If you aren’t in the social media world much you may not have noticed this, but among businesses and bloggers and those seeking to grow those things, Facebook has just been very unfriendly to us! I don’t even understand all the technical end of it…algorithms and such that don’t show people everything that is posted on Facebook…people are losing the reach they once had. Meaning, instead of the thousands of people that USED to see their links and such, now a very SMALL percentage is actually seeing what we/you post.
There are many, many bloggers and business owners stating emphatically that they are DONE with Facebook. No more. They are leaving.
Not me.
Why?
Am I trying to grow the reach of my blog? Yes.
Am I trying to share things that I write and that friends write that I think matters to you? Yes.
Am I trying to encourage my readers and those that struggle? Yes.
Am I even trying to earn a little bit of income from my blog and affiliate links? Yes.
So, why would I stay on Facebook where NONE of those things seem to be WORKING??
Because people matter. Relationships and community matter to me.
While I’m trying to grow the reach of my blog, I’m doing that to grow the sense of community. Not for numbers sake. My heart is to encourage other moms and I can’t do that if I’m not interacting with them. I have conversations with many of you on Facebook. I get comments there that I have never gotten on google+, or anywhere else for that matter!
I do share things on google+, but that is for search engines to find…not my friends.
You know what? I don’t have to CHOOSE between Facebook and google+. I can happily use both for their different purposes…just like I will continue using (and loving) instagram to share pictures!
I blog because of you, my readers, my friends…end of story. I share on Facebook to interact with you all, to give and receive encouragement. So, I’m staying put.
You NAILED it!!! This is exactly how I feel.
awww, thanks, friend!! I admit, I was a little nervous to hit “publish.” 🙂 I appreciate your encouragement!
I think it is important for everyone to find the best place for them. As homeschool Moms, we don’t have free days to work on our blogs or our social media. As a family and a blog grow, things change. I’m thankful we all have the freedom to share our thoughts, opinions and our plans. Praying your receive many blessings in 2014.
For sure, Rebecca! I mostly shared this because in my circles, all I have seen is how awful Facebook is and awesome google+ is…and I agree, in certain aspects, both can be true. We also have to look at our own personal goals for our blogging and social media…it’s hard sorting through all of it for sure! And you’re right, everyone has to find what works for them!! 🙂
I’m leaving Facebook personally this year but staying for blog and marketing work purposes. I love the little community we’ve created on Facebook and would never give that up!
Little House Living, I have pondered the same thing…thus far I have never created a page for my blog, so my “community” happens on my personal page but with local friends and blog friends. 🙂 I would hate to give it up also!!
Candace ~ From a business perspective, I can understand why people are leaving Facebook. But also from a business perspective, I think that it doesn’t hurt to stay there. FB is a HUGE referrer of traffic for me, so I’m staying. As quickly as things change they can change again, so I’m sticking it out.
I also LOVE the community I have on FB. We interact about a lot of things – important things – and I love the group there. So, yes – for the friendship standpoint I will be staying.
Making knee jerk reactions about anything is never good. I think the decision for people to just ‘LEAVE FB” is hasty. (my two cents – for what it’s worth)
Mary, thanks for chiming in! I also get a significant amount of hits from Facebook still!
Well said! I’m with you on the people over numbers. So many blogs that I used to read seem to only be about increasing the numbers and not as much about content. My blog reading has dropped considerably.
Stefanie, I think a lot of us, when growing our own blogs, can’t keep up with all the blogs that we used to! I know the same is for me, too. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by…
Candace, do you have a blog FB feed or do you just friend people? I used to follow your blog regularly, but sort of lost a few blogs when Google Reader disappeared, and yours was one of them… Just saw your name pop up on Leslie’s FB page and was reminded of your blog! 🙂
Hi Elizabeth!! I do not have a Facebook page for my blog, but a lot of blog friends have friended me there, so feel free to so so! Or you can subscribe to my blog via email and get them straight to your inbox. OR you can follow on one of the other readers like BlogLovin or Feedly, the 2 that most people seem to use since google reader went away. 🙂
You’re absolutely spot on on the reasons to stay on Facebook–for conversation and community building. Your post helps bring balance to the ongoing debate. Thanks for sharing this on Kris’s wall so I could read it! 😉
Trina, thank you so much for your kind words this morning!! I think balance and realizing our goals is very helpful in this. And I wish it wasn’t a debate, ya know?! I appreciated your post, as well, because there are certainly ways that I’m trying to grow my blog where Facebook is NOT the answer. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by…
Good point. I’m not leaving Facebook either. I wish they would do things differently –it’s very frustrating. However, I’m not there solely to get blog traffic.
I agree with what you’re saying, but I’m wondering if having a page is what’s hurting bloggers. In your case, since your readers actually “friend” you, they get to see everything you post. In that case, than, yes it wouldn’t make sense to leave Facebook. I’ve been hearing that using your personal profile (as opposed to a page) is probably better. I’m tossing around the idea. Thanks for your thoughts! All the best to you!
Jillian – I definitely think you’re right! I’ve always gone back and forth about starting a Facebook page for my blog….everyone always said I needed to, but now I’m kind of glad I didn’t.
Amen!!! That is all I have to say!!! 🙂