So, Facebook...
A very very smart piece by smartbitchesbooks about the ongoing changes at Facebook — and how changes to their organic reach on posts can affect small businesses — and authors count as small business.
I’m reminded of how a year or so ago all small business-types were all encouraged to change over from a Profile to a Page. I have to think they had this plan in place all along.
And yes, I know its hinky to complain about a “free” service — after all, if it’s free to you, chances are you’re the thing they’re selling. But as someone who doesn’t have an online advertising budget, who makes in a year what some big companies make in an hour, who is in a business that has slashed marketing budgets time and time again, thereby putting the onus of publicity and going out and reaching readers very much on the author’s shoulders (I’m looking at you, publishing house funded book tours that seem mythical at this point) — I rely heavily on social media to create a community of readers. I worked hard to get those 3000ish people to like my page in the first place. I work hard to make sure I interact with them daily in some way. But now 99% of those 3000 won’t even see my efforts. So why should I put any more effort in? I certainly don’t have money to put in. Save that for the Nike’s of the world.
I wonder if a sliding scale could be imposed to the limits on organic reach. But Facebook isn’t in the business of catering to me. They have shareholders, and their needs must be met first. Therefore, monetizing their product to the hilt. (Forget the fact that even on my page I still have advertisements pop up onscreen. There are more avenues for revenue than just using me as a set of eyeballs.)
And yes, I realize the irony of putting this up on my fledgling new Tumblr, seeing as Tumblr is a social media company, free-to-use, and therefore just as likely to follow in Facebook’s mercenary footsteps. But since it hasn’t yet, I look at it like this: on Facebook, it would reach maybe 40 people. Out of 3000. On Tumblr, it would reach 12-ish — but those 12 are 100% of my followers. Which is a better return on investment.
That’s all for now. Thanks for letting me shout into the wind.
