20 Replies

Jennifer hon…. , I don’t purchase likes from facebook, nor will I ever … I’ll never quite understand the algorithms of Facebook… they are clamping down more to get people to get them to purchase .. what about a website and opening up a blog and linking to to facebook? even though my website has lapsed these past tow years (to be changing in 2015 hopefully with a revamp) , I get loads and loads of order queries through there still…. Also use Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter too? <3

The best way is to focus on creating quality posts. Many people are falling into the fan trap. Simply trying to build numbers of fans in other countries for the sake of numbers – but that doesn’t actually get you seen to your target audience “customers”

If your goal for example is to sell cakes to your area, I would suggest spending real time engaging with your local community offline as ultimately they are the ones you want as customers yes?

Don’t rely on Facebook for your sole marketing plan, it should be just one of many tools available.

He’s going the same Jen !! 10000 likers only see my posts 130 ??? !!! I will not pay a single penny FB to promote my publications, I am very angry with this new policy! I have claimed many times and all I got is that I block the account with the excuse that someone, somewhere, was willing to start session in my place. Everything is a joke to buy advertising

I have also begun to hate fb with a passion. Entire albums of photos of my work get to less than 10% of my likers, they claim that’s because too much content is being generated on fb – but my feed is spammed full of s4s, one line statement banter (which is fine but seriously, not above actual original artistic content) and notifications of every post my friends have liked, commented on or sneezed in the vicinity of. While high quality original content is filtered out, and pages that don’t constantly update with chatty fluff are at a disadvantage in terms of interaction and likes. My sister always tells me she never sees my photos on her feed, and she likes everything I post, it’s so arbitrary. Also on the mobile site it gives me an error every time I try to click on a notification, as of last week. I honestly think people only use Facebook because there is no viable alternative, that is really no way to run a business because inevitably there will be something else, and everyone won’t wait to jump ship. I hope some entrepreneur is reading this and starts developing some competition!

S4S posts actually destroy your page reach in the long run – the higher amount of fans a page has versus the less amount of people clicking on the links results in death of your engagement.

S4S may look enticing for your ego, but in the long run it’s empty likes that don’t produce business results.

Facebook has always been a personal platform it’s not like instagram, twitter, g+ that is more focused on random – Facebook is about engagement. Having 5 local people liking your cakes for sale is a lot better for actual business than 500 people from overseas who would never order from you.

I think people get too caught up on numbers in excess of their actual target audience and then destroy their reach. The more non genuine followers the less engaged your posts will become, the less orders you will receive, and the less you will be seen in a ginormous world wide news feed.

I am not a supporter of 4F4, I have never participated in this type of sharing, I think they are likes empty, only contribute to our business as many people, no more arrival of our product, I have quite likes people of my city, and FB is not showing my posts to anyone, not even the likes of the world or the likes of my city, my personal FB is like business, nor am having arrival because 1400 friends just are seeing my posts 10 or 12 when previously had an average of 50.

I agree on your views on s4s, I’ve never liked it and if that’s all I see from a page tbh I have unfollowed them because of it. My issue is very similar Tete, 50+ or so of my friends are also my likers, if I post a cake on my personal page I get dozens of likes but sometimes as little as 1 or 2 on my fb page purely because my post isn’t being shown to my fans. I agree Naomi I have no interest in 50k fb fans when my first 50 don’t even get to see what I make properly… I don’t want likes for likes sake, I want my friends and people who are interested in my work to be able to have the chance to see it – and that is what I want from the pages on my feed too. Facebook is killing itself with this seriously retarded heavy handed content filtering, essentially showing me spam and adverts rather than things I actually like.

Yes I totally agree about empty likes and it is frustrating to visit a page and all I see is 6 links shared – it’s not selling their cakes. And yes the news feed algorithms are becoming harder and harder to get on top of. One can only hope that they see the errors in this and fix it up.

I know on my personal profile I miss a lot of my friends posts, it seems Facebook is hiding an incredulously large amount lately.

Calli’s suggestions to spread out onto other platforms to get orders is my best opinion too. Join local online yellowpages type directories, have a google+ business page which puts your actual business address on the Google maps – that’s what will get customers to you – not “fakebook” :)

Here’s the link for Google Business.

