"The Plastic Soldier company is now on Facebook" Topic

The Plastic Soldier company is now on Facebook come and take a look at our page

Oh dear. Not another one. Will someone please explain WHY every company needs to be on Facebook?

Of course, you don't have to visit Facebook if you don't want to, Major B. I rarely use it myself. But seeing as you evidently don't use it, what possible difference would it mean to you whether PSC had a Facebook page or not ?

Fact is lot of people do use Facebook, so I would imagine that it cannot hurt PSC to set up a presence there.

And if that leads to more sales, it could mean a lot more cool toys from PSC. In which case, then all power to them.

But seeing as you evidently don't use it,

Actually, I do, for communicating with friends and family. I don't consider a miniatures manufacturer to be a "friend" though, so why would I want to be able to communicate with them (or them with me) via Facebook?

what possible difference would it mean to you whether PSC had a Facebook page or not ?

If they update their facebook page in preference to their web site then non-FB users will not be aware of the information.

I would imagine that it cannot hurt PSC to set up a presence there.

I'm sure it won't do any harm, but I'm not convinced it'll be of any real value either.

Speaking only for myself, I like when companies have Facebook pages. I have Minairons, Old Glory/Bluemoon, and a few others added to my likes so I can view their handy updates.

I'll also weigh in that I like -- no LOVE -- that companies choose to have Facebook pages. Personally I LIKE it when companies I enjoy choose to communicate to me in a way that I find advantageous. Saying I don't want them to communicate to me is just a silly statement.

Damon.

I have found that when a company had a FB page, my customer service went up quite a bit. Something about being able to post feedback, and then get other people to echo it back and agree with you, seems to get more done. It also gives me a good idea as to what they are doing too, since I don't check a lot of company websites daily but I usually check my Facebook twice daily (once in the morning, once at night).

Personally I LIKE it when companies I enjoy choose to communicate to me in a way that I find advantageous.

So WHY do you find it advantageous?

Saying I don't want them to communicate to me is just a silly statement.

It seems to me that FB updates are the 21st century equivalent of junk mail through your letterbox. How many people actually read junk mail?

I have found that when a company had a FB page, my customer service went up quite a bit. Something about being able to post feedback, and then get other people to echo it back and agree with you, seems to get more done.

Wouldn't a forum run by the company achieve that in a more efficient way?

It also gives me a good idea as to what they are doing too, since I don't check a lot of company websites daily but I usually check my Facebook twice daily (once in the morning, once at night).

So it's a good idea for companies to have a presence on FB because most users are lazy?

"Wouldn't a forum run by the company achieve that in a more efficient way?"

Yes, but at significantly increased effort. Facebook is direct communication to people who want to receive it. It's easy to opt in, easy to opt out, and easy to directly communicate.

"So it's a good idea for companies to have a presence on FB because most users are lazy?"
I guess you could put it that way. Personally, I would say 'It's a good idea for companies to have a presence on FB because many users wish to receive news and updates from both friends, family, and companies they support in a consolidated feed'

Fact is, you may not like it- but our facebook data suggest many, many users do. We get a lot of web traffic from Facebook for minimal effort. True, most actual conversation and interaction occurs on our forum, but as I said, that is also significantly more effort, and a forum isn't always appropriate.

Its a good way of keeping up to date. No need to post a comment if you don't want to but it could be a quicker way of getting a burning niggling question answered .

I maintain a Facebook page because it's a heck of a lot easier to post an update there than to update my web site, and not every post there rates a news item on TMP.

Important items still go to the front page of the site, but FB is just another tool.

Steve
Age of Glory

Why would I want to have to join dozens of different manufacturers forums when I can just "like" them on Facebook and get it all in one place.

Here's the link so you can get there easier:

link

I agree with Steve that FB is SO much more convenient to update than our site (which is being redone right now). Also a nice free-flowing communication. Forums are great too – but FB is perfect for getting news out quickly.

Major Bumsore> no you are incorrect. Websites are not. I often see when Hydra minis has come out with something, or ADB, etc on Facebook, which then links me to the site instantly because I see something I did not know about and want more of.

Facebook can be set up like a Social newsfeed that can also bring you items of Hobby interest instead of you having to take the time to sift through a Dozen sites.

Also, why the Hate? just don't use Facebook. <shrug>

Thanks Plastic Scribe, I will add you to my Facebook feed!

Leave it to wargamers to bitch about a company opening a Facebook page……

I find it easier to post small business updates on my FB page and view it as another tool in my kit to promote my products. I run special FB only deals on my site from time to time that seem to generate sales, so it is a win-win for me and my customers.

A lot of larger, more internet,social media savy corporations use FB to good effect, so they must know something that is worth emulating.

Yes, Facebook in it's most basic form is an information feed. I can choose what feeds I want to get by "liking" the newsource I find valuable. This includes hobby websites, manufacturers I like, real-world news sources, music fan-pages, and yes, "Friends" as well. Rather than going to dozens of individual blogs or webpages, I can go to one and get all the same information.

I'm also perplexed why anyone would think using FB is "lazy." It is just much more efficient. If you want to ignore FB and do it the hard way, have at it. But making one's life more efficient isn't lazy, but rather a better use of scarce resources you cannot recover (in this case, time.)

