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Facebook is my e-commerce business' main avenue of customer acquisition. It wouldn't make any sense to avoid using something that is clearly a profoundly valuab

Facebook is my e-commerce business' main avenue of customer acquisition. It wouldn't make any sense to avoid using something that is clearly a profoundly valuable asset because something could go wrong at some point. Even if they shut off my access tomorrow, I've still gained the thousands of customers who I acquired - they've already generated a profit for me, and I can keep reaching out to them via marketing emails to make more sales. Same thing with Amazon - it's been one of the easiest ways to sell. I listed my stuff, spent a little on ads, and things have just been slowly and steadily up and to the right since then. Even if they kicked me off tomorrow, I've still made good money in a very time-efficient manner. It's one thing to say you should get Fastmail instead of Gmail, but to just say you should avoid using services that are valuable for your business because you might lose access later is cutting off your nose to spite your face.

inwerds 4y ago
I think there is a slight nuance to what they wrote. They said, "you really should never ever use a company like Facebook as a vital component of your business." It sounds like FB and Amazon, while immensely valuable for you, are not 'vital'.
- slotrans 4y ago
  A typical ecommerce business that advertises on Facebook might bring in 30% or more of their new customers through that channel. That's "vital". EVERY direct-to-consumer ecommerce company buys Facebook and Google ads. Every single one.
  - toxicFork 4y ago
    If you lose the access, does your company die? If not, is not "vital".
    - slotrans 4y ago
      Yes. These companies will die without Google and Facebook ads. Not immediately mind you, but after 6-12 months of near-zero new customer acquisition they will be out of business.
toxicFork 4y ago
They didn't say "avoid", just don't put all your eggs into one basket.

inwerds 4y ago

I think there is a slight nuance to what they wrote. They said, "you really should never ever use a company like Facebook as a vital component of your business." It sounds like FB and Amazon, while immensely valuable for you, are not 'vital'.

slotrans 4y ago
A typical ecommerce business that advertises on Facebook might bring in 30% or more of their new customers through that channel. That's "vital". EVERY direct-to-consumer ecommerce company buys Facebook and Google ads. Every single one.
- toxicFork 4y ago
  If you lose the access, does your company die? If not, is not "vital".
  - slotrans 4y ago
    Yes. These companies will die without Google and Facebook ads. Not immediately mind you, but after 6-12 months of near-zero new customer acquisition they will be out of business.

toxicFork 4y ago

They didn't say "avoid", just don't put all your eggs into one basket.