If you are selling cakes you need to have your “shop” on google maps

https://www.google.com.au/business/?gmbsrc=au-en-ha-se-z-gmb-s-z-h~sk-47267704747-m&ppsrc=GMBS0&utm_campaign=au-en-ha-se-z-gmb-s-z-h~sk-47267704747-m&utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=ha&gclid=CjwKEAjw2f2hBRCdg76qqNXfkCsSJABYAycPpJopSgfBWSpEh7NJrwj-g4ZJgXNSxEsUtus32upOmRoCS6bw_wcB

Thank you Naomi!!

Facebook does try to control your business page, but I post both on my business page and my personal page.. I post on my personal page just like it was a business page.. people see more of my things that way… They can’t control your personal page, because everyone has one.. they can’t tell the difference that you are putting up something about business and not personal ..When it is a business page it is flagged as being a business page and they control it :(

I am glad you mentioned it! Facebook is really frustrating me also. I have to remember that I started making cookies for the love of the craft, and my goal isn’t to get more likes…although we all get that surge through our blood when someone shares and then an influx of people visit the page. I would rather have 2000 people that really appreciate what I do..than 400K who just clicked my page for the sake of it.

Agreed Kim. Bethann, i heard a rumour fb will stop people advertising their business in their personal page – Raewyn posted that someone who put the word “cake” in their name was banned or had their account frozen because they said she was advertising her business on that page. Not sure if they’re going to check posts too. I think other platforms might be a better solution, although nothing is as popular as fb atm.

Yea it’s true, if you put the word “cake” in your personal name, or your “business name” in your name, facebook have notified people to warn them if they do not change it, they will shut the page down, I know of two this has happened to. So for instance, if I put “Calli Callicious Hopper” as my personal page name, facebook will shut my personal page down for a two week period or there abouts I’m led to believe. .
Kim your so right….. Far to much importance is put onto “likes” ….It does not promote business, it’s the reach and exposure that helps to be seen which in turn helps business…. I happen to know Jennifer, and I have lived in South Africa and know how HARD it is to get business exposure there, I lived through it myself.
I totally agree with the other feedback here, very sound advise. There is also other things that can be some such as flyers in post boxes, business cards placed on supermarket advertising boards, and of course friends and families promoting help as well, colleagues at work, getting involved in your own local community, charity work, local newspaper …. Some of these may be seen as old fashioned ways but still work for those who do not use or not familiar with Internet, facebook etc at (and there are many) …. Also, making up dummy cakes for display purposes and finding opportunities to display them at venues when you can, with business cards….. So yes…. There is so many ways, other than facebook, to advertise yourself.
Jenny don’t forget to put in loads of key words here on CD and any other medias that allow for key words, hash tags etc. I also use google, linked in, Instagram too.

Wow! What amazing advice and feedback from everyone! Thank you so much!
So true what you all are saying and you have all given me a better understanding of fb and its place in my business. Going to learn the other social media platforms.
That being said I must say I shouldn’t complain as I have had a very blessed year, I have only been going for a year and a half and my work was already in four newspapers, one magazine and I was interviewed on Kwela on Dstv here….so all things said…I should really just be thankful for what I do have.
However you have all given me some things to think about going forth into the future and I appreciate all the helpful feedback!!
Hope you all have a beautiful weekend with some rest and sunshine!!!
xxx

Wow, congrats on all your achievements Jennifer :) best wishes with advertising!

You’ve done incredibly well in a short space of time, well deserved Jen as your so talented, I’m really so pleased for you 👏👏👏

On my facebook page my name is Bethann Dubey and then under it is my nickname Dubey Cakes.. .. it use to take you to my Dubey Cakes page put now it doesn’t but it still says Dubey Cakes. under my name.

Thank you Calli and Edible Art xxx

Jen I love your work, get that out there first! Ha.

Naomi is the most clued up person I know about social media so her advice is well worth following.

Facebook is driving me potty too! I also hate the whole s4s thing and just refuse to do it. I’m happy to see my page grow as I hope to eventually to be able to capitalise on that in the long game….(hope that doesn’t make me sound awful…I have four kids, I need to make money! Ha!) Seems my plans are flawed though if the current situation continues and worsens… The reach is shocking currently and it seems to be out of our hands. I’m not really adding any suggestions am I but I agree whole heartedly!