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It's really funny having gotten rid of Facebook years ago, seeing people talk about how they're "trying to cut back" instead of just dropping the dumb thing. It

It's really funny having gotten rid of Facebook years ago, seeing people talk about how they're "trying to cut back" instead of just dropping the dumb thing. It's like listening to drug addicts.

GarrisonPrime 8y ago
As a personal tool, agreed. Sadly, owning a business it’s pretty much required to deal with Facebook. Unless I want to spend five times as much on traditional advertising for less than half of the results.
- IIAOPSW 8y ago
  Not trying to discount your experience here but are those the actual numbers? My intuition is that the effectiveness of algorithmic advertising is largely over-stated. I'd really like to see a controlled test of FB ad ROI vs traditional ad ROI.
  - GarrisonPrime 8y ago
    Yeah, although I feel I get more response from my Facebook ads than radio and print, I’m usually disappointed how few new customers it creates. However, paying to “boost a post” on Facebook is much better. So much so that I’ve dropped nearly all other advertising. Running an ad can only target so well, as it’s mostly based on plain old demographics. But boosted posts also take into account those who have liked your business page, responded to your prior posts, and who their friends are. At least, that’s the impression my results have been given me. While hard numbers and analysis would be nice to see of course, I have little interest in seeing hard numbers in this case. My proof is that I was able to slash my ad budget by over half, and yet still more than double my business. Over a year later with mostly just Facebook, business is still growing. I’m sure the nature of my business is rather well suited to Facebook though. I’m a sole proprietor offering group entertainment services on a local scale. Im sure the ch companies and other less localized businesses may not get as good results.
- herbst 8y ago
  I would agree 5 years ago, right now Facebook just seems like overly expensive visits that barely converts. I am sure some still get amazing results, especially through retargetting on a good budget. However small targeted campaigns don't have the same effect anymore as they had before in my and some friends experiences.
tomglynch 8y ago
I admit, it's events and messaging features I rely on. I'm trying to move to a more trustworthy service, and keeping an eye out on options. I've found sociall.io but its still in closed beta, but looks like a potential option.
- mayniac 8y ago
  Why does every new site/technology have to be related to cryptocurrency? I was keen on this up until I saw it uses ethereum and my vaporware senses all triggered at once. I'll put 5 SCL, or 10 schrute-bucks, on the whole purpose of this site being to build up market interest so they can sell it to Facebook. Edit: had to go for a smoke half way through that site, mustered up the strength to finish reading. Their roadmap for the number of employees they have is beyond laughable. I'm not entirely convinced this isn't satire
jpamata 8y ago
You are assuming that Facebook is intrinsically negative, which is not always the case. It certainly has its pros and cons. For example, my parents use FB to find and connect with old friends from grade school. Some use it to know about local events. Some use it to promote their business or their fledgling indie band. Aside from this, in my home country, the Philippines, SMS & telephone services are expensive. Being a 3rd world archipelago country, infrastructure in the provinces is so bad that cabled & optic internet is not available for a lot of people. Facebook is a gem in my country in that they provide free internet for anyone utilising FB's services with a smartphone (you can buy cheap 2nd hand android phones there for less than $20). The folks here use FB's services to keep themselves updated with the world as well as to call/chat. It's a great way to connect and recently people don't even memorise their phone numbers anymore and instead, people ask each other for their facebook.
- kavalg 8y ago
  Sounds useful, but also like a large scale social experiment :)
  - jpamata 8y ago
    Ah yes, that's the problem the country is having right now. Too many people are getting too dependent on facebook that it's becoming a playground for fake news and propaganda campaigns[0]. [0] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-12-07/how-rodrigo-duterte-turned-facebook-into-a-weapon-with-a-little-help-from-facebook https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-12-07/how-rodri...
- herbst 8y ago
  Honestly this sounds super evil. By providing free access they essentially eliminate all the (better) alternatives while having a steadily high artificial usage rate.
  - jpamata 8y ago
    I believe it's one of the reasons why India is rejecting free FB. Unlike India, the Philippine infrastructure is fragmented and offers little to no better alternatives which is why most are welcoming them in the country.
ionised 8y ago
The drug-addict comparison is apt, given how services like these are designed to be a perpetual dopamine drip to keep you engaged.

