RIP Facebook?

Hope you're okay Helen and you get well soon. 

This is an interesting topic, I should probably point out that I'm looking at social media from a younger perspective being 21.

Also that amount of Matthews in this thread may become an issue. 

Personally, and I've been to Google HQ in the states for a couple of weeks several years ago and spoke to a ton of staff etc over there, I'd trust Google with my data over and above Facebook. 

From a practical point of view I know by giving up some of my data, browsing habits, purchasing habits etc, I get a far richer experience online. I'm also not blind enough to know that then will invariably turn into 'whomever pays the most gets their products in front of my face first' but in the main I know I'm getting a richer experience online, or perceived richer experience, by sharing some of my data.

The difference between Google and Facebook, my opinion, is that Google (in the main) have been pretty up front about it. When they globalised their privacy policy you had a great big call to action pop up no matter what google service you used telling you what it was. When Facebook change stuff it's only by chance or some article that you discover it. 

Anyway mostly it's all opinion, I think ultimately we've already sold our data souls down the river, it's how much of it we can retain control of that's important and Google are way way ahead of the game on giving you that choice IMHO.

I've just stumbled across this thread. Im currently experimenting with both facebook and Google + for my business as a next step of which to use to promote and engage the business online. The one thing I am finding about facebook compared to Google + is that as stated previously in this thread a lot of people liking my "fanpage" are people who I know directly or know about my business already. I don't believe facebook allows brilliant functionality for businesses as having "fanpage" rather than a specific direct account I find awakerd and hard work because I don't believe I am able to reach a large market with my facebook page plus I don't want to promote the page direct because my own personal status feed becomes full and alientates my own personal contacts. 

http://mashable.com/2012/06/28/google-plus-one-year-later/

^ A must read really for anyone involved with this thread I think.

As for the "only people I know or know my business are liking me on Facebook" I dont get the arguement of why that is a bad thing really... The average FB user has 130 friends, and when they "like" your page, that shows up in the news feed of their friends (who for the most part will be local people also, and a lot will have similar interests too). Having your company name appear before these people is pretty well targeted. The next step is having an engaging, interactive page. You want to encourage people to post comments to status's, etc. Every time they do that, it again shows in their friends feeds. so yes... maybe you have 100 people who liked your page, but they all already knew about the business. but think about the people who were then shown your business because of that. (on average that would be 13,000 other people). Not all of those will also like you straight away, in fact most wont. those Who are interested by your business, might turn up once or twice to try it out (the amount of people doing this really depends on your business), and once they have been a few times they may well then "like" your page. When you see that like you will think that they are another existing customer liking you...

not a problem. Best thing you can do is post contect that engages and generates interaction with your current "likers". post a poll up asking what their favourite item on the menu is, post interesting content sure to spark a conversation, each time they reply, its great news for you.

I'll take this advice and adopt it and see how I go! Thanks!

Have you considered some Paid Advertising on Facebook to help you reach a larger audience?

Currently trialing a Facebook advert for a month to see what impact it has. 

I am reluctantly coming around to the idea that I ought to embrace social media for my windscreen business.

It seems to be my only chance to counter the all pervasive Autoglass adverts, and inform people of their right to choose who carries out their windscreen repairs/ replacements, and not to be pushed into using a 'preferred supplier' by the insurance company.

What is my best option?

Tim G