Facebook

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

It has always puzzled me as to why some folks market their goods, products, and/or services solely on Facebook and then require a prospective customer to log in on Facebook in order to view or obtain information about their goods, products, and/or services.

What is the advantage to marketing that way?

~Lee

Darrell Criswell · From: Maryland, USA

If you are referring to Facebook marketplace it is free and easy, people are familiar with the platform.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I was living in England in 2020 and decided to sell some diecast models (London buses in particular). My partner's daughter suggested Facebook Marketplace and it was quick and easy.

It targeted local buyers and I sold everything I'd posted within a couple of weeks.

It's not a substitute for what we have here on the Forum (thanks, b0b!), especially given the almost claustrophobically-small world of steel guitar.
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Is Facebook Marketplace only available to those who have Facebook accounts?

I don't have a Facebook account.

I have run across plumbers, a/c techs, roofers, etc. who don't have traditional web sites, only Facebook pages. If you want to find out more about their company, you have to log in to Facebook to access that info.

I have seen bands and musicians that do the same thing.

If someone is actively trying to market their goods and services, why would they limit themselves to only those who have Facebook accounts?

~Lee

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

It's a good point, Lee, but I expect you're in the minority. I resisted smart-phones for years but have come to depend upon it. (My old flip-top phone used to raise a laugh in countless band-rooms!) Facebook membership may not be quite as widespread as smart-phones but it's close, I bet.

I'm glad of Facebook because it allows me to easily stay in contact with old friends in Britain. I could live without it, but it's a 'positive' in my view.

Having said that, I do know a couple of pals who steadfastly refuse to sign up. Smile

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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Andrew Goulet · Posted 10 Sep 2023 11:08 am

The advantage is a built-in audience that is served your content automatically by the platform, as well as digital tools for creating and diseeminating an ad. You can set your Facebook page to be accessed publicly, which will allow non-users to see the details they would need to learn about your business and contact you.

Since the users themselves (and their valuable data) are the product that Facebook traffics in (selling data and access to third parties), Facebook has a interest in getting you to interact with the platform as much as possible (which also increases ad revenue). So they will actively try to grow your network and connect you with as many people as possible (but will also punish you by throttling your postings if you haven't interacted enough for their liking).

Bands and business use Facebook as their main page for ease of use (only have to update information in one place), automatic networking, and because it's "free" (it's not really free, you just pay with your data and attention). It's also much easier to set up a Facebook page than a website for those with little to no experience doing such things.
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Marlen S12 and a ZT Club

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

Andrew Goulet · Posted 11 Sep 2023 4:02 am

That's the trade-off for access to the market and free tools: Facebook will constantly try to convert you to a user.
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Marlen S12 and a ZT Club

David Ball · From: North Carolina High Country

Up until a couple of years ago, I had never had a social media account of any kind. The whole scene just never did anything for me, and I was also puzzled about why some companies only marketed on Facebook. I'm still puzzled.

But a few years ago, I was moving from Tennessee to North Carolina and had a bunch of stuff I needed to get rid of as part of my downsizing. My sister, who is an avid Facebook Marketplace user, had great luck selling on Marketplace so I decided to give it a try.

While in North Carolina one Sunday morning at about 4:30, I posted my camper (which was still in Knoxville), and within about 10 minutes it was sold and the buyer wondered when he could come pay me. I was three hours away at the time.

Same thing happened when I sold my last 3 motorcycles. I can't ride any more due to balance problems. Sold within an hour.

I've never used my Facebook account except to sell things on Marketplace. I still get frequent messages from Facebook telling me that I'm missing out on the total experience. That I'm a member of no groups and have no friends. Guess they figured me out.

Dave

Jim Peter · From: Mendon,Mich USA

This summer I put 6 items on Facebook and the same items on Craig's List. I was able to sell all 6 items and the were all sold on Facebook Market Place, no interest from Craig's list.

Don R Brown · From: Rochester, New York, USA

So since "almost everybody" is a Facebook member, those of us who are not can enlist a friend or relative who is, to handle the transaction.

As noted above, most businesses and bands allow public access to their site to allow non-members to gain information.

I have 2 reasons for not joining. First, I have heard far too many stories about their accumulation your information and interests. I have nothing to hide whatsoever, but on general principles the idea concerns me. Second, there are SO many sites on there - music, old trucks, railroads, car restoration, and a zillion more - that I would not ever get anything else accomplished. Laughing

The day MIGHT come when I cave in and join but so far they have not snared me in.
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Many play better than I do. Nobody has more fun.

Bill McCloskey · From: Nanuet, NY

The answer is simply economics and reach. Facebook has a huge reach and a very targeted audience for your goods and services and they take care of the marketing, reach, and promotion all in one place and for free. Infinitely better than trying to create a website and market it, promote it, maintain it, and worst of all PAY FOR it, to a vastly smaller audience.

All of those services might lose the few who don't want to be a member, but the gain multiple times that number in new clients who would have never heard of them otherwise. So it is kind of a no brainer.

It is like complaining you don't want to buy a TV, but upset you miss the ads.
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Check out the Steel Guitar Union Hall Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@steelguitarunionhall

J R Rose · From: Keota, Oklahoma, USA

I am with Don Brown's post. He said it all. J.R.
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NOTHING..Sold it all. J.R. Rose

Shoshanah Marohn · From: Wisconsin, USA

Facebook can be a pretty toxic environment, so I considered leaving it many times. But I sell my art on there, not even really intentionally sometimes. I just post a picture of a "work in progress" and people send me offers. So, I started keeping track in a spreadsheet of how much I actually made from selling art on facebook, and it was more than any other web site or in person store I was selling at. People buy stuff on Facebook.
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Carrying on the Steel Guitar Forum for my dad, b0b, R.I.P.

