5 Things to do Today to Prepare for the Next Facebook Shutdown

On October 4th the world experienced several hours without Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. Those hours revealed just how much of our digital and physical lives depend on the platform. For small businesses, that rely on Facebook and its daughter platforms, even a short outage can mean losing customers and money. But a record six-hour outage made many take note of how damaging the dependence on Facebook can be.

Businesses use Facebook’s tools and platforms on all stages of the sales funnel. The powerful Facebook Advertising Platform allows you to reach new audiences, while Facebook and Instagram profiles act as storefronts that attract potential clients. Messenger and Whatsapp are effective tools for communicating with clients and providing customer service. Moreover, many small businesses use Facebook and Instagram shops as their main online stores, selling their products directly to their social media audience.

Since Facebook provides so many easily accessible business tools, it’s tempting for small businesses to focus their limited resources on growing their Facebook and Instagram presence and neglect other digital channels. The shutdown proved again how important it is not to put all your eggs in one online basket. If you care about your online business, don’t give Facebook absolute control of it. It’s only a matter of time until something demotes Facebook from its absolute reign, and it’s good to be prepared.

Are you a small business looking to diversify your social presence and establish your online independence? Here are 5 things you should start doing today:

1/ Create a Twitter account for your business

Twitter officials and users openly gloated during the Facebook Shutdown and If you’re reading this in the US, it’s probably obvious to you that every business should be on Twitter. In other countries, few businesses invest in tweeting regularly. Don’t miss the opportunity to use Twitter as a channel of communication with your existing and future customers.

2/Learn to use TikTok

The largest demographic of TikTok users are between the ages of 16 and 24. But if you think TikTok is just a fad for young people, think again. In just several years, TikTok has evolved from a video-creation app solely meant for users to express their creativity to a platform that must be considered as part of your digital strategy.

3/Optimize your Linkedin Presence

Of all the social media platforms, LinkedIn is the professional social media platform to be on. It’s where you’ll find industry news and tools to increase your knowledge, productivity, and skill set. And it’s where you’ll find and connect with your ideal audience.

4/Start using Email Marketing

The list of your client emails is one of the most important assets of your business. Start using it by sending out targeted marketing emails. When you send your email, it arrives in your reader’s inbox at the time you’ve decided is best to send it. You’re the one controlling what gets seen and when.

5/Invest in your own Website

Using social media to promote your products or services is a solid marketing plan. But always keep in mind that You don’t own those platforms, and you have no control over how they behave. These channels can (and do) change their algorithms whenever they want, and sometimes shut down with no notice. The solution, in the long run, is investing in your own website that will act as your store and hold all your content. Getting to a place where your website shows up in organic Google search results is not easy, but there’s no day like today to start working on your SEO.

In conclusion, if you’re a small business that uses Facebook and Instagram as marketing and sales channels, the shutdown should serve as a wake-up call. Be sure to diversify your social presence.