A lot of people wonder how to handle Facebook friend requests from business contacts. Many want to keep Facebook for true personal friends and family but worry that rejecting a friend request might seem rude. How do you handle this?

Create Boundaries

We should take note from Linda Cheung, the MD of Cube Social, who effectively differentiates her close friends from her broader business network. Linda’s policy is clear: you can’t become a friend on her Facebook profile unless you’ve stepped over the front step of her home. You might extend this to create a two-way policy based on either your threshold or the other person’s. It’s not always possible to live by this rule, I grant you, but it’s a solid guideline.

Another challenge arises when you already have business contacts on Facebook. You’ll need to draw a line and decide not to accept friend requests from business contacts going forward. At the end of the day, don’t we all separate certain parts of our lives from others?

Be Honest

Respect people’s wishes and feelings. If the person requesting a Facebook connection is someone you already know, you likely have their contact information. You can simply email back and be honest – explain that you reserve Facebook for personal matters, but you’d be happy to connect on LinkedIn or other professional sites. Make sure the email clearly explains that this is a personal policy for all business connections. Alternatively, set up a separate business-focused Facebook page, like I did with my Social Progress Facebook Page.

Don’t Take It Personally

The key is in how you deliver your message. Be honest and explanatory. You can’t control how others feel—if they take it as a personal insult, that’s unfortunate. But if there’s little mutual respect, what benefit does the relationship offer?

Have you faced this situation? If so, how are you managing it?