This is what I wrote to @scottcapener in August, when we were talking about his app Parallel.
All of what I mentioned above applies to my presence on Facebook. Let me add these comments:
- I tried advertising for my small business and discovered it was a waste of money, time, and effort. It attracted people who didn’t want to be customers but who just wanted to comment on my effort–or, worse, discourage me.
- FB serves an important social purpose, giving people a sense of belonging, whether to a circle of friends or to a community. That is a super glue that gives FB staying power and reach.
When I created an account on MeWe.com, FB’s rival, I invited friends to follow me, but few did. They know about FB’s practices and yet they can’t leave it. I think this is sort of like belonging to a club with a few members you don’t like; because the club meets your primary needs and your friends are in it, you stay.
For most people, FB is an end, a destination, not a means or a tool.