Optimize Your Real-time Facebook Experience with Facebook Toolbar

I just installed the Facebook Toolbar for Firefox app and *love* it!! (Hat tip to Jonathan Kleiman on Nick O’Neill’s All Facebook blog for the heads up).

Looking at the toolbar screen shot above, from left-right, you can:

1. see a list of your friends in order of the most recent status update (I like this one a lot, though I had to widen the sidebar quite a bit to read properly),
2. search the entire Facebook platform,
3. jump to eleven different common features inside Facebook,
4. see how many pokes (ugh, I have a zero-tolerance poke policy – don’t even think about it!), friend requests, email messages and group invitations you have, and
5. share web pages on Facebook (this replaces the Share bookmarklet).

On #1 above, the Facebook Friends Sidebar, you can adjust settings further at the bottom by clicking on the Sorting by… link (see screen shot at right).

Status Notifier

Now this IS a nifty feature! I’m assuming it’s fairly real-time. As soon as one of your friends updates their status, you get a little pop-up at the bottom right of your screen. (If you use Gmail’s email notifier at all, you’re familiar with this feature).

Depending on what your friends’ status says, you could immediately act upon it, send them a note, post on their wall, etc.

Of course, if you have a lot of friends, the constant notifications could become quite a distraction rendering your time at the computer unproductive (says she, oh great rabbit hole follower).

Good news: you can adjust the settings your way. Click on Quick Links on the toolbar once you’ve installed it, and click Toolbar Settings at the bottom.

BTW, apparently if you’re an IE user, you can install the My FB Toolbar.

Enjoy! And, let me know of your own experience using this Toolbar – I’d love to hear any additional tips!

Mari Smith

Mari Smith is one of the world’s most respected social media thought leaders and online marketing strategists. Known as “the Queen of Facebook” since 2007, she has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and global brands master authentic, high-impact social media marketing. Forbes describes Mari as, “… the preeminent Facebook expert. Even Facebook asks for her help.” IBM named Mari as one of seven women that are shaping digital marketing. Blending her Meta expertise with the transformative power of the Human Design System as an IHDS Certified Analyst, Mari guides entrepreneurs to align with their true voice, connect deeply with their audiences, and thrive in an ever-evolving online world. Her signature mix of AI-smart strategies, soulful mentorship, and Human Design wisdom empowers leaders to market with greater alignment, authenticity, and meaningful impact.

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