Facebook and Instagram Are Down - Here is What To Do
Facebook is having a BAD week. First, today both Facebook and Instagram (as well as What’s App) are physically down.
… It’s not JUST you.
It’s been over an hour and I haven’t been able to update either platform. This may be resolved by the time you read this (update - it’s still down HOURS and HOURS later). But having two platforms down for multiple hours is just a great reminder that all marketers and small business owners should NOT be putting all of their digital marketing “eggs” into one basket.
Second, a former Facebook employee comes forward with so much evidence of how Facebook ignored their own reports of how badly their platform and Instagram have handled.. well everything.
From allegations that the social network fed the Capitol riot with fake news (article from NPR), to how Facebook/Instagram KNOWING just how much Instagram usage is harming teenage girls mental health (oh, trust me - it’s not just teens it is harming, but that’s another blog post/book (article from Slate).
So, as we watch the potential end of two of the biggest social networking platforms as we know it, I have been spending more time off these networks as well, for my own personal mental health.
So I have a few recommendations for what to do when Facebook and Instagram are down:
Here is an article I wrote back in 2018 about how to keep social media marketing from gobbling you up during the holidays. It works any time of year but is good to get started as the holidays creep up on you. Article from the North Bay Business Journal.
Take a walk! Get on your cycling bike. Seriously. Stop hitting refresh and do something for your creative brain.
Take some time to plan ahead. Have you created a list of content for the next month? Download my Six-Month Content Calander and get started brainstorming and planning out your emails, social media posts, and blog posts for the next month.
Get some water.
Call a friend. Yes, call. Not text.
Take a look at LinkedIn jobs. I hear people are hiring right now!
Write down your tasks for the week in a physical day planner. Sometimes the internet can be unreliable, and for me - I love having a physical planner to write down my weekly to-do list. Grab one (even if you head to your local Target or Staples to get one) and plan out a few ideas for each day - even if some of those ideas need Facebook or Instagram to work.
Just remember, LinkedIn is also a great social network to post pictures of your lunch (see my post from today).
Grab a cup of coffee, or water and watch the latest episodes of The Premise on Hulu. Sooo funny and too real in a less wild Black Mirror sort of way.
Just breathe.
I don’t know what is going to happen in regards to digital marketing, but I do recommend looking into more email marketing and SEO/Content marketing on your own blog so you don’t have to JUST rely on social networks that have or may not be around for the next 10+ years…
