Dumb – dumb – dumb
I keep telling myself that things happen for a reason and although I feel like I have a knot in my stomach for making an idiotic mistake…..it HAS brought a light to what Social Media represents in our business.
Yesterday I created a Facebook profile for Rick to be able to not only tag the hundreds of photos of him, but also his Miamism Mojitos. 30 minutes after creating the profile, Rick called me complaining (maybe it was whining) that he had already received 30 emails from Facebook and he was really annoyed. (there’s a reason why I do social media and he doesn’t). So as to relieve his e-mail inbox, I decided to change the address to mine and there’s where the mistake was made. Facebook only allows one account per email address and deleted my account. OUCH!!! (I wish they would have given my account a warning, considering I had it for years…but oh well).
So here I am….angry, upset, frustrated and helpless. All my contacts from Europe the US and South America are gone! all my photos and videos, gone! I’m not even part of the conversations within groups and pages! According to facebook, I never even existed and there is no evidence of my being.
DEEP BREATH
I go on twitter to ask for help and so many people jump in to try to help….but nothing…..I have to wait to see if Facebook can restore my account.
So I’m having a conversation with Jeff this morning and he has to bring reason into my rational but irritated mind (why does he always do that?) and he asks: “Is it worth it to re-build your facebook account?” and although the answer is yes, it still pisses me off.
Here’s the bigger picture
A lot of us use social media for business and have come to depend on certain facets from many of these platforms (not just facebook) – what happens if social media disappears? what happens if that medium you have come to depend on for business is gone tomorrow? Do you have a second plan?
It all comes to the question of putting all your eggs in one basket – whether it is your blog, your twitter profile, a facebook page or your flickr account. Do you realize that any of these can vanish without warning?
Most of these platforms are free and they owe absolutely nothing to their users – why would they even have backups or keep archives?
I need to piggy back off of Mark Eckenrode’s post today, Social Media Missing the Mark?
It’s not just about understanding social media, and about it supplementing your marketing strategy, it’s also knowing what to do with a certain portion of that strategy if it didn’t exist and you had to make extreme changes because certain factors were out of your control.
Now….can someone at FACEBOOK please please help me!
Clint Miller
March 9, 2009 at 11:37 am
Oh, Ines!! I am so sorry to hear that this happened. And, I will definitly remember this if I ever build another profile to NOT change it to my email. How frustrating!
Aside from a shoulder to lean on, I wont be much help, unfortunately. I know enough to break them…not how to get them back aside from crying in the corner…lol.
The Dude Dean
March 9, 2009 at 11:47 am
OUCH! Hope you get it back so we can all throw some sheep at you. 😉
Jay McGillicuddy
March 9, 2009 at 11:50 am
Depressing for sure Ines. I am so glad I didn’t have to help Monika build her Facebook profile and have her email come to me like we do on some sites.
I just hope Facebook can help. A little bit above my expertise. Best of Luck…
Jeff Turner
March 9, 2009 at 11:52 am
So, the other question I asked on the phone this morning was this, “If all of the social media sites went away tomorrow, what would you be doing to grow your business?” I know you know that answer. And as a further dovetail to Mark’s post, whatever your answer is to that question… you should already be doing that right now – in addition to your social media efforts.
Let’s hope Facebook hops on this and reinstates your account, complete with all those Mojito photos. 🙂
Mike Mueller
March 9, 2009 at 11:57 am
Ines –
Maybe I can give you a coupe of resources I know of at Facebook and maybe they can direct you to the right person.
Start with
Christina Holsberry, Manager of the User Experience team, https://www.facebook.com/s.php?k=100000080&id=202135&sid=85606833f54a7bf5733a4b8c6295abe9
Or Kathy Chan: https://www.facebook.com/s.php?k=100000080&id=19800843&sid=38b21bef95c3a85de12562ec1f7977e1
And of course there’s always Mark Zuckerberg: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4
Outside of facebook you could try either Shama Hyder https://twitter.com/Shama
or Mari Smith https://twitter.com/MariSmith
Both know FB inside and out!