Damon.

Personally, I'm glad they created an FB page for themselves.

The way I see it… I'm going to get assaulted by some advertising on Facebook (although I am good at auto-filtering it)… but if I am going to get adverts, my "Likes" on Facebook directly impact the type of advertizing that bleeds into my feed… so the more say i have over the type of adverts I get, the better.

So although I use Facebook for friends and family, there are parts I can't control, so having the ability to influence the parts I can't control is a plus in my books

Good for them, not that it'll do me any good.

Liked.
FB is easy to keep in touch with your customers.
Now if I can just get their new stuff in stock…

I personally prefer FB compared to say company forums, or heck even normal news updates

Little bits of info get around easier, more exposure, etc

More companies should get with the times, especially Historical Miniature companies who sometimes have Websties from 1999

Almost every business is using social media to promote their products and services. Young people especially use social media as much as any other aspect of the web whether it's Facebook, Twitter, Vine, YouTube or something out. This video by Eric Quall sums up social media pretty well.

YouTube link

Oops, that's Eric Qualman. (Might as well get the attribution right.)

FB link?

link

FB link?

link

LES

I agree with the masses, I love when a company I patronize has a Facebook page, I get instant updates, often updates on project development, and instant easy communication. Sure I could mabe get the same info on a forum, but frankly I like the convenience of updates coming to me as a part of my daily message cheks. could not be easier. I don't see the point of the negativity… Especially when many wargame figure manufacturers still cannot even be bothered to put photos of their products online… PSC, you are officially liked!

I welcome miniatures firms using social media as an ADDITIONAL channel to communicate with customers.

What I don't like is when they use a particular social media service as the ONLY channel of communication.

Posts on a company website news page are available to everyone without being forced to share personal information with a particular corporate entity (which is making money for nothing actually from miniatures firms driving new customers to their social media service).

I started a FB page for our shop in March, it has driven up sales, and brought me a lot of new customers.

Good Luck Will

I think it is a great idea!

I have found that when a company had a FB page, my customer service went up quite a bit. Something about being able to post feedback, and then get other people to echo it back and agree with you, seems to get more done.

Wouldn't a forum run by the company achieve that in a more efficient way?

If and only if the company allows "negative" posts in the forum. Battlefront, for example seems to sweep complaint threads off their fora regularly.

It's called "Networking". If your NOT on FB… (as a company or otherwise) you are living under a rock. FB IS NOT just about 'friends' and 'Family' anymore. So yes… WELOCOME to FB PSC!

Like saying why use a telephone to communicate when a letter and stamp works just as well. Old people and their inability to let go of comfortable things of the past and embrace the present.

Communicating with family & friends is what I DON'T use Facebook for.

Being part of a group on Facebook like Age of Eagles or liking your favourite figure manufacturer gaining updates

I have no use/need for Facebook but understand why a company would use it.

Regards,

J. P. Kelly

TREEMENDUS have a facebook page too.

link

We find facebook is an easy way to keep customers up to date with all things related to the business – Step by Step builds, New releases, Trade fair dates, promotions etc etc. It can be updated hourly, weekly, monthly, day or night. Perfect

I don't use Facebook so I'm confused: would not all the info listed above be on a company website?

Regards,

J. P. Kelly

All very well having a FB page, shame they don't seem to answer clients questions on it.

@Joe Shop
I'm not a Facebook power user, but I think the advantage of being on Facebook is that users can get updates directly to their Facebook home page rather than having to pay regular visits to a website.

Gozzaoz: thanks, understood.

Regards,

J. P. Kelly

Not TREEMENDUS I hope Ubique67?

Spot on Gozzaoz, that's about the long and short of it.

I rather enjoy visiting company's pages on Facebook. They often post new releases on FB before they even do it on their homepage.

I visit Warlord Games page daily and I enjoy their posts.

Since I like alot of companies that are still getting off the ground, plus some big names. It is easier to see all the update in one place. I call that efficent, not lazy.

Because companies can post more photos/ideas on FB than a forum. Most company forums become very tedious very quickly with the same people posting

Facebook is dying in the West, it's massive in India and the Far East. It's had it's day – It's got issues generating revenue (considering it's ridiculous Floatation Price based on Zero Income!) the whole "Wife-beater" issue in May – June has caused major Corporations to reconsider Brand Image.

link

link

Twitter will be behind it with the "I'm gonna Rape you and bomb you" issues that is being experienced in the UK for nearly a week now.

bbc.co.uk/news/23565145

For my money, I'd rather PSC kept the Website upto date rather than went chasing Social Media. Social Media is like everything, great at first then it gets commercialized and everyone gets fed up of Adverts and crap. Lobbyists and Social Protesters, rebels without a cause then turn on stuff and then Commercial entities then get concerned about reputational damage, politicians wade in and don't have a clue – Good example being order-order.com ongoing fight with an MP who said they had hacked her site!

link

Look at Youtube these days, I cannot watch anything without having to see adverts.

We need to keep the internet free, despite the problems because we are starting to get a censorship movement forming which is as dangerous as some of the stupid crap I see.

Thank god for TMP.

It does seem rather like the updates have dried up again…