It's really funny having gotten rid of Facebook years ago, seeing people talk about how they're "trying to cut back" instead of just dropping the dumb thing. It's like listening to drug addicts.

GarrisonPrime 8y ago

As a personal tool, agreed. Sadly, owning a business it’s pretty much required to deal with Facebook. Unless I want to spend five times as much on traditional advertising for less than half of the results.

IIAOPSW 8y ago
Not trying to discount your experience here but are those the actual numbers? My intuition is that the effectiveness of algorithmic advertising is largely over-stated. I'd really like to see a controlled test of FB ad ROI vs traditional ad ROI.
- GarrisonPrime 8y ago
  Yeah, although I feel I get more response from my Facebook ads than radio and print, I’m usually disappointed how few new customers it creates. However, paying to “boost a post” on Facebook is much better. So much so that I’ve dropped nearly all other advertising. Running an ad can only target so well, as it’s mostly based on plain old demographics. But boosted posts also take into account those who have liked your business page, responded to your prior posts, and who their friends are. At least, that’s the impression my results have been given me. While hard numbers and analysis would be nice to see of course, I have little interest in seeing hard numbers in this case. My proof is that I was able to slash my ad budget by over half, and yet still more than double my business. Over a year later with mostly just Facebook, business is still growing. I’m sure the nature of my business is rather well suited to Facebook though. I’m a sole proprietor offering group entertainment services on a local scale. Im sure the ch companies and other less localized businesses may not get as good results.
herbst 8y ago
I would agree 5 years ago, right now Facebook just seems like overly expensive visits that barely converts. I am sure some still get amazing results, especially through retargetting on a good budget. However small targeted campaigns don't have the same effect anymore as they had before in my and some friends experiences.

tomglynch 8y ago

I admit, it's events and messaging features I rely on. I'm trying to move to a more trustworthy service, and keeping an eye out on options. I've found sociall.io but its still in closed beta, but looks like a potential option.

mayniac 8y ago
Why does every new site/technology have to be related to cryptocurrency? I was keen on this up until I saw it uses ethereum and my vaporware senses all triggered at once. I'll put 5 SCL, or 10 schrute-bucks, on the whole purpose of this site being to build up market interest so they can sell it to Facebook. Edit: had to go for a smoke half way through that site, mustered up the strength to finish reading. Their roadmap for the number of employees they have is beyond laughable. I'm not entirely convinced this isn't satire

jpamata 8y ago

You are assuming that Facebook is intrinsically negative, which is not always the case. It certainly has its pros and cons. For example, my parents use FB to find and connect with old friends from grade school. Some use it to know about local events. Some use it to promote their business or their fledgling indie band. Aside from this, in my home country, the Philippines, SMS & telephone services are expensive. Being a 3rd world archipelago country, infrastructure in the provinces is so bad that cabled & optic internet is not available for a lot of people. Facebook is a gem in my country in that they provide free internet for anyone utilising FB's services with a smartphone (you can buy cheap 2nd hand android phones there for less than $20). The folks here use FB's services to keep themselves updated with the world as well as to call/chat. It's a great way to connect and recently people don't even memorise their phone numbers anymore and instead, people ask each other for their facebook.

kavalg 8y ago
Sounds useful, but also like a large scale social experiment :)
- jpamata 8y ago
  Ah yes, that's the problem the country is having right now. Too many people are getting too dependent on facebook that it's becoming a playground for fake news and propaganda campaigns[0]. [0] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-12-07/how-rodrigo-duterte-turned-facebook-into-a-weapon-with-a-little-help-from-facebook https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-12-07/how-rodri...
herbst 8y ago
Honestly this sounds super evil. By providing free access they essentially eliminate all the (better) alternatives while having a steadily high artificial usage rate.
- jpamata 8y ago
  I believe it's one of the reasons why India is rejecting free FB. Unlike India, the Philippine infrastructure is fragmented and offers little to no better alternatives which is why most are welcoming them in the country.

ionised 8y ago

The drug-addict comparison is apt, given how services like these are designed to be a perpetual dopamine drip to keep you engaged.