One thing that Facebook is always doing is "updating" their look and organizational scheme, much to the dismay of their users. I think this is partially because people do not like change, but also because it makes the site difficult to navigate. One new feature that I do like is the "real time" status update and comment scroll of my "favorite" friends, in the right sidebar. This allows me to see what is important to me right away, without having to fish around for it.
In spite of Facebook's success, I honestly think that if business websites changed their organizational formats as often as Facebook did the entire concept of the Internet would be one giant FAIL, simply because people would get tired of having to adjust to a new format every few months. I think this is why - on the flip-side of the coin - so many businesses are reluctant to update their website layout, even if it is outdated and/or disorganized.
Over the past 10 years, American businesses have adjusted to the use of the Internet and email as a vital - and expected - means of communication. I remember back in the late 1990's how I was one of the few people I knew to include an email address on my resume, in spite of the fact that no potential employer ever contacted me via email - and I was applying for jobs in the field of Communications and "New Media"!
I remember how back in 2000 while working for an advertising agency - a place where deadlines are always looming, and fast communication is key - my supervisor chastised me for using email instead of the telephone to contact my TV sales reps, saying that "the telephone is quicker; people are more likely to answer it than email". Oh, how times have changed.
I remember the work I did in designing the very first website for Pride Auto Group (which has since dwindled from seven successful dealerships to just Pride Hyundai). I remember trying to sell the owner and Executive Vice-President on investing in the web-software I needed to create a first-class website...and I remember when they fired the HTML code designer (I only handled the graphics, Flash, and layout) because the owner reasoned that "a website is a waste of money; people aren't going to use the Internet to buy cars". This was in 2002 - only 10 years ago.
It has really only been within the past 5 - 7 years that an Internet presence has been considered mandatory for a company to have - complete with Facebook and Twitter accounts - and it seems like many of the haphazard efforts of creating one are still out there and in use. Hopefully, within the next 5 - 7 years, these disorganized efforts will be pulled together into something more appealing to potential customers.
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