In the previous two blog posts I wrote about Facebook’s unwritten rules which, if broken, can get you banned from Facebook. In today’s post I’m wrapping up this series with some additional thoughts on the subject.
Getting Banned Isn’t the Only Issue
If you follow ethical networking strategies on Facebook and focus on quality rather than quantity you should be okay. However, I’ve heard too many stories from people who just don’t know what they did wrong to be able to guarantee it won’t happen to you.
But getting banned isn’t the only reason to worry. If you’re on Twitter, you might remember Black Tuesday.
In the spring of 2008, those on Twitter logged on one Tuesday morning to discover all their followers were gone, and so were the people they were following. Everyone was alone in Twitter.
What happened?
Twitter’s server crashed and deleted everyone’s followers.
To the best of my knowledge, this has never happened to Facebook. However, as we all know, technology isn’t perfect. You just never know.
But there’s more. While Facebook is selling advertising they are closed mouthed about how their revenue stream is going. Facebook is growing so quickly, I find it hard to believe they will ever go under, but people would have said this about the big three automakers two years ago.
The Real Question
So real the question is if Facebook were to ban you, crash or disappear altogether, what would that do to your marketing efforts? How would that impact your business?
And I think this is an important question for any marketing strategy, not just Facebook. You shouldn’t be dependant on only one marketing tool – you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket. It’s just too risky to have all your marketing focused solely on one social media tool.
What’s the answer then?
You need to create an overall marketing plan for your business. Facebook can (and for many businesses, should) be a part of that plan. But it needs to be incorporated and connected to other marketing strategies.
Plan to use other social media sites (I’m regularly on Twitter and LinkedIn as well as Facebook). Attend live networking events. Use PR. Write a blog or newsletter. Advertise. The key is, not to depend on getting all your business from one place.
When it comes to Facebook, spend the time it takes to build relationships and your list in an ethical manner. Give people a chance to get to know, like and trust you.
And while you’re busy building those relationships on Facebook, you need to have a secondary goal in mind. And that goal is to get people off Facebook and onto your own site, onto your own mailing list.
You can’t force people onto your own sites. But if you give people time to get to know you, like you and trust you, eventually you can gently and carefully encourage them to visit your website and join your own email list.
Andrea J. Stenberg
In my business, often I see people go from Twitter, then Facebook, then my blog, then my newsletter. How does Facebook fit into your overall marketing strategy? Have any tips to share? Please leave a comment here.
This is a great post.
While the rise of social media has been a great way to market yourself and products/services, many people try to exploit the ability to get yourself out to others by simply trying to get as many followers as possible.
As you pointed out, social media is about quality over quantity. The beautiful thing about it is, it has never been easier to communicate with real people in live time who share your common interests and passions. But in any marketing plan, your customers must be know, like, and trust you. Social media is a great way to do that, but if you are just trying to spread your product/service to multiple people it is a waste of time- you will undoubtedly miss out on what social media is intended for- to be social
Thank you Andrea. You’ve made some confusing points very clear. I’m pretty new to facebook I’ve had an account since around September but really hadn’t done much with it. It good to get this information to start off on the right foot.
I am fascinated how can someone generate such speculative post without any confirmed insider information and speak about it like she’s been 100% sure that this is the way it works. LOL!
Emanuel,
I’m not quite sure what you’re taking issue with here. I think it’s sound advice to ensure that people’s marketing plan doesn’t reply on one strategy.
As to the overall issue of getting banned from Facebook, all there can really be is speculation because even people who have been banned (and I’ve spoken to some) don’t get a straight answer from Facebook about what they did wrong.
What I was hoping to achieve from this post was to make people aware that Facebook isn’t a free-for-all. While they aren’t always clear, there are rules that must be followed or this very useful networking tool can be lost to you.
Andrea
I have been banned and NO, I do NOT know why.
I have approximately 700 friends from school and work, both past and present… A few friends of mutual interest (fitness and body building) this past Sunday morning BOOM lowered.
“Your account has been disabled for violation of …” I don’t curse, I don’t spam, I don’t do anything other than truly use facebook on a daily basis. Communicating with co-workers, church members, friends and neighbors.
What I have found is that the appeal process is non-existent. The last email received after I requested help was “No appeal available banned for life…”
Huh? I don’t get it and there should be SOME manner of appeal! Please do NOT make me go back to myspace. /sigh
Like Eddie, I found myself disabled last thursday 22nd July 10 and now today Tues 27th July a now banned.
Having been on FB for over 5 yrs was never made aware of their unwritten rules. I created a health & Fitness group and weekly emailed updates. The group became interntional and I started to help more people. The cardiac groups on FB I joined and when I posted a link to them the admins all posted back comments thanking me for sharing the information.
So I was banned because I engaging people in a group setting, on a personal level. All the information was freely given, I’m not making money from it, its because I love the work I do.
I’ve appealed and my friends have posted comments on their walls about what has happened to me. Some have even emailed FB expressing their shock. I’m not holding my breath, but if it changes I’ll let you know. I make even make a film about it and post it on Youtube. Maybe everyone whose been banned should post to YouTube and expose this outrageous behaviour by FaceBook.
Sorry in my haste to write, I should say that I’m a specialist cardiac trainer as well as working in the fitness industry. It pay not to be too active on FB.
If its a social networkig site, then we should be able to freely network.
I completely agree with you about people personalizing the invitation. To me sending the generic LinkedIn invite without any indication of how the person found me or why we should connect is rude.
How many messages can you send a day on Facebook without getting a warning and risk getting disabled because Facebook is ridiculous with their blocks. Thank you
Should I also spread my messages out as well during the day? thnak you.
You can also get banned if someone takes against you for some reason and reports your content as abusive – even if it isn’t. I got “warned” because I said hello to a friend. Literally, just “Hello Helen.” I have had several bans now for the most innocuous posts and no appeal procedure, no discussion. It can be frustrating if you let it get to you; I try not to.
I Waa banend while inviting ONLY Family they ALL have The sme Family name and I van PROVE The are Family. I do not know what Goes wrong and they don’t answer My question
I was banned for Liking too many things, so I was banned from Liking, Messaging, Posting etc, I just started a new facebook account , because the other one is getting full and I want to close it, and any friends that wants me can add me. I had no friends on my profile, but yet I managed to harass someone or something… Well I better go to Judge Judy and sue myself for annoying myself…. FB has become retarded and lame, not sure why their becoming NAZI style rules and regulations… But now I have seen it to know it’s not just me….
I just got another thirty day ban, apparently for posting a picture of a public statue of a fully clothed man; it was reported by some anonymous person. The sense of frustration among people I know who are victim to this mindless activity, the trolling and the complete absence of engagement on the part of F/B is palpable.
The only consolation is that F/B is probably the least relevant, most dispensable social media outlet on the planet and there are plenty of good alternatives depending on what you want to do. I am still getting used to Google Plus and, already applying the lessons of this helpful post, am daily on the lookout for new outlets.