What? You're NOT on Facebook?

Everybody's doing it. Your neighbors, your veterinary coworkers, and maybe even your bosses are all getting a little face time. The clients at your clinic are even doing it with their pets-Facebook, that is. If all of your acquaintances from your 75-year-old aunt to your best friend's Poodle have their own Facebook pages, it's time you got in on the action, too. Consider these reasons to join the 500 million Facebook users from Rowan University marketing professor Jennifer Regina:

Connection. If your family is spread all over the country (or even the world), Facebook can make the distance between you and loved ones seem a little shorter. It's never been easier or quicker to wish someone a happy birthday, announce a birth, or share wedding pictures.

Promotion. Not only should you use Facebook to toot your own horn, but your veterinary clinic can also use Facebook to promote itself. Be sure to keep your profile up-to-date with your education, awards, achievements, and other accomplishments. And if the practice owner hasn't done so already, ask him or her if you can create a Fanpage for your clinic. This is a great way to keep people informed about clinic events and help establish a presence in the community.

Networking. In this economy it can never hurt to network, even if you have a job. If you're looking for a new job, Facebook can be a goldmine of networking activity. It makes it easy to reach out to friends, coworkers, and former bosses. And this helps you stay informed about potential employment opportunities.

Awareness. Facebook can be a great source of news that will benefit you both personally and professionally. Start following product, group, and industry pages. (Don't forget to check out Firstline on Facebook.)

So before you scoff at the idea of joining Facebook, think about how it could make your life more meaningful and efficient. The opportunities to communicate are endless.