easy to check-in on Facebook. You need a smartphone with GPS tracking on it.

• Go to the Facebook App on your phone.
• Click to Update Status
• Write your comment
• Click on the map pin icon below your comment
• Either select the correct location which appears or type in the name or the address of your location.
• Post

How can I make sure that people who want to are able to check-in at my parish, school, or other place of ministry which has a Facebook Page?

Administrators of a Page can turn the check-in option on or off for your location.

• Click on the About Tab for the Page
• Select edit.
• Enter the physical address of the ministry
• To turn on the location –check the box below the map which says “Customers visit my business at my street address (unchecking this box will hide your street address and check-ins)” If you do not want check-ins, just uncheck the box.

Note: If this option does not appear in the address area, you may have to re-categorize your Page.

Benefits of Checking-In

Depending on where you are, checking-in is a fun thing to do. You may find that some of your friends are also at the location and be able to arrange an impromptu get together. Your check-in may be a reminder to others of an event or activity that they may want to attend as well.

Cautions about Checking-In

Use discretion with all social media activities including this one. By checking-in your followers know where you are and that you are not at home. If you make this information public, thieves or stalkers could take advantage of you. So I do not advise that your make your check-in “public.”

You can determine who can see your check-in, before you publish it. Above the status line, you have the option to determine who can see this specific post. Click on the drop down arrow (which is next to the audience which usually sees your posts i.e. Friends, Public, Friends of Friends, etc.) and select who can see your check-in. If you have created specific groups such as Family or Classmates, Club, etc. you can select one of those as well. That way only the people you want to see your check-in will see it on their timelines. By the way, all Facebook posts have this same option.  Just remember to change it back to your preferred audience if that is different, the next time you post.

I hope this information was helpful. Do you use the Check-in option? Why or why not?