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 9, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Clint – a shoulder and mojitos, what else could I ask for?
Jay – you totally get it, it was about poor management on my side
Jeff – how did I know you would come back with the rest of that conversation – will you please stop instigating? no, really…..it makes you think of what alternate things you SHOULD be doing and weighing in how these platforms don’t owe anything to us and can take our accounts away without warning.
There is intangible value that cannot be replaced.
Mike – thank you, thank you! I’m on it!
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 9, 2009 at 12:08 pm
I’m thinking in Spanish again today, my English is horrible and I apologize in advance.
Matthew Hardy
March 9, 2009 at 1:08 pm
> All my contacts from Europe the US and South America are gone!
This is a very good lesson for all, Mojito Maven!
Now do this: collect ALL your contacts into one place onto a hard drive you control – you can then export this data as necessary for import into web-based systems. Never add something you consider business-important to a public, vendor-controlled system without also adding the information to your own private system. Then, backup often.
Businesspeople know that their data *IS* their business and care for it appropriately. Many are learning that the real silver lining to the “cloud” is for the benefit of the vendor, first and foremost.
The fantastic promise (and reality) of the internet is that you can have your own private system and access it from anywhere. Adding and meticulously caring for a dataset that represents past and future earnings creates real value for your business – a business you can sell someday if you want. Compare this to having your business strewn about a myriad of “social” and “cloud” websites and you’ll find that your “independent” business simply has a new master.
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 9, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Matthew – fantastic point! It’s all about data, no? some of us take for granted that these platforms may be more for fun than business and think that the data is safe in someone else’s hands
In my case – my contacts from childhood are valuable and now will have to fish for them one by one
Matthew Hardy
March 9, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Ines, you seem like such a fantastically nice person and I am really sorry that you’re having to deal with this.
I’d like to offer you a copy of our database software at no charge. I am not asking you to write about it nor do I wish to create even a hint of obligation. You’ll get class-A support et al, including updates. If it helps you, it will make me feel good. (I like to feel good.) But whatever you do from now on woman (!), keep a frickin’ backup! 😉
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 9, 2009 at 2:35 pm
You are too cool Matthew – are you sure that would not be considered an evil bribe? LOL!
Lisa Sanderson
March 9, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Ouch. Sorry for your loss, Ines. I wish I could help you with your problem, but if there is anything else you need, don’t hesitate to ask. This really is something to think about…diversifying, backing up the data, protecting your assets. Thanks for sharing your pain for the good of the rest of us.
Matthew Hardy
March 9, 2009 at 2:42 pm
> @Lisa – protecting your assets
Decades ago I opined that “digital” would become the new “real”. Business data is absolutely real property.
Matthew Hardy
March 9, 2009 at 3:16 pm
> evil bribe? LOL!
That is funny!
(Of course, what’s not so funny are some of the SM talking heads who consider every kind act as suspect. You know, like those rotten real estate agents who offer things like market analysis for free! You just can’t trust anyone these days…)
😉
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 9, 2009 at 3:23 pm
you crack me up Matthew!!
Jonathan Phan
March 9, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Sorry for your loss.
Missy Caulk
March 9, 2009 at 6:09 pm
I’m sorry Ines, I know how you are feeling seriously. I lost all my data on my PC when the genius’s at Apple deleted it from my Sony when they were suppose to be transferring.
I still grieve it when I am looking up past client information.
Can you back up FB? I had no idea.
Ken Montville - The MD Suburbs of DC
March 9, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Considering the brouhaha over FB keeping all your data forever during the last terms of service kerfuffle I would think that FB has your account in some hidden vault and could restore it with just a slap on the wrist.
I like Mike’s recommendations.
Good luck.
Ken Brand
March 9, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Yeah, I believe this fall into the category of hard to imagine the loss until you’ve lost it. Seriously, on way FB could monetize would be to off some very inexpensive backup subscription service. Of course they’d have to deal with a firestorm from the entitlement element. I’d pay a small fee for peace of mind.
