“Facebook stalking”: verb; the act of investigating one’s personal, professional and party life via the popular social networking site Facebook. 

We’re all guilty of the act. Whether it’s a cute girl you met at the bar, class project partner or jealous ex-boyfriend, chances are you have done some “investigating” to find out more about a person’s personality and activities through his or her Facebook account.

Now, as Facebook continues to revolutionize the world of social media, so do employers and business clients. Take a moment to think about your profile page and the message you are sending to “friends.”

Photos

The infamous question mark in place of a profile picture puts up a red flag that you are either a spam account or convicted felon. It also makes it harder for friends or potential employers to find you.

Replace the default with a recent photo of yourself — preferably not shirtless in front of the mirror.

Also, check your tagged photos and albums. Let’s face it: The Solo cups aren’t fooling anyone. If you are under 21, untag drinking photos and ask friends to delete the photos from the album. This is a good rule of thumb if you’re older than 21, too.

Friends

The only thing worse than having a few dozen friends is having a few thousand friends. If you’re on the low side, you have a private profile and use Facebook as a tool to network or connect with distant relatives. When you have more friends than most Iowa town populations, it is a sign that you are some college celebrity — athlete, musician or walk-of-shame legend.

Periodically, review your friend list to ensure who is viewing your profile. Many employers also will look through your friends, searching for mutual connections or references. This is a good reminder to think twice before accepting that unknown friend request.

Status updates

Status complainer: You have a migraine — take some aspirin. You still have six hours of work left — tough luck. Your car won’t start — get off Facebook and call for help.

These complaints are negative and give the impression that you are unhappy. This also is inappropriate for the work setting and could lead to a new status update: “OMG. I got fired :(.“

Privacy settings

Be sure to instill privacy settings on your personal page. What is appropriate for your best friend may not be for your brother — or for your boss. No matter how limited your profile, be sure to keep contact information visible, such as an email address or website.

However, if you’re still using “[email protected],” it may be time to create a new, professional account.