Advice From Someone Operating Dozens of FB Troll Accounts
As usual, I need to post this thing that's in my mind while the thought is still fresh.
One of the discussions here about Facebook has triggered this. And I have to come out and tell the world what I know about these new users Facebook is bragging they have recently gained.
In one of the TV news here, I learned that the Philippines is in the top of countries high in Facebook usage. While I agree with that, there's something that online entrepreneurs should know.
Yes, there can be a lot of potential with these new market (new internet users mean new potential customers, right?), BUT, there's a big BUT, sometimes that can be tricky.
Let me tell you something...
I am one of the dealers of prepaid phone sim cards here, I acquire sim cards from a supplier for as low as $0.50 cents each. That allowed me to open multiple Facebook accounts easily because, all Facebook require now to open a new account is either a phone number or an email.
Even if you don't have an email, you can still open a new Facebook account just using a new phone number. It may also be the "behind reason" why populist politicians here can operate thousands of online trolls peddling fake news and bullying critics of their patrons.
(Are you familiar with President Duterte and his trolls?)
If I myself can have dozens of Facebook accounts, then can Facebook be misinterpreting the numbers? That a significant percentage of the pie Facebook is staring at, are possibly fake accounts?
Here's another thing...
What used to be "remote areas" here where the only means of communication used to be snail mail, people are now hooking to the Internet via "mobile". Is this good news for us? NO.
- They access Facebook via a prepaid load promo of "Facebook only". People can't navigate way from FB or else, either they will lose their "all day free Facebook promo" or incur additional costs in internet data.
- These people enjoying "free Facebook" and "free access to Messenger", they can't view images. If they opt to view the images, they have to use their balances (money). So, how's that with your beautiful Facebook images made in Canva? lol
- A vast majority of these new Facebook users are either young people who never care about online business, or oldies who still prefer hard physical labor. Of those who get interested in online business, they prefer "businesses that thrive only WITHIN the Facebook platform", like fan pages where most of the transactions are made via offline "meet up".
- Most of these new users don't have credit cards, debit cards, or never caring about owning one.
Now, you may say "Have a proper targeting"?
Then, that makes the new surge in numbers Facebook is claiming irrelevant!
Because, that new surge in number of Facebook users, as I have said, a major portion of that, may have included my own troll accounts, my drinking buddies' troll accounts, political fighters, and the accounts of hard laborers here who only check their accounts only when they need to communicate with their loves ones!
Multiply that with other countries like the Philippines... and you get the idea what that new number Facebooks is bragging.
Just sharing to you facts I have observed in here.
See you in other platforms. :)
(*kidding*)
Recent Comments
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Hey, Facebook is due for a fall.
Trouble always comes, whether it is a large company or an individual when people get too high and mighty.
Just look at the sports world!
I think that with the changes FB has made to its algorithm, it has become more difficult for bloggers to spread their content, unless they pay for it.
Such a very expensive advertising platform.
You have to spend a lot of money in getting your message across people who in the first place are there "to socialize" and not primarily to do shopping.
Too much a price to pay.
Maybe we can "get better results" with same amount of "advertising money" in other platforms?
I don't have, at least for now, any plans of using FB's paid advertising facilities. A great deal has changed there, and for the efforts and expenses incurred, the return from this platform is nothing to write home about.
I haven't done any homework about other platforms yet, but from what I can gather, Pinterest and Instagram are much better.
What you say is relevant, it's also what happens in a country like Cambodia.
But still Facebook is largely used in those countries, I would say it's the only way for them to get Online. They don't even know what a browser is in most case.
Of course, it's simpler to have a fake account, but what would they do with it? Perhaps 10% of peoples are interested to use a fake account, but for the rest of the population, I can't see how they can profit from it.
My point is FB numbers still pretty accurate. Now, will you be able to target the audience in those countries like you would do in the US, probably not? Still, I believe companies who know how to engage viewers using FB can make money using it.
How peoples use FB in those countries is a little different, but not so much different because, no matter where you're FB still FB.
Good point.
Perhaps, if someone is serious about using Facebook for online business, then you should target "top-tier traffic from countries like USA, Canada, Australia, Europe, and UK".
Here, I still see businesses thriving on Facebook. But most of them, I noticed they're businesses that thrive "within Facebook platform" only.
Online shops utilizing fan pages and Shopify, selling stuff like baby clothing, beauty products, things like that. It's funny though that even if they already have Shopify stores, most of the sales still happen via "meet up".
If you are staring at the pie, of the total number of Facebook users, then hope to target the good portion of it. As you have said, "still accurate". Maybe. But, expensive! lol
If what I am promoting are expensive programs with big commissions like Digital Altitude or MOBE, then it's okay for me to use "expensive advertising" like Facebook.
But since, this is Wealthy Affiliate, $49 and $23 commission, sometimes $1 referral credit for having someone completed his profile, expensive Facebook advertising may be my last option!
That brings up a question for me. I added one person I thought was from WA to my Facebook friends and the very next day I had around 40 friend requests from what I believe to be the same country.
Is this something that happens because of what you referred to in your post just now?
I am much more cautious of accepting a lot of friends right now unless I know they are from WA.
Rick
Sometimes, the friend requests are legit. But oftentimes, not. Especially, if the person you have added is affiliated with a political movement, or an online business, his peers would be excited to have you as their friends too. In other countries, if you add a sexy girl looking for love, then hundreds of other sexy girls will start adding you, too! lol
I started getting a few petty girls trying to friend me but than I thought about my wife seeing that and hit the “reject” button.
You are right.
I have a Facebook Fan page but it is not easy to bring your friends there unless you create an interesting advertisement that would really catch their interest.
I've tried to promote my posts on Facebook but obviously, they don't read posts, they just like it but don't know what is in.
Yes, good for catching likes.
What disappointed me so much about this Facebook is, it used to be "spending money to reach new audiences".. but now, "you have to spend money to reach YOUR EXISTING AUDIENCE" (you have to boost post).
Insanity being accepted as "cool, wow!"?
It's like, Facebook feels we don't have other options, they can now abuse people (abuse with consent, lol).
LOL, I did not try using that paid promo on Facebook. If you have tried it and it brings you to old friends then it's useless.
That is a little bit of a tough break. Facebook only huh. Trends do change though so I wouldn't worry about it too much.
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Interesting and timely, Gomer. Thank you.
-- Netta