Rock on.
Mariana
March 9, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Mariana
March 9, 2009 at 7:44 pm
poke
Elaine Reese
March 9, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Good golly, how absolutely awful! I would think they would be able to restore it given their recent PR fiasco.
I moved away from AR because I think it’s vulnerable. Now all my ‘good stuff’ is on WP.com. I know that they say everything is backed up on their servers, but is there a way I can back up WP.com on my own equipment?
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 9, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Jonathan – it’s kind of like a missing child that you don’t know is gone yet (horrible analogy) – but not accepting condolences yet 😉
OMG Missy – don’t even go there – that’s terrifying! Especially because so many told me to take my PC to Apple to transfer the data – it’s still sitting next to me imac as a “library” of sorts.
Ken M.- ya think? but it all goes to show that we need to look into each and every one of these accounts and know what role they play and act accordingly
Ken – would be easy to monetize it – but they would seriously have to offer support and have a good backup which they may not be willing to do at this point
Mariana – cruel…..just cruel (rock)
Elaine – there is a way to back up your stuff into your own servers – no doubt about it
Dan Connolly
March 9, 2009 at 11:56 pm
I just signed up for Carbonite about three days ago. I feel so much better knowing that all my data backs up every time my computer goes idle for a minute or two. It’s pretty reasonable ($50/year and you can find discount coupons off that price, online). I suppose Carbonite could go down also…but I like having a backup away from my office in case of fire, flood or really thorough robbers. (God forbid).
Can’t help you with Facebook, it seems bizarre that you could lose everything with the click of a mouse!
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 10, 2009 at 10:00 am
Thanks Dan – there are so many systems out there for backing up – I guess FB is one of those that we don’t weigh in and it’s not so much about the contacts, it’s about its use being gone.
I actually contacted a few of my FB contacts to continue some of the conversations we were having and it wasn’t the same – the question comes up again….how important are these to you, and what happens if they are gone tomorrow.
teresa boardman
March 11, 2009 at 4:49 am
I don’t have all of my eggs in one basket but it would hurt my business if some of my social media accounts were deleted. I have backed up my contacts on a couple of the networks because I wouldn’t want to lose touch with my contacts. If my facebook count were deleted I would smile.
Linda Davis
March 14, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I would try to remain positive. Just think of all the sheep you saved.
ines
March 14, 2009 at 3:40 pm
T – I’m not smiling….quite the contrary….pouting
Linda – LOL or the poked out eyes
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 17, 2009 at 9:31 am
UPDATE : It’s been over a week and still have not heard from Facebook about my account – seems incredible that they would not have any type of customer service.
jackie
March 18, 2009 at 2:08 pm
today..it happened to me I signed up to make a business page & somewhere in that setup I thought it asked for my personal name..well I gave it & my e-mail & bang, my account was now taken over & my old personal one is gone..& now i’m locked out of the business one that I signed up my visa for advertising..& I can’t get in to do anything..& no response to emails either..very frustrating..& they have my visa 🙁
ines
March 18, 2009 at 4:38 pm
jackie – you may have better luck, since it was a business account and there was $ involved. I’m beyond the hope stage and just pissed off now – not a single response is just not acceptable.
OK – it’s a free service, but there is priceless value in the word of mouth and indirect marketing we give Facebook.
Susan Milner
March 18, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I was wondering why I got another friend’s request from you. Now be careful to not add friends too quickly or you’ll get kicked off or suspended for being spammy.
I think about this all of the time. Heck, what if we all woke up tomorrow and GOOGLE was gone? I think we’d all die 🙂
Bob Carney
March 18, 2009 at 6:43 pm
wow…a whole week. Does facebook understand that the Mojito movement is going to surpass the FB movement? I would think they would want to help you out quick!!!
