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For those of my blog followers who used to see me commenting on their Facebook wall posts, I have an announcement to make.
FACEBOOK JABS TO THE RIGHT, THEN TO THE LEFT ...
I can't figure out the "improved" news feed system. People whose posts I want to follow keep falling off my feed, even though I tell FB I want to see them. Then FB decides whose feeds it thinks I should be following, so unless you're annoying the universe with a zillion posts a day, you aren't "popular" enough for your words to roll before my eyes—although if you were to post a zillion times, I'd probably hide your chatter stream. :)
And what's with all the spam FB lets get through? Even though I report it, a few days later the same people I've never heard of are telling me I want to buy their brand of pizza and get laid by some hot babe this weekend. Because I'm lactose-intolerant heterosexual, I have to question Facebook's marketing gurus. More than once I blushed thinking someone might think I actually wanted these feeds on my wall, especially since I use Facebook only for the author side of my life.
... BUT THE K-O ROUND GOES TO YOURS TRULY
So with much regret I must announce that from now on I'll be posting only on my Facebook fan page. I'll do my best to respond to all comments and hope you'll understand why I'm not returning the favor with as many of your posts as I used to. But really, when you come to think about it, as published authors this is how we'll be using Facebook anyway.
Now that I think about this, thank you, Facebook. Your lemons could make for some mighty fine lemonade.
UPDATE
Oct. 30, 2011—It is with much regret that I announce the following; I have deactivated my profile and unpublished my fan page due to Facebook's antics. But, as always, there is a bright side, as I've freed up more time to write and to work the social media that is a better fit for me. In a roundabout way I once again say thank you, Facebook.
42 comments:
What a great announcement! I think you've made a good decision. It's been on your mind for awhile and now you may have been somewhat bullied into it, but I bet it turns out well for you. Enjoy your new FB life :)
Since the change FB has not changed for the better.
Yvonne.
I don't use FB at all, but was wondering if I should go back to it again and give it another try. I don't think I'll bother :-)
Now I've got to figure out something else about how FB works. When I first started FB it seemed easy to use, but now it's almost too much trouble to bother with.
Good decision. FB is really annoying me with the new change. I do like being able to say "Happy Birthday" to someone without having to go to their page, but I don't like not seeing everyone. I've found my usage there is getting less and less the more the new FB is up.
The problem with FB is they change it constantly without notice and if they make ti worse, you have no power to stop them.
Sigh.
T
Thanks for the information. Facebook, what can I say? Love it and hate it? It won't accept my name (Peaches) but wants to force me to update my status and read other things I sometimes don't want to...
I've kind of disconnected from Facebook, but the good thing is that since it's linked to my blog, people who are interested can see what I'm posting about. Thing is though, I don't understand it these days. Maybe that's why I'm staying away. Dunno.
@Laura, thanks for the vote of confidence.
@Yvonne, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who wasn't too impressed.
@Sarah, what I do like about Facebook is 80 percent of adults use it compared to only about 20 percent on Twitter. But just because they're on it doesn't mean they considered it their go-to source for information about new books to read. If we don't feel a rapport for a certain social medium, it probably will show in our conversation. So don't ever feel bad about doing what feels right in your gut.
@Richard, I know what you mean. I thought the more I used Facebook, the more I'd understand about it, not the other way around!
@Cherie, I also really miss seeing the posts of people I care most about. Thank goodness there are other social media options out there.
@Tirzah, no advance notice and no power to change things--I guess that makes me a control freak, because I can't stand being backed into this type of situation. :)
@Peaches, how awful Facebook won't accept your name, especially if you're a published or pre-published author. I've not had FB try to force me to update my status though.
@Joy, if you, who is fearless about learning anything new and challenging, has disconnected a bit from Facebook, that's all the extra validation I need to not feel guilty about doing so.
I HATE the new Face Book! Just saying... I can't find anything I want to read, and read stuff I don't want to. I've had more spam on my fan age in the last week then ever before. I want the old Face Book back!
wow. I only have one FB page, and I have to remind myself to keep up with it! I think it's best to find your best social media outlet and stick to it, yes?
No worries! :o) <3
I don't blame you one bit, Michelle.
I'm not crazy about Facebook these days. I'm slow to adapt, and I feel like they change things that don't need to be changed. I'm actually enjoying Twitter a lot more these days.
I never missed a beat. I simply put ALL my friends on a FB list, and that's what I read now.
It populates just like the old Facebook. Easy-peasy.
FB sort of ruined things, because I just don't hang out there often enough to keep up with everything. So I sort of glance at the first page, then hope over to the walls of people I want to see. But I don't linger...
I only joined FB last year, and I find it very hard to keep up with, but I like being able to post photos, and to see what my writing friends are doing. I don't really like FB overall, but I will miss having Michelle, one of my favourite people, respond to my posts there.
But there are some social media I can't get a handle on - Twitter, for instance - so I totally understand.
@Susanna, amen; you couldn't have said it more perfectly!
@Leigh, I love your advice about finding what social media work best for our needs and audience and not feeling guilty about those we choose not to use--because sometimes it's good to have a little depth instead of all breadth.
@Jennifer, I thought I'd enjoy FB more than Twitter, but it's been totally the other way around. Hmmm, I hope it's not just because the bird logo is cuter, although truthfully it is adorable and I love the challenge of saying something trenchant with only 140 characters.
@Maria, thank you very much for the tip!
