Facebook's Shell Game and Some Questions for You
There's been a lot of grumbling about Facebook's shell game--whereby you may or may not see friends' updates.
I don't post on FB often. Aside from the automatic feeds for my blog posts, the only other times I post are for funny personal updates or when I find useful info my friends might like to see.
I try to avoid promo posts unless I'm offering something free or nearly free.
Lately, I've been getting emails and popups on FB asking me to run ads to increase my visibility. And that right there is why I won't do promo on FB. The bottom line is that Facebook limits who sees your updates. And how do I know more people will see my posts?
I have to pay to play and I'm not going to fall into that trap. I've heard several people say they've seen no distinct advantage (read: sales) from advertising on Facebook.
Still it bugs me when people can't see my posts--or I can't see theirs. Sometimes, Greg will ask me about a mutual friend's update, surprised that I never commented on it. When in fact, it never appeared on my timeline.
I like Facebook for little conversations and funnies, but that's about it. Ever since they changed the playing field, I feel they can't be trusted, which is sad because I enjoy chatting with my friends on FB.
How about you? Do you use Facebook for promo? Have you ever paid for one of their ads? Did it work?
***
Twitter: And just when I was ready to wash my hands of Twitter, I get an email from them telling me they have suspended the account of that fraud who was using my personal information.
It took them nearly two months, but that slime ball has been suspended. Thanks to all of you who wrote and pinged Twitter about that imposter. I can't tell you how much I appreciated it.
***
Design Freebies: While I won't be promoting my books anymore--other than static displays--I do need to promote my cover design business. I'd like to come up with some design freebies, but I haven't decided what to give away yet.
Maybe a widget or a blog icon. Maybe a bigger drawing for a web site header.
I'm trying to get past January and the heavy shadow of getting ready for Greg's retirement before I commit to anything. But I'd be interested in your suggestions.
What kind of design freebie would you like to score?
I don't post on FB often. Aside from the automatic feeds for my blog posts, the only other times I post are for funny personal updates or when I find useful info my friends might like to see.
I try to avoid promo posts unless I'm offering something free or nearly free.
Lately, I've been getting emails and popups on FB asking me to run ads to increase my visibility. And that right there is why I won't do promo on FB. The bottom line is that Facebook limits who sees your updates. And how do I know more people will see my posts?
I have to pay to play and I'm not going to fall into that trap. I've heard several people say they've seen no distinct advantage (read: sales) from advertising on Facebook.
Still it bugs me when people can't see my posts--or I can't see theirs. Sometimes, Greg will ask me about a mutual friend's update, surprised that I never commented on it. When in fact, it never appeared on my timeline.
I like Facebook for little conversations and funnies, but that's about it. Ever since they changed the playing field, I feel they can't be trusted, which is sad because I enjoy chatting with my friends on FB.
How about you? Do you use Facebook for promo? Have you ever paid for one of their ads? Did it work?
***
Twitter: And just when I was ready to wash my hands of Twitter, I get an email from them telling me they have suspended the account of that fraud who was using my personal information.
It took them nearly two months, but that slime ball has been suspended. Thanks to all of you who wrote and pinged Twitter about that imposter. I can't tell you how much I appreciated it.
***
Design Freebies: While I won't be promoting my books anymore--other than static displays--I do need to promote my cover design business. I'd like to come up with some design freebies, but I haven't decided what to give away yet.
Maybe a widget or a blog icon. Maybe a bigger drawing for a web site header.
I'm trying to get past January and the heavy shadow of getting ready for Greg's retirement before I commit to anything. But I'd be interested in your suggestions.
What kind of design freebie would you like to score?
Comments
Twitter: I...I put up tweets but I think we have a love/hate relationship wherein it loves that I hate it but can't seem to stop adding tweets (yeah, I know, I need some help with that lol!!)
Design freebies: for me, it's cover work. So like a big giveaway for an ebook cover would capture my attention. Or blogger background. I've had the masquerade up there for a while. May be time for an update.
As for design freebies... I'm clueless. Sorry.
I'm part owner of a page on Facebook and I'm learning some tricks. Links are seen by (or would that be shown to) the least amount of people, whereas pictures are seen by the most. If you want to link to something (like your blog), show a picture and place the link it in the comment section. They might not click on your link, but at least more people are seeing it and it didn't cost you anything.
As for a freebie... You might want to ask on some of those self-publishing loops and see what authors would like.
Re: masquerade header
You know, that header always made me think you wrote Regencies. LOL. Must be my age.
When I stopped seeing my husband's updates they crossed the line. That's when I signed up to be notified when he posted.
I see stuff all the time where ownership is nebulous at best.
Twitter - never got the hang of it as you may possibly have surmised by paucity of posts.
Hope you throw a party when Greg finally retires - even if it's only a two-person one :)
I remember back (which wasn't all that long ago) when I had to hide certain people because they posted too often. (There's only so much personal information I can take.)
I understand FB needs to make money but when it comes to people who aren't shilling, all those updates should be free for all.
I've done shout-outs for my FB friend's new titles, and never got an acknowledgement. Very rarely gotten shares of my own announcements.
As artists we gravitate to FB looking to network, then don't take advantage of what even the basics of FB gives us.
We're our own worst enemies.
*smile*
Sadly, most of the friends who ask that don't understand that facebook IS hiding posts.
I rarely post anything on facebook anymore - maybe 3-5x a week. I used to get fantastic interaction both on my facebook page and my personal account, now it's practically zero interaction on the page, and hit or miss interaction on my own account.
And yeah, I refuse to pay any money. I think it's reasonable to just ask that the people I've mutually friended on there see everything I post. Since they're a 'friend', I'm just going to assume that they actually WANT to see my posts.
I get a little bit of chatter on my updates, but only if I talk about my dogs. LOL!
Fixed that. Thanks for friending me.
About the only sure way I know to see someone's updates is to ask for notifications. But that's not feasible when you have hundreds of friends.
Sometimes I wonder how many people I've lost track of due to FB's shuffling.
I'm still on FB, but I've always been a grudging user of the service. Please, someone invent something better -- although I don't think it's Google+.
As for giveaways... hmm.
I'm not sure, but I'm wondering if those little postcard-ecard things that people share might work. Not so much a giveaway as a funny/cute thing people can share with your name and site in the corner. I noticed review bloggers share them everywhere: on their blogs, on FB, on BookLikes, Goodreads, etc.
It might only be me, but I'd love to win a "coming soon" graphic that could be put up in place of a cover.
I've never bought books based on anything on FB. I think I've won a few but even that has been limited by FB's contest rules.
I have an easier time with Twitter because it's easier to read on my phone. Even with that I have a love/hate relationship with all social media.
Glad that poser was shut down.
I've started using the groups a little bit with promo, and I do promo on my page interspersed with photos and updates.
I enjoy it as a social network, but I haven't seen any benefits for the business side.
I've bought items 'the group' has recommended. I imagine it could have a similar effect with writing/publishing groups.
It's a shame.
It's a conspiracy, I tell ya. ;)
After I get through this current round of edits, I need to look at a total website overhaul. So a Diva-designed header would be divine.
That steams my noodles plenty.
And wait for it--ANOTHER post about networking tomorrow. I couldn't help it.
Re: I'm your girl if you need a re-design. :)