We are currently constructing an intranet/extranet network for a client, besides doing their actual website. And yes, don't be mistaken: we recommended using Facebook as intranet/extranet for the company's clients, fans, friends, connections, potential clients etc.

This is an exciting project, and Facebook has quite good facilities for this idea.

• We recommended using the "Facebook Page" as coporate secondairy website, as a backup and marketing vehicle for the client's actual website. See more here: http://www.facebook.com/help/?ref=drop#!/help/?page=175
• Then we create a handful of "Facebook groups" for various segments of the our client's clients. These groups have individual privacy and access settings. Read more here: http://www.facebook.com/help/?ref=drop#!/help.php?page=982
• It is possible to control exactly what elements on the page/group that we allow to "stream" into the public space of fans/members personal walls etc.
• We also made a complete guide to the company's communication officers on how to set, maintain, delete and create their pages and groups for continous use.

Not only is this construction a marketing gimmick to make the company look cool. It actually is a way to reach the communities of clients' connections, friends and colleagues. In other words the viral effect does its work as long as you keep your page and group alive.

You can do that yourself, or you can ask us to help you with a suitable strategy, that will make your employees, partners and clients happy and that will make you win new potential markets by entering the biggest community on the planet the corporate way.

A few years ago when Facebook was really winning terrain among the masses the discussion about Facebook as intranet was discussed mainly at an ethical level.

Links:

• http://www.contenthere.net/2007/11/facebook-as-your-intranet.html
• http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/blogspotting/archives/2007/11/serena_software.html?campaign_id=rss_blog_blogspotting
• http://blogs.bnet.com/harvard/?p=158

Do you have experience with this procedure? Feel free to discuss.