@Deniz, that's a good idea about hopping over to the walls we like, so we don't miss posts from those we care most about.
@Sheila, I think you do a great job with FB, not too many posts and what you do post is always interesting. I've been trying to pop over to your page every couple of days, so I don't miss what's happening with your rocking book THE GIRL IN THE BOX.
OMG! I totally hear you. FB needs to stop the insanity.
@Cheryl, it's a total mind blow to me why FB would want to annoy its users. My husband said there have been a couple of interesting news items about this on NPR, and one woman being interviewed was quite shirty about the whole situation, saying we users would just have to get used to it and do things FB's way. Whoa!
I can only assume that the FB people have some form of social interaction disorder. It would explain why they don't seem to respect or understand the need for boundaries and rules.
:)
t
Facebook seems like it's going the way of MySpace, which is sad because I've loved it in the past. Grr. It's frustrating when they insist on changing something that's already good.
The Warm Fuzzies Blogfest is coming up. I hope to see you there!
http://aspiretobejuliana.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-have-secret.html
I'm coming to the end of my tether with Facebook, but I find the Pages system useful. I think Google+ might become a viable alternative.
@Tirzah, I just made the mistake of reading your comment out loud to my husband before checking to see if he were finished swallowing his mouthful of coffee. I've heard coffee stain remove quite easily if you wash them right away. LOL
@Juliana, I was wondering the same thing about FB and MySpace. I agree it is so sad to watch a good thing go bad. And thanks for letting me know about the blogfest!
@Jamie, that's a great idea, your reminder about Google+. Thank you!
Now Michelle, using me as an excuse to take your hubby's shirt off...tsk, tsk.
LOL.
I seem to have that effect on people. Many a person has tried to charge me for dry cleaning.
:)
T
Love or hate FB, but have to use it!
I haven't been able to figure out facebook lately. I'm glad I'm not the only one
Great decision!
And the way you tell things, btw, is made of awesome.
@Tirzah, oh my, I didn't think about it coming out that way!
@Nas, isn't that the kicker ...
@Clarissa, not that misery loves company, but I'm also glad I'm not the only one left confused and frustrated.
@Peggy, thanks for the "voice" thumbs up. :)
FB is still my main mode of social networking, regardless of the curve balls they throw at us.
@Stephen, I'm glad to see a loyal follower chime in, so we don't lose sight of Facebook's good qualities.
Thanks for your comment you posted sometime in the past few hours. I'm so glad my dialogue "inspires" you. I like to inspire someone with something! :-)
As for Facebook, I rarely use it for book promotion. I just keep up with my youngest daughter on it, and some close friends from my past, all personal/family stuff. Maybe when I get time to struggle with it, I'll look at my author page and fix it up. Is this what FB calls a FAN page? I just think I've figured out something on a working level, and then "they" change stuff. Sigh. Good old blogger and blogging. I've made the greatest friends (Yay, Michelle) through blogging!!!
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror, A Memoir of Shattered Secrets
@Ann, yesterday I had an aha moment. The reason Facebook isn't working for me (besides how it keeps changing!) is I don't think it works for the type of books I write. FB is the most "bubbly" of the social media, and what I--and you--write is a little more serious and thoughtful, so maybe authors like we tend not to gravitate toward this particular social medium.
So, at least for now, the author (aka fan) page is a low priority. And, also like you, I have made the BEST friends via blogging. :)
I'll have to get into teh whole facevook thing-- it's something I didn't think I would be thinking of, until recently. Great to hear about this.
Oh, I just joined FB and also created a fan page for my blog, Romance Reader.
Will I have to face many challenges now?
Truthfully I don't mind the FB changes. Headed over to see your page now!
@Rebecca, the reason I'm going to focus on a Facebook fan page instead of a profile page, is I'm hoping FB will treat fan pages a little better, since they're for businesses.
@Rija, there are books and online resources to help us learn how to get FB to work in our favor. For me, I don't think the readers who will enjoy the genre I write will be spending a lot of time on FB, so that's why I'm not going to be as active with my presence there, but I think for your genre it could be a very good fit. Wishing you nothing but good luck!
@Talli, you're so good with Facebook, I wish I had your gift!
I have mixed feelings about FB, and most of them are negative. That being said, I LOVED the movie (Social Network), and Tirzah's first comment brought to mind WHY I loved the movie: it was a brilliantly executed character study about a genius with no social/emotional intelligence. Ironic, huh? These are the people that FB users are counting on to structure their social playground!
@Katie, I now have some shivers traveling along my spine ...
Sorry FB has troubled you as much as much it has troubled me. I've been able to get rid of the ticker and get my e-mail notifications back. The only thing I haven't been able to get rid of is top stories vs. recent stories.
I tried using Google+ exclusively, but it's pretty quiet there.
@Theresa, you just might have made Google+ converts out of many of us. :) The top vs. recent stories thing has been particularly frustrating ...
Google+ just needs more bodies. I wonder if we had a Google+ day where we all ask our writer/blog friends to log in and check it out, if we could build a new community there? Dunno.
T
I've never been huge on Facebook... at some point I aim to get my author page updated on a frequent basis. I tried linking to my Twitter account, but for some reason it won't work right :(
@Tirzah, are you, kidding; writers can do anything. ;)
@Alexia, I've had difficulties getting my blog posts and tweets to feed properly both to my profile and my fan pages. All around, FB just hasn't been user friendly for me, and I'm sad to hear you've had similar challenges ...
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