Facebook Zoo: Where Publishers Can Discuss Facebook Traffic Changes

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   Robinposted 6 years ago

   Hello, All!  As most of you know, we are in the process of being acquired by Maven, and many of Maven and HubPages's publishers have been devastated by the changes in the Facebook algorithm.  They have decided to create a room on Maven for discussions around this topic, and I thought I'd pass it along.  Please join the conversation with fellow publishers, and share your thoughts on how your traffic has been affected by the changes made at Facebook.  Here's the announcement:
   
   If you're a publisher, you're struggling with Facebook. Livelihoods are at stake and free speech being suppressed, as journalists and activists are being de-monetized, censored and even removed from social media.  We read about algorithm changes as if they're random and inevitable.  They aren't.  They're created by people, for a company, and the impact is far from faceless. Audiences are being demolished and businesses destroyed.
   
   Facebook Zoo is the place to come together.  It's a home for people stricken from the conversation.  Join Us.  Share your story.  Air your grievances. Connect with others.
   
   We want to hear from you.
   
   Go to Facebookzoo.com to create an account and start posting—or use the hashtag #FacebookZoo to join the conversation on any platform.
   
   

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      misterhollywoodposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      I think Maven did a clever job of riding the anti-FB wave. That said, there were many blogs that were nothing more than FB businesses, putting out posts (clickbait) designed to go viral.
      
      And to keep it real, FB incentivized it through Instant articles, tagging and the rest. Blogs that were stupid enough to create thier business models on FBs platform have to accept when you don't diversify, you are one algo change away from death.
      
      By the way, FB groups will give your articles far more exposure than a page. Groups are interest based and so the algo is much more favorable.

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         lobobrandonposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         Exactly my thoughts. And yup groups are still going strong.

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            Natalie Frankposted 6 years agoin reply to this

            Do a lot of people use groups for marketing content?

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               misterhollywoodposted 6 years agoin reply to this

               Yes and no. If you have a group on (let's say vintage cars),  you'll likely see a lot of pics and discussions on that topic. A very related article may appear from time to time but it really has to relate to the groups focus.

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               Wesman Todd Shawposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               The only marketing I do is Facebook groups.

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   paradigmsearchposted 6 years ago

   I threw in the towel on Twitter a couple months ago. I threw in the towel on Facebook a week ago. Thus, I am now short two towels.
   
   Both Twitter and Facebook have a new mantra: "Pay Me!"
   
   -----
   
   Dear T and FB,
   
   Sorry, Dudes. Not going to happen.
   
   Sincerely,
   
   Me
   
   -----
   
   #FacebookZoo

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   paradigmsearchposted 6 years ago

   I finally worked up the energy to drop by https://www.themaven.net/facebookzoo . There are some very worthy articles there as well.

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   Wesman Todd Shawposted 6 years ago

   I always work the groups at Facebook. For what I am most successful doing here, there are hundreds of groups one could join where they can promote their work. It's not the best use of my time, but it isn't the worst use of my time either. I typically post a link with a bit of a whimsical intro for each new article, when and if I'm out of Facebook jail for not being a left wing extremist.
   
   Twitter never gave me much of anything useful. I did have personal conversations with a couple of the people I've wrote about here. That was positive. Didn't make me a nickle though. LOL.
   
   I might need some simple instructions on how to join this Maven/Facebook thing.

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      Robinposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      You should be able to click "Login" on the far left and then click "Create an Account".  Thanks for joining!

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         Glenn Stokposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         I already have a Maven account, so all I had to do was click the "follow" button.

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   Robinposted 6 years ago

   Article written about FacebookZoo in NY Post:  https://nypost.com/2018/08/14/anti-face … l-threats/

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      theraggededgeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Fascinating stuff. I do feel sorry for people who used it as a business base. Heartbreaking.
      
      I'm glad I just couldn't buy into that Facebook-is-my-life thing. I have friends (and a partner) who virtually live on it. I deleted my poor unused account when the Cambridge Analytica storm broke.
      
      Edit: Now if Maven are going to do this properly, they need a Googlezoo too. I think most of us get downhearted when we have to jump to Google's  algorithm tunes 
      
      PS I joined Facebookzoo.

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         paradigmsearchposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         Not too sure getting in a pssing match with Google would be a good idea.

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            theraggededgeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

            I agree 100%, but we do do that jumping, dancing thing, don't we? It's quite disconcerting that one company has such an impact over our lives.

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      paradigmsearchposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      I read it. It's a barn burner.
      
      Based on a legal article I read in the past:
      A. The Facebook legal team statement is false.
      B. The Maven legal team statement is true.

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   Will Apseposted 6 years ago

   The question for me is: how will this affect HP/Maven?

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      paradigmsearchposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      FB has already gutted publisher income, so there is nothing to lose by Maven going after FB full bore. In fact, it's even getting Maven free publicity.

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   Glenis Rixposted 6 years ago

   I’m pleased that FB has changed it’s business policy and practices, which some might describe as having been sloppy or unethical.  I closed my account when it emerged that they had sold the personal data of tens of thousands of U.K. users to Cambridge Analytica, who in turn used it for nefarious purposes.

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      theraggededgeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      But they haven't, not really: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ … g-tv-shows

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   Natalie Frankposted 6 years ago

   Your unauthorized use of the Facebook name might cause confusion as to whether Facebook is sponsoring Facebookzoo?  Oh, I'm pretty certain there won't be any confusion there. . .

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   Kenna McHughposted 6 years ago

   FB is a way for me to stay in touch with family and friends - nothing more and nothing less. Social media is how you use it for yourself. Does anyone remember or still use Compuserve? It came before all the others and it helped my writing career - big time. I would like to see social media go back to an atmosphere like Compuserve.

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    lobobrandonposted 6 years ago

    An interesting turn of events. Thanks for sharing, Robin.

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    EricFarmer8xposted 6 years ago

    Personally, I only use Facebook to talk to family every once and a while.
    
    I was trying to use Facebook to promote my writing, but I did not think it was really that helpful. I have found just focusing on writing more and learning how to be better at SEO works better for me.

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    paradigmsearchposted 6 years ago

    I've had some traffic success with Facebook groups, but the darned visitors were all ad blind. Oh, well.
    
    Meanwhile, https://www.themaven.net/the-maven has certainly gotten ready for the football season. Smart.
    
    Enthusiasts will no doubt be posting those links in the relevant Facebook groups. A link is a link.

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    paradigmsearchposted 6 years ago

    @HP Even though you won't link to my website, I have linked to a Maven's site. It's a barn burner and totally positive. Just having fun.

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    Natalie Frankposted 5 years ago

    Amusing turn of events -  all of a sudden my articles seem filled with nothing but Facebook ads!

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       Glenn Stokposted 5 years agoin reply to this

       You probably were discussing Facebook with someone via email on a gmail account. Or you did a search related to it. No one else sees the same as you. If you want to see only generic ads, enable “do not use private results” in your google search settings.

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          Natalie Frankposted 5 years agoin reply to this

          Right -  I have do not use private results already selected.  Thanks.

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    Lovelli Fuadposted 5 years ago

    Thank you, Robin for letting us know. So I created an account and checked out the Facebook Zoo just now. Sometimes I get 500 error when browsing through the stories, but most of the pages load okay. I don't see any authors I'm following on HubPages on there..

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