Bill Lublin
March 18, 2009 at 8:20 pm
So at least I know why you haven’;t been poking me –
;-(
ines
March 18, 2009 at 8:31 pm
thanks for the warning Susan – that would have majorly sucked!
Bob – they don’t give a crap obviously – it’s pretty sad….I guess we have to be paying members….I’m so over it
I was not ignoring you Bill 🙂
ines
March 18, 2009 at 8:33 pm
what’s most annoying about this is the amount of people that think I stopped following them…even clients and old friends from gradeschool
Paul Jackson
March 20, 2009 at 1:43 pm
For some reason all the profile pictures have gone from my home page can anyone help to get them back. It may be just a click away but I’m totally lost.
mark ding
March 20, 2009 at 6:40 pm
ines i want to try to help you.
visit this website(it is a question topic with many answers):
https://getsatisfaction.com/facebook/topics/my_husband_changed_his_log_in_email_on_facebook_to_the_email_i_use_it_accepted_his_and_now_my
🙂 hope it helps
ines
March 22, 2009 at 10:07 am
thanks Mark – I actually put a question the day after there as well and have gotten no responses – I even contacted the FB rep there for getsatisfaction.com and didn’t get a response either.
Kristal Kraft
March 23, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Ines, OK so now I understand why you were rebuilding, what a bummer!
You are correct about not putting all you eggs in one basket when it comes to social media. We need to be generating business from multiple sources.
Relying on social media alone for business is like sitting on a one-legged stool.
At some point you are going to wiping yourself up from the floor.
kk
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 23, 2009 at 1:59 pm
It is a major bummer – someone shared some email addresses last night and I’m giving it a last attempt ( I do hope they restore it)
Love the analogy and also loved seeing you and Larry last night on Jeff’s Qik videos from the Colorado Springs meet up (I hope to see you soon)
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 24, 2009 at 8:22 pm
GOOD NEWS!!! my Facebook account was restored today!! Wooo Hooo! Those emails must have done something but I got an email this morning saying:
This problem should now be resolved. Please use the information below to access your account.
So thanks for letting me vent, it took them 2.5 weeks! (but better than having it gone)
Jay McGillicuddy
March 25, 2009 at 5:13 am
Congrats Ines, better late than never.
ines
March 26, 2009 at 7:38 pm
not all of them mark – the silent but deadly ones are the ones that scare me
TPark01
April 1, 2009 at 9:05 am
Ines:
Congratulations on getting it back. Any help you can offer to someone else on going through this process? Hopefully it won’t take 2.5 weeks. Who did you contact? Who finally did the restore for you.
Any info is greatly appreciated,
T&J
ines
April 1, 2009 at 10:34 am
TPark01 – can’t guarantee it will work or how long – here’s what I did – send a pleading email to each of these addresses (one email per address) – and needs to be sent from the email that the account was under
warning@facebook.com
appeals@facebook.com
login@facebook.com
mzuckerberg@facebook.com
eschrage@facebook.com
elliot@facebook.com
The one that finally responded and restored it was “appeals”
Hope that helps! GOOD LUCK!
tomferry
July 1, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Glad to hear it all worked out in the end, but thank you for the warning and head-up!
ines
July 1, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Me too Tom – super glad and fortunately this post HAS helped others
Atlanta Real Estate
September 11, 2009 at 7:32 am
Ines,
I’ve very late to this party and I apologize. But, I’ve had these exact same thoughts and fears myself.
I don’t use any of these tools like Facebook, Twitter, etc., but I do run a web site, spend billions of hours on SEO and get nearly ALL my business via lead capture using my IDX feed.
These conversations about IDX going away because the search engines are indexing the listings are what makes me a little nervous.
If that were to happen and I had to get prospects the old fashioned way, it would be time for another of those career changes for me..
Not ever going to:
Farm Neighborghoods
Print thousands of post cards
Keep up with birthdays
Push magnetic calendars
Join large groups and organizations so I can network
Call FSBOs
Can’t and won’t do any of it! No Craig Proctor nonsense for me.
RM