"Companies who use Facebook as their primary web presence" Topic

I've noticed some companies these days have a web presence that is limited to a page on Facebook (and/or other social media such as Twitter).

Quite frankly, I don't very much like FB these days, and I certainly don't like it when I must log in to it to view a company's products. There seem to be other, better, methods for showcasing one's products (e.g. Blogspot) without having to pay for a unique website and hosting costs.

I certainly don't object to a company having a page on FB (if I ran a company I most likely would do so). I only object when a company treats a FB page as their primary website.

I'm just curious if what the attitude of others is toward companies who's only use FB as their primary (or only) web presence.

Not that I count for much, but I'll never see their
FB page.

I don't 'do' FB (or Twitter/Instagram, etc, etc.)

Just a recalcitrant old fuddy-duddy

But I do spend $$ on gaming, but only
at websites or on brick/mortar stores…

I'm with Ed. We fuddie duddies stick together.

I always thought of FB, and others, as a way to drive your sales toward your website, not an end in itself.

Two of our local stores use FB excusably for a "web site". The main problem I have with this is that it is very hard to figure out when something is going on. I don't know if this is a fundamental problem with FB or just the way it is being used. The net effect is that because I have no idea what's happening I hardly every take part at events at the store.

Yes, tried joining FB but when they wanted to know my inside leg measurement I stopped. Now I just reminders how to complete the progress – it appears it is irreversible. A plague.

Consequently I still expect a company to maintain a website and put all announcements there (and elsewhere if it wants).

I can barely manage FB as a social media tool, let alone buy anything on it or follow what a company is doing. I've had links to FB for different products/promotions and once I'm there, cannot find what they are selling/promoting.

A facebook page as a business site just screams, "Amateur!," so I will find someplace else to spend my money.

Do they require you to like something before you can buy it?

And yes. I don't consider that "professional" either.

Count me as another that doesn't like Facebook. Perhaps it's an age thing.

I dont mind using enail to conduct biznez. There are better free hosts than facebook.

The problem with using FB as a commercial promotion tool is that as I understand it, FB won't always send your updates to your followers… with the % chance improving if you throw FB some of your money.

Another fuddy duddy that does not use FB. LI is the only social media I use and that irritates me also

Facebook will not reach a lot of people, so companies who think it is the way to go promoting their business will lose out, I think.

Recently, a new North East England show used FB as its primary info site, I only found it by chance, and only imagine lots of others missed it due to FB's limitations.

Don't care for FB pages used as a company store.

Old guy. Don't do FB. Won't do FB. I happily accept the mantle of Luddite.

I don't do FB either.

I do occasionally visit a couple of retailers' FB pages to see what they're up to, and to view their info that is available to the public, without logging in.

A shame I can't make comments/replies, but hate all of the logging in, passwords required crap to do that on virtually every site. I find that to be a bit much, for all sites, and not just the FB ones, so I limit that to only a few I regularly use.

I don't do Facebook or Twitter. If that is a companies web presence, not that is is a crushing commercial loss but, they'll never reach me.

I do not like facebook. Far too many people treat it as if it was the internet – it is not, it is a company on the internet. I do not use it.

face book is just another way of getting your name out there.
we use it but have 2 web addresses as well as the various games and model forums.
just having facebook maybe just a bit limited as a lot of you have said you are not on it.

While I prefer a good website with pics etc, FB is a very useful tool. Many people are logged into FB all day long, mobile and at home, thus your updates reach them all the time. Just having a website means they have to remember you make something they want, then come to you rather than the competition.

I don't have a social presence personally, but have had to manage social media staff. Lot easier to publish on FB than with a proper cms, or even most web publishing platforms like wordpress. Coupled up with a web store, it can work. Those companies only doing customer service via social are missing a big trick though.

I don't use FB for security reasons, or lack thereof. I like keeping a low profile online as well for job reasons. This policy has made my life so easy. First rule of self defense is to avoid the situation. I use this same discretion when using certain boards at TMP. :-)

If you don't like the junk which FB presents to you (which is…probably 75%-85% of what is normally displayed on a page):

1 Only 'friend' actual people or organizations you really want updates from; needless to say, you don't have attempt a new record for the highest number of so-called "friends". I have 50.
2 Install Social Fixer (for PCs using any browser except Internet Explorer) and you can hide all the rubbish. It's free but takes donations.
socialfixer.com/index.html

It is a joy to not have to scroll through all the 'watch out for dog thief' posts, 'Norbert reached level 29 in Bejewelled Farm Crush Saga' and all the other 'inspirational' junk.

The Editor brings up a good point--if you want guaranteed coverage, you have to pay for it. While I've seen that turn into a pain for some widely-subscribed pages I follow, if you're running a business over FB, then yeah, getting hit up for some cash makes sense.

I have zero problems managing my FB news feed, and I'm as old as the rest of you. :-)

Never have and likely never will do social sites. Give me an old fashioned web site or I don't look.

Another member of the fuddy duddy club

I discussed this with a college buddy the other day – we are both computer guys – 35 years experience. The reason we don't do facebook is that we know what computers and data are capable of

According to my 14 year old son nobody uses facebook any more

So real website is most effective. You want to be able to navigate easily to see the figures you want, which brings us to – need to see pictures !!

John

"According to my 14 year old son nobody uses facebook any more"

Probably why the largest growth deomgraphic on FB is the over 50s.

It works very well for social media and a backup for your holiday snaps. A company site on it though it just rubbish, I have too much stuff to keep track of as it is.

I don't do FB either, so I won't be viewing such companies@ products.

Another vote for a real website.

I have a Fb site for INLGames. SWMBO updates it with pics and links after I do conversion projects.

I do not use FB but I am guilty of using it to sell gaming stuff via the missus FB page.
The items always sell but I guess it misses the big market out there.
Personally I buy from dedicated websites or gaming shops.

Since I never had a point of order website option, facebook is a good way to contact me.
Even when I had a website, my stock changed so much in the number of companies and product lines that I carried, I wanted people to contact me to see if I had it in stock. If I did then I got the credit card info.

So Facebook works for my small operation.
Nelson Time Portal Hobbies
In Business Sine 1983.