I'm not a social media maven but I think it's a personal decision that each person makes for himself/herself.  

I have been on a Feng Shui mission! My 700 list has become a 350 list and I'm not done. Local agents I'm not actually social with are out. Clients with whom I'm not actually friends, also out. They are all welcome to follow my company page. I don't need them judging me for my very inappropriate sense of humor or opinions. Plus, I get tired of them all advertising 24/7 on their pages . . . noisy noisy!

 To each their own.  My experience with Facebook:

    I used to have thousands of "friends", I liked a bazillion businesses, I belonged to dozens of groups.  But it became an unusable mess.  Plus, Facebook's invasiveness, tracking, profiling.

    So I deleted everybody except my blood family, and a few close personal real-life friends.  I cut it down to 4 groups.

I prefer to be generous share to improve the profession, and help others with a "Like" whenever possible.

I wouldn't necessarily "invite" them.  But, there really aren't any secrets in the business so it's not like they aren't going to know what you're doing.  And, if you have a real estate business page, it should not be a closed group.  You want EVERYONE to be able to find it.   

Ditto, Michael Jacobs Each of us need to make our own decison.

It's a personal decision

I would invite them if they are actually friends or associates with whom I would want to do business.

Are they really a friend = yes; otherwise, no

I agree with Michael Jacobs 

I totally agree with Michael Jacobs - I do have an open page so the public can view my posts anyway so, why not be friends, right?!  

I have no problem sharing with or helping other agents - there is plenty of business to go around!

I think it's great to share with others....to like their pages and have them like yours.... why be on ActiveRain if it's not to learn, share, market and network.... facebook follows suit...

I think that is up to each individual. I have a Facebook page for business and a personal one for my friends and family. I don't mind sharing info and helping another agent out.

How long can one hide anything in today's tech world? Find what works for you & work it and look not at the other guy except to learn from or support

I think it is somewhat counter productive if the agent is using his or her FB home to advertise their business. Like Fred Griffin, I go through periodically and do some "cleaning house"

I've accepted agents friend invites. I don't send them out. I think I have 4 or 5 agents on my friend list. Most agents have a seperate page for business, but they occasionally post a real estate listing or topic on my friend page. i sometimes " hide" their post if i feel it's over the line.

I share my facebook only with other Exclusive Buyers Agents who share my same values. 

Eve

One component of our success (IMHO) is playing nice with others.  I have agents who are friends and they're welcomed to be part of my FB life too.  Nothing I post on my business page is going to cause them to "beat me" in our market.  That lies in their own mirror.  Let's keep it real though... I do like to keep an eye on nearby competitiors &  I don't pass out tons of business related likes to them but will engage when it's worthy.  ;)

I'm friends with lots of Realtors, and I share their listings with my friends. We work better when we help each other rather than when we compete. A rising tide lifts all boats equally.

If you have a scarcity mentality don't.

If you have love in your heart and an abundance mindset, do!

You gonna tell me anything you do is a national secret if your posting it online? 

I share.

I am friends with other agents and glad to know what they are doing and likewise. I do not want to be friends with all my clients as some I do not plan to do business with again.

Great question Randy. That is both a personal decision and professional one. I have very few local real estate agents on my page and many out of area AR agents that I enjoy socially!

I keep my personal Facebook and business Facebook separate. And I don't "like" the local competition, but out of area people are just fine by me.

I will not be friends with any agents in my immediate area other than those in my office. I am of the stance that they are my competitors. I used LinkedIn specifically for out of town referrals.

I do not discriminate against real estate agents or any RE vendor. 

I would suggest the following:

1. understand what invite and friends mean on FB.

2. determine if you are going to engage any other FB resources 

3. have a strategy to 'net' those who raised their hand into your resources tool set.

4. share the sizzle, not the bacon.

Why not? I don't believe I have any tips or insights that truly reinvent the wheel and are all that proprietary. Second, I believe that when you reach out to others it comes back to you... maybe in the form of referrals or new knowledge to you? I don't treat other agents like competition.... I treat them like colleagues in the profession and you know what I've found over 25 years?... that there is more than enough business out there for all of us.

Randy Hilman, Associate Broker - I really do not mind having another Realtor(r) as a Facebook friend.

Personal preference and depends on what your purpose for FB is.  I used to try to keep FB all personal, but it's hard to do that when friends become clients and clients become friends and agents become friends, etc.  Then I just started accepting all friend requests.  Then I got over FB altogether and deactivated my account. -Kasey

I have friends who are agent's 

I'm so with Michael Jacobs on his answer!

I do not have a FB page

Not all, those i interact with I do. But do not accept all. There is just too many

I would invite any of you on AR, because non of you are competing for my business.  But I would not friend just any Santa Rosa real estate agent.  

Personal preference.

If I tryly like them then I Like them.

Randy Hilman, Associate Broker It depends. I had a few Realtor become FB  friends with intentions to discovr my real estate marketing and investment business contacts and groups I am belong to.

I am struggling with the same dilemma, not an easy choice. As of right now, I post very little.

My policy has always been, don't make facebook or myspace friends with your coworkers.  I have a few friend requests from local agents, but I ignore them.  My business page is where they can go.  My personal page is for my family and friends.  That's where my fun posts go (when I used to post there).  Now I'm in the process of cleaning all that stuff up and I go on maybe once or twice a month now (if that).

Yes,  If they are in other states I am glad to be their friends

I am with Michael Jacobs - I am not a fan of anyone telling me what I "should" or "should not" do in life or in business.  I can determine that for myself.  

parked and reading...

deals get done between agents

I believe the more the merrier. Should we? It doesn;t matter to me one bit.

I don't invite other Realtors but will accept them as friends if they invite me.

Randy Hilman, Associate Broker I don't really see the utility in doing this.

I have lots of REALTORS from Denver and across the Country as friends.