October 4th marked the longest stretch of downtime for Facebook since 2008 — six hours, to be exact. This outage not only affected 3.5 billion Facebook users worldwide, but also Facebook-owned social media platforms WhatsApp and Instagram, as well. After reconnecting, a public apology was made to people and businesses around the world that rely on these sites, blaming the outage on an internal technical issue.
According to Statista, Facebook is the most popular social network worldwide, followed by YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram. In other words, three of the four sites that were impacted. Before we continue, answer this question. Have you ever heard the idiom, don’t put all your eggs in one basket? While these social media platforms can be a vital part of your marketing strategy, you would be wise to see these networks for what they are — tools. And tools, while helpful, can be undependable.
As we mentioned earlier, this is not the first time Facebook has crashed. In light of the recent situation, we will discuss how to stay connected with your customers without relying on social networks.
How To Stay Connected Without Relying On Social Networks
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
- Focus your efforts where it matters most.
- Create a community to keep the conversation going.
1. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Marketing on social media platforms is a smart idea, especially if you are focusing on the networks that fit your customer demographics. But remember, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Whenever we see a business with a Facebook page instead of an actual website, we cringe. Sadly, this mistake is actually pretty common, but having an attractive web design is crucial to building a recognizable brand and creating a better user experience for your target audience. A website or mobile app is also the first stop in your sales funnel, helping to convert casual visitors into actual customers. Email also serves as an important and dependable means for engagement, and it is still an effective element of any marketing strategy.
2. Focus your efforts where it matters most.
Sometimes, things are completely out of our control, such as the events of October 4th. Instead of gearing your efforts towards growing a large following on Facebook, it is more important to communicate with the customers that have opted in to find out more about your goods and services. The key is to get people off social networks and on to your website, app, and email list, so you can still communicate when the next “internal technical issue” happens on your social media platforms. And again, if you don’t have a website, or if your current web design needs improvement, you should immediately turn your attention to website development.
3. Create a community to keep the conversation going.
Organically growing followers on your social networks is great, but growing your email list is even better. If we’ve learned anything from the day Facebook broke, it’s that you shouldn’t rely too heavily on social media platforms to stay connected with your customers. We are clearly at the mercy of technology, but with a variety of tools at our disposal, we can still create a community and keep the conversation going.
For help with your marketing strategy, including website development, social media management, coaching, and other vital services, contact the experts at Aliya Hammond Consulting today!
You’ve probably realized by now that Social Media is no longer an option. In fact, it is a vital and highly successful tool for building a business. Aliya Hammond Consulting is an online Digital Marketing, Training, and Consulting Company headquartered in the greater Philadelphia area. We specialize in Social Media Management and Marketing, Social Media Training, Blog Writing, and Graphic Design Services for small and large businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations. If you are looking to improve or increase your online presence, you can rest assured you are in good hands with us. Contact Aliya Hammond Consulting today to find out how we can help your business grow!
