Friday Digital Roundup
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Sunday 28th April 2024
Four Reasons Why You Really Can’t Just Rely on WhatsApp (or Facebook, or Instagram or Anyone!)
You might have forgotten about it now, but WhatsApp went down on the 25th of October 2022. After the frustration and blaming our internet when our messages weren’t sending (we’re still sorry Wi-Fi, baby,) we immediately began sharing memes of the internet’s reaction in our Slack channel.
The whole world sought solace in heading to Twitter to mock WhatsApp, but it made us think. We know our clients use WhatsApp a lot for their business, we use it for a comms channel with our IT support and some clients, and it made us think; what happens if the thing you rely on suddenly stops working?
Even Todd couldn’t resist making a sneaky car video about the downsides of the outage, so if you want more cowboy content you can watch that on Facebook.
Four Reasons Why You Really Can’t Just Rely on WhatsApp (or Facebook, or Instagram or Anyone!)
First, how did the internet react?
You know what we’re like at the ranch; we love to mix business with memes. When WhatsApp went down, the internet flocked to Twitter, and naturally, we’ve collected our favourite reactions:
WhatsApp is Down
Meanwhile Twitter Headquarters pic.twitter.com/tEK97gNHGq
— Omwamba (@omwambaKE) October 25, 2022
Ryanair
that’s the 5th time this week. You’re worse than BA
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) October 25, 2022
Aldi
Morning mum, just letting you know I’m alive because WhatsApp is down and I know you’ll get concerned soon #whatsappdown
— Aldi Stores UK (@AldiUK) October 25, 2022
Specsavers
Free eye test voucher for the WhatsApp worker who pressed the wrong button this morning #whatsappdown
— Specsavers (@Specsavers) October 25, 2022
You can’t rely on one channel of marketing
Unfortunately, there’s no magic channel of marketing that works perfectly! Sure, your Facebook might be great, or you’ve got lots of clients from LinkedIn, but the reality is that no one channel should be your main communication. Instead, marketers need to focus on a cohesive multi-channel approach.
If you build your message across a range of channels in a meaningful and thoughtful way, you won’t have a meltdown when one channel has issues. WhatsApp chats might be your way of connecting with your clients, but when that goes down, how will you speak to them? Have them on multiple platforms so you can always connect, even when the tech gremlins attack. Especially if the gremlins attack the parent company that owns three of the major social networks (Meta, we’re looking at you ?.)
Not everyone is on everything
We get it, you want the ability to reach every customer on a personal level, and that might be through Facebook posts or Instagram polls, but the reality is that not everyone has every social media. Some people only have Facebook, others strictly use Twitter (I know, weird right?!) If they’re only in one place, and you’re in another, you’re never going to meet. Instead, what you should be doing is covering all bases and networks, and channelling your efforts into interactive content to draw people in.
What if you can’t afford to use the platform?
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you may have noticed that Elon Musk has finally bought Twitter. It didn’t take him long to introduce a potential subscription service, $8 for a blue tick, and we’re certain that the internet is watching. What if this is the start of subscription costs for major networks? Not everyone will be able to afford or will want to pay, to stay on a website. Especially when they’re mainly just doomscrolling rather than actually creating content.
It’s incredibly important to be able to maintain choice, especially when it may cost you. What if the reliable free version of Canva is removed? Where will you edit your photos for socials then? ? Plannable could go the same route as Hootsuite; the free version hosting hardly any of the services you’ve grown to rely on. This is why you need to keep your options open and have a backup.
https://t.co/J7WAv5fRo9 pic.twitter.com/E5B1KYxnLF
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) November 2, 2022
Times change, and so does traffic
Social media is fickle, and changes often. Facebook used to be king, but now it’s considered “boring and old-fashioned”. Instagram used to be reliable, but now it’s just reels, bots, and sponsored content. TikTok currently reigns supreme, but it’s still considered a “children’s app” despite the NSFW and plentiful interesting and informative content that’s flooded it. Just like not everyone is on everything, the best platform for you will change with time as the traffic changes. “I heard it on the radio” became “I saw it on the TV”. “I saw it on TV” is now “I saw it on TikTok”. You have to be adaptable in this modern era and keep your eggs in multiple baskets.
How much did WhatsApp’s crash affect you? Comment below or find us online here, or here, or here, oh, and here!
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1 comment on this article
Ernie Boxall at 20:23pm on November 8th 2022
I have listened to many independent journalists, podcasters and bloggers who have leapt into creating alternative economies.
Rumble: Locals: I think they are worth looking at.
Especially if you are looking for alternatives that will make it more difficult for governments, home and foreign, to keep absolute track on us.