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.
