How to upload and share documents on Facebook

Facebook doesn’t provide an easy way to upload documents, just photos and video. Here are some ways to to add this functionality – great for sending out event flyers and other printable documents! These instructions are written on Mac, adapt as needed for a PC.

Option A: Low Tech – Make your document into an image and upload as a photo
Since photos are easy to add via any Status Update, you can convert your document to a .jpg and upload it as an image. This does require software that allows you to make the jpg out of your Word or other document.

​Option B: Hijack the Message feature
While the Status Update doesn’t have a document attachment icon, the Message box does…

1. Log in to Facebook and click any friend’s name.
2. Click Message as if you’re going to send the friend a message.
3. In the To field, delete the friend’s name and type in yours. This is so the message is not actually sent to your friend.
4. Skip the message field and, right below it, click the paperclip icon.
5. Attach your PDF document (this method doesn’t work with Word docs, only PDFs) and click Send.
6. You’ll see your sent message. Right click ON the document name and select Copy Link Location.
7. The link you’ve just copied is long & ugly so you’ll want to shorten it. (it will be something like: http://www.facebook.com/ajax/messaging/attachment.php?attach_id=e95c&hash=AQAPag).
8. Open a new browser window and go to a link shortening service like www.bit.ly. Paste your saved link into the Shorten a Link field and hit Shorten.
9. Copy the new short link, go back to Facebook, and you can paste it into a status update.

Option C: Use Google Docs - fast and easy if you have a Google or Gmail account.

1. Sign in to your Google account and go to Google Drive.
2. Click the red upload button and click Files.
3. Navigate to your document, select it and hit Open.
4. Turn off the conversion if asked. You want to keep the document a Word or PDF file.
5. Once finished you should see the document at the top of the list of files. Click on it to open it.
6. Click share and under Who has access click Change, select Public on the Web and click Save. You should now see the link. You can share the link to several services or copy it to make your own status message.

Option D: Use Docs.com or Scribd.com
If you’re not a Googler, here’s an alternative using Docs.com. Scribd.com works great too:

1. Go to Docs.com and click Sign In.
2. In the top menu bar click Add a Doc and select Upload a Doc.
3. In the Choose a Doc field click Browse and select your document.
4. Under Share With select Everyone and Post to your Facebook Profile.
5. Select editors if you like and click Upload.
6. Back on Facebook your Timeline should have a new update saying that you shared a document using Docs by Microsoft FUSE Labs. If you don’t see this, hit the Refresh button in your browser to refresh the page.

Got your own favorite way? Want more tips & tricks? Like my FB page at facebook.com/pixellavainteractive. 
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