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Facebook Users: Do You Check Your ‘Hidden’ Inbox?

By
Real Estate Agent with Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties RES.0781237

Facebook Users:  Do You Check Your ‘Hidden’ Inbox?


If you are a Facebook user, you know that Facebook will notify you of messages which can be accessed through the ‘Messages’ icon on the top left of your personal (not business) page.


On the left sidebar of your personal page, there is a ‘Messages’ menu selection from which you can access your messages as well.

 
 

Immediately below ‘Messages’ you will find ‘Other’.  This is what is referred to as the Facebook ‘Hidden’ Inbox.  This 'Other' folder is not visible until you view your main 'Messages' folder, and Facebook will not send you a notification when a new message arrives in this folder.

 

 Facebook 'Other' Folder

 

 

In this ‘Other’ folder, Facebook files what it interprets as spam, messages from people who aren't friends, messages from people you've unsubscribed to, event invitations, and subscribed-to business page updates.  Go ahead and look. 


If you don't want Facebook to hide these messages from you, you CAN redirect messages from the 'Other' folder to the main 'Messages' folder -- or vice versa. Why would you redirect to the 'Other' folder?  You may have an annoying 'friend' who writes on your wall constantly.  Just move that friend from 'Messages' to 'Other'. 

 

What is this redirection process?

 

  • Open a message and click the 'Actions' button on the top right.
  • Choose the bottom menu option - 'Move to Messages' or 'Move to Other' -- depending on which folder you are viewing. 
  • All future messages from that sender will go to where you want.

 
 

 

You cannot access the ‘Other’ folder via your mobile device or from apps.

 

When I checked my 'Other' folder, there were multiple messages from business pages, some event invitations, and one was even from ActiveRain about a Raincamp back in May.  Another was from an individual (from May 2010) who was returning to my area and would possibly be interested in looking at some rentals. Missed that one.  Sorry I never got back to you! 

 

Also had messages from a few guys looking for women. Ugh.  Now I can thank this Facebook filter for that!

 

**If you are an active Facebook user, you might want to check this folder frequently to be sure you are not missing any important inquiries from potential clients.**

 

 

 

Comments(16)

Pat Champion
John Roberts Realty - Eustis, FL
Call the "CHAMPION" for all your real estate needs

Never knew this box existed I guess you learn something new everyday. Thanks for passing along this valuable information.

Dec 21, 2011 03:26 AM
Peter Pfann @ eXp Realty Pfanntastic Properties in Victoria, Since 1986.
eXp Realty, Victoria BC www.pfanntastic.com - Victoria, BC
Talk To or Text Peter 250-213-9490

Hi Barbara,

Never knew any of this, just checked and there are a bunch of messages there, now I have to check them and see what to do with them all.....thanks ;o)

Merry Christmas and a Pfanntastic New Year

Dec 21, 2011 03:33 AM
Dan Hopper
Dan Hopper - Gold Way RE - Westminster, CO
Colorado Broker / Referral Services

Thanks for the reminder, Barbara.... it is easy to forget about the "other" under the messages.... especially, when you have turned off your notification email.

Dec 21, 2011 03:46 AM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Merry Christmas and Happy 2012 to all!

 

Pat -- I didn't know about it as well.  Just found out about this yesterday. 

Peter & Linda -- Hope you didn't have any possible leads, like I did, and didn't know about!

Dan -- Yes, if it's not right in front of you, it's not something you're likely to check frequently.

Dec 21, 2011 04:21 AM
Nancy Conner
Olympia, WA
Olympia/Thurston County WA
Who knew?? Thanks for the tip - gonna go check and see what messages I may have lurking...
Dec 21, 2011 04:35 AM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Nancy -- I doubt many know of this unless they are heavy users.  I am a light user so I had no idea.

Dec 21, 2011 04:44 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Barbara, thanks for the heads up.   I just looked at mine, and saw the other, but nothing was there.  

Happy Holidays!

Dec 21, 2011 07:27 AM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Barbara, this is great information! I can't figure FB out half the time! I just stopped by to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

Dec 21, 2011 08:12 AM
Robert Bob Gilbert
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Anderson Properties - Katy, TX
Your Katy TX ( West of Houston) Real Estate Expert

Barbara,

Excellent tip and I had no earthly idea about this other message section. Thanks for telling everyone as I plan to check my other box as soon as I finish this message.

Dec 21, 2011 08:14 AM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Joan --  Well, it's good to know anyway.  I was very surprised. I had about 30 entries in there.

Connie -- FB is good for making changes and not telling anyone. Merry Christmas and the best in 2012.

Bob -- From what I read, most users don't.  A few of things I found were pretty funny, as I mentioned.

Dec 21, 2011 10:32 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Barbara, I don't use Facebook much, so I am glad you pointed that out.  I will go and check it out.

Dec 21, 2011 01:26 PM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

George -- I don't post to my personal page much. I do to my business page.  So I was surprised to see all that I had in that 'other' folder.

Dec 21, 2011 01:39 PM
Eileen Begley
Coldwell Banker, DelMonte - Carmel, CA
Monterey Real Estate

Thanks Barbara; Am just starting to really use Facebook more. So nice tip!

Dec 21, 2011 05:17 PM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Barbara, We are so not up on any FB challenges and maybe 2012 we can get more involved in it working for us...nice way to spread the word!

Happy Holidays!

Dec 21, 2011 08:07 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Barbara bookmarked, this is a great tip.   I do need to spend more time with figuring out Facebook.

Thank you.

Dec 23, 2011 01:51 PM
Bernadette Arzu
Serving Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond and Pearland - Sugar Land, TX
Broker-Associate, Keller Williams Realty SW

Barbara, I followed your instructions and found 2 messages that were over 1 month old. Thanks for the valuable information.

 

Dec 24, 2011 04:25 PM