Dependency on Social Networks for Sales

[VAnetworking]

I must say, I was a bit peeved this past week when I went to my Facebook Business page and it defaulted to my Facebook page. I've accumulated about 2,000 fans for it over the past month or two, building it, adding videos and content to find out that Facebook just lost it on the WWW :(

http://www.twitter.com/vanetworking now defaults to my own Facebook personal page.

I've put a ticket into support and hopefully they find it for my network followers. Cross your fingers for me!!!

In the meantime, it got me thinking about how dependent our businesses are starting to become on the social networks like Facebook, Twitter, etc. I know I've been pouring money into my Facebook business page to trick it out for my audience and now find myself wondering if it was a waste of money?? (No it wasn't as I'm confident Facebook will be able to find it) But how can we protect ourselves from glitches in the system like this or can we even do that? I do know this, thank goodness I still have Linkedin Groups and my Twitter stuff plus a few other social networks I am focused on to pick up the slack of losing Facebook in the interim.

My word of advice: Don't put all your marketing efforts into one social network and instead divide it across a few of them as you never know what may happen to an individual social network or even worse, what if one of these companies goes belly up?

Just needed to air and thanks for listening ;)

Tawnya

[Lynn Terry]

Wow, Tawnya - definitely keep us posted. I can't imagine how they could just 'lose' it :confused:

Speaking of Facebook, my thoughts on the recent debate on profiles vs pages: http://www.clicknewz.com/2026/facebook-pages-vs-profiles-debate/

Obviously I havent invested as much as you had on FB- or anywhere really. I do use social networking & social media, I'm just not overly dependent on it. I have made it a point to build the community aspect on my own domains, using the social sites to meet people and then move the conversation to my blog or forum from there...

[VAnetworking]

I'm currently adding a blog to my mediamage.com website so I have a place to talk about internet marketing. I have tons of websites online to talk about VAs but no place for me and my true interest which is internet marketing.

[Lynn Terry]

Great idea. Definitely better to keep it on your own property where you at least have some control...

[kellymccausey]

I have never understand the attraction of encouraging a lot of interaction on facebook fan pages - especially when you already have a community on your own domains?

[VAnetworking]

For me it is just a mission to be everywhere and anywhere. Wherever someone is looking for info on Virtual Assistants be it Facebook, Twitter, Digg or Hubpages, I want VAnetworking.com to show up which then directs them back to our website. It's my way of eventually taking over the WWW for the term "Virtual Assistant" ;)

Ok, time to go have a glass of wine, it is Saturday nite afterall...have a great weekend everyone!

Kelly...I heard you are going to NAMS3 in Atlanta in January...is that so? Look forward to finally meeting you if you do as I am going to be going too.

My 23 old daughter decided today that she wants to join my business so hopefully she will come with me. She knows nothing about Internet Marketing and wasn't even sure what an ebook was today when I was quizzing her but I know she will pick it up quick. I'm really excited to have her a part of my business dream :)

[Lynn Terry]

That's an excellent goal, Tawnya and I do much the same. It's all about visibility and exposure. That said, you do want to use it to draw people into your own properties vs keeping the conversation off-site.

Any news on recovering your FB property, btw?

I think I'll join you in that glass of wine ;)

[VAnetworking]

No response from Facebook over our disappearing Fanpage except for an autoresponder they sent me saying the email I sent them was not from an email address associated with an account with them. It is the email addy I use so not sure where to go from here with them. Right now I have my own social media VA researching other avenues to try and contact them.

[Lynn Terry]

Nuts! We're actually trying to invite Mari Smith (Facebook Expert) on to the next IMTW Podcast to discuss all this friend'ing & fan'ing business - and I'll be sure to mention that. Would be interesting to hear what Mari has to say about it...

[DianaWalker]

That is crazy, Tawnya! - sure hope Facebook recovers the 2000 fans and the fanpage for you.
I didn't know you lived in Vancouver too! I'm going to NAMS also in Atlanta in January, so even though we live in the same city, we will hopefully meet there!!

I met Mari Smith at a 3-day Workshop here in Vancouver in May 2008 - she is terrific!
What is IMTW Podcast, Lynn?

Diana

[Lynn Terry]

It is Internet Marketing This Week (http://www.internetmarketingthisweek.com), a fun podcast I do alongside Ed Dale, Michelle MacPhearson & Paul Colligan. You'll find it @IMTW on Twitter too.

[VAnetworking]

Diana,

If you are ever out in White Rock area, look me up 604-542-9664 and maybe we can grab a coffee or something :)