Bill McCloskey · From: Nanuet, NY

I have gotten rid of a lot of steels and equipment over the last few months. I usually post things for sale both here and on facebook. 90% of my sales happened via the facebook listing.

Quite honestly, I end up deleting half my threads here because of lack of response or interest. That never happens on Facebook. I usually always get some sort of response .

As far as data collection is concerned, anything you do online is tracked. In the majority of cases it is collected to deliver targeted ads. People buy when you show them ads for things they are interested in.
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Check out the Steel Guitar Union Hall Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@steelguitarunionhall

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Bill: I know all about deleting threads!! My stuff mostly gets ignored, too. Sad

You're quite right. Once you're online, you're prey to the data-seekers. It's mostly no more than a nuisance (too many ads) and rarely has a sinister outcome.

I like to think that I'm immune to the stealth of the advertisers, but some of it surely seeps in? It's been fifty years since that splendid book on commercials - in print and TV -'The Hidden Persuaders' was published. Nothing has changed. It's just worse.

Facebook has more positives than negatives for me. I'm able to stay up-to-date with old friends back in Britain and Europe; sure, I could privately mail them, but FB can give you a nudge and it's so easy.

As for Messenger - free video calls all over the world! - I make full use of that.

As long as I ignore that 'cat videos' and the close-ups of people's food, then I'm good.

You know what they say? 'If you're getting something for nothing, then YOU'RE the mark!' Hence the ads - a small price to pay, in my view.
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I'm considering joining for 2 reasons. So many of my friends and acquaintances use it, plus the idea of selling stuff on the marketplace section is appealing.

I'm just not sure whether I want to open up my personal data and information for more invasive media. Hmmmm.......

Bill McCloskey · From: Nanuet, NY

I'm guessing but I'm probably the only one here that has been personally named in a data privacy lawsuit. Back in the 90's, I worked for a company called Comet Systems. We developed a technology that would change your cursor into whatever you liked. Logos, icons, you name it. You download our cursor technology and you could change your cursor into any number of things.

We had a bundling deal with RealNetworks. Everytime you installed Real player, you install us. We had a counter in the office that was constantly in motion indicating how many cursors were installed. We passed the populations of many countries.

Thing is, once you downloaded our cursor, we basically owned your computer. We could change the language to french. We could install hyperlinks were there were none before. I was originally hired to make deals with online dictionaries, thesaurus's, encyclopedia's so we could create hyperlinks to add value to your surfing experience.

And then one day, I was researching a company called Goto. the first pay to play search engine. Way before Google. and in fact, google copied them. The idea was if you paid enough per click, you could own the top space of the search results.

I realized we could create hyperlinks to the top selling words in Goto and make a mint. And that is just what we did. I called up Goto, made a deal were we would get 50% of the revenue by driving clicks to them.

As far as PII is concerned (Personal Identifiable Information) we knew nothing. Everyone was just a random number. This number went to this website and then went to that website. and people can serve up ads based on that info. They don't know you are Bob Smith, or Bill McCloskey. they just know you as #x3459 or whatever.

I left the company soon after that, but they continued with that technology which was later sold to a bigger company.

Nothing you do online is untrackable. Nothing. Everything you do is tracked by someone. That is price for free goods and services. You can run. But you can't hide. Unless you want to go completely off grid like the unabomber.

Oh, and the lawsuit: brought by a overzealous "data warrior" who named everyone at the company as part of the lawsuit was eventually dismissed.
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Check out the Steel Guitar Union Hall Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@steelguitarunionhall

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Fascinating story, Bill, but why am I not shocked?

It's mind-boggling, what capability could be in the wrong hands!

And that brings me to online banks. Money, now, is just a stroke of a keyboard. I dread to think what disaster could befall our tiny nest-egg.
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Larry Allen · From: Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii

I agree Jerry.. all my kids do facebook and have 100’s of people that want them to “Friend Me”..lots of spam and perverts..I’ve lived 80 years without it, no computer or WiFi.. always had good results selling on the Forum and Craig’s List here..That’s my story and I’m Sticking to It!! Larry Very Happy

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Excel steels & Peavey amps,Old Chevys & Motorcycles & Women on the Trashy Side

Don R Brown · From: Rochester, New York, USA

I recall someone on one of my car forums who after many years signed up for Facebook. Within seconds, he got a welcome message, and a message from Facebook saying "Here are some people you may want to reach out to".

I don't remember exactly but it was something like a former neighbor from 2 moves before, a guy he had worked at the same company with but had no interaction with 5 years ago, and a couple other similar things - people who he HAD crossed paths with, but had never had any connection or bond with. But Facebook's data base somehow knew he had known them.
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Many play better than I do. Nobody has more fun.

Larry Allen · From: Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii

A shortcut to “Big Brother Is Watching You” Whoa!

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Excel steels & Peavey amps,Old Chevys & Motorcycles & Women on the Trashy Side

Bill McCloskey · From: Nanuet, NY

Like Marley's ghost, we wear the chains we forged online.
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Check out the Steel Guitar Union Hall Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@steelguitarunionhall

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Shoshanah Marohn · From: Wisconsin, USA

We at the Steel Guitar Forum never sell your information to anyone. Never ever. No one.

You probably already know this, but I just want to make it clear. We get all kinds of offers, constantly, but nope. This is a good place.

Just sayin.
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Carrying on the Steel Guitar Forum for my dad, b0b, R.I.P.

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