This is a rant-ette. Just warning you now.
It’s about one BIG reason why I think putting all your business eggs in a social media basket can be a high-risk recipe for disaster.
Here’s why:
You’re probably already aware of people having social media accounts closed because they said the “wrong” thing.
And their business accounts aren’t immune to this.
Whatever you may think about the people who were banned… and what they did or said…
There’s a fundamental problem here that affects EVERYONE.
That is: there’s no certainty about what is or is not allowed.
It can change from one minute to the next.
And the social media company policies tell us as much.
Take the misinformation section of Facebook’s community standards, for example…
(Yes… I read these things 🤓)
… and you come to this line:
“The world is changing constantly, and what is true one minute may not be true the next minute.“
And in the same document they say they’ll rely on 3rd-party experts to tell them what should or should not be classified as “misinformation”…
The stuff you’re not allowed to talk about unless you want to risk a ban.
Now, I’m sure people had the “best of intentions” putting these standards together.
But it means EVERYONE using the platform is standing on shifting sands.
Because:
Nothing is certain when something can be true one minute… and not the next.
It’s a curse of the postmodern world we live in. Your truth is your truth. And my truth is my truth. That kind of thing.
And we can chop and change our “truth” as often as we brush our teeth… if we like.
So… without clear, unshifting rules… along with this reliance on a 3rd-party Caligula-like thumbs up or thumbs down…
I’m just not comfortable having my business DEPEND on social media.
Sure, social media is useful… I’m not denying that.
It’s just when Facebook decides that something is no longer true according to its own “standards”…
Then there’s no certainty that your business, my business, or our customers’ businesses will survive the ban-hammer.
Instead:
I’m putting my eggs in the one basket that still remains an open, non-big tech-controlled standard.
And it has done since Ray Tomlinson sent the first email in 1971.
An even playing field largely remains… and will do for the forseeable future.
Although that too is being challenged by the inbox providers, such as Google, who have become gatekeepers of the email you receive. (But that’s a story for another day.)
Yesterday is always the best time to start building an email list. Today is your next-best option.
I’ve started one. Drop me a line if you want some input on starting yours. I’m happy to give some tips.
And if you’re ready… consider BerserkerMail. It’s what I use and promote.
You’ll find a 14-day free trial here at my affiliate link:
I’ll stop there.
My… wasn’t I controlled and not too SHOUTY?
Hmm… must be maturing đź‘´
Ready to build your email list? Go here…
EmailForTheWin.com
Chris Milham