Facebook and I are not friends anymore. I am going to have to “unlike” them for a while because I feel like they are unfair to bloggers and many businesses in general.
You might have noticed that you no longer see MyLitter in your feeds and that you really only see the same people over and over again. Facebook is holding many business’s readers hostage and only allowing their fans to see them when the business pays for it.
MyLitter has grown a lot in the past few years, it costs quite a bit to run my site, from paying for hosting, newsletter fees, the coupon database, and MANY other expenses. Even with the increased expenses my site is still FREE for you to come to all day long, and it is staying that way! Bloggers make money to help pay for these expenses by the ads on the sidebars, some affiliates, and sometimes we make money when you print a coupon from us. It isn’t going to help us retire early, but helps pay for the 50-60 hours a week I work on this site and all the expenses that go with it.
Facebook has also always been free to use. But they make a LOT of money off us in advertising to our readers and don’t share any of that revenue. We promote Facebook without any compensation from them, and now they want us to pay an ENORMOUS amount of money for YOU to see US.
For example the picture above I took from my admin panel, and you can see that if I want YOU to see that post I have to pay $200. I post about 12-15 things a day and would have to pay $2400 a day for all my Facebook fans to see what I post there. Obviously, that is so far out of line that it is maddening. There is no way I can afford to pay this for even one post a day. If you are seeing me now on Facebook it is because I am paying for it this time and following the lead from my blogging friend Brittany at The Prudent Patron.
I have even done tutorials on how to add me to your “interest list” so that you can see me and guess what? Facebook has filtered out deal bloggers from most of that and you STILL can’t see us in your interests and feeds.
YOU can try adding me back in and hopefully you will see me.
I loved Facebook. I felt like I could really connect with you on there, I could SEE you and see YOUR families and what you like. I love comments on my blog but it is not the same as Facebook. I don’t want to stop posting there and I won’t, for the small few that can see me. But I want to encourage you to connect with me somewhere else right now as we see what happens to Facebook’s business pages in the mean time.
Try my Facebook GROUP PAGE. We are testing this one out to see how it works and to see if Facebook shuts that down as well…. many of you have already been added, if not, make sure that you request to be there!
Get on the Newsletter! I have to pay for it anyway, you might as well not miss something by getting 1 email a day from me. I would still check the blog, as some deals are time sensitive, and you might miss them waiting for an email. I am changing providers for this in a few weeks, but it should not affect you at all.
Follow me on Twitter. I am not great at Twitter yet, but I am trying! You will get EVERY post I do this way, but sometimes I can’t figure out how to tag you! Working on it though and had a great conversation the other day with someone so it is coming along!
Anyway, sorry for the rant, but I am so frustrated because I feel like I am talking and no one hears me! I put a lot of time and energy into writing posts that I think you will enjoy, and sad that I don’t think you even see them.
Part comedian, part Dad, part athlete. He will boss around your children while they play ball.
Just as angelic as she looks, this girl could easily raise a Village by herself, and all the children would grow up to be President.
Self proclaimed, she would be a webkinz dog. Because, "they're cute, and puppies are too. And they're sweet and they always get along with other puppies."
This mini-Martha Stewart can handle ANY craft you send her way. She isn't all bows and rainbows, she's got karate kid moves!
Not "Pick-Me-Up" like caffeine, she wants you to pick her up! AND NOW!
Anything that can be destroyed WILL be destroyed!
Practically Perfect in Every Way for now! Nicknamed "The Panda" she is rolly polly and lives by the motto, "the little one, is KING!"
The resident Labradoodle, Miller got his name because Mom won and got to name the baby! Need something chewed up? He'll take care of it. Especially if it's expensive..
I hate facebook for a myriad of reasons. I follow you on twitter and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done! Now I get updates every time you post and I use twitter all the time so I love that. The only downside is I can’t “talk” to you like I can in comments here because you don’t follow me on twitter.
LOL! And I am so bad on Twitter! But I am trying and getting better! I miss chatting to you also!
A group is probably the best way to keep your true followers close. Keep making creative content that engages users should help drive traffic and keep people in the loop. We should not have to pay out of the WAZOO just to keep our following in the know — you know? lol I believe that bloggers and online entrepreneurs need to ban together to fight off such corporate stipulations.
I agree and although Facebook is free, and I hate to complain about free, they are making it unfair. We promoted them like crazy for nothing in return as we paid nothing to use them. But now to have to pay to see the people who ask to see us? No way!
I agree with you, although wow – $200? Shows how powerful you are 🙂 They’re just asking me $10. But still — I’ve worked hard to get fans on FB for my blog, yet now apparently FB and sponsoring companies feel that isn’t enough. I need to get more and more people interacting with my page. Ugghh … I just want to write and do the best I can. I’m not running for President here!
OMG!! This is so sad Tiffany!! Oh! well, I guess, I have to try Twitter but, i’m not familiar with Twitter at all 🙁
I will still post on Facebook. But fewer and fewer are able to see me that the one day when you finally don’t I want you to know why.
Tiffany, isn’t there a program where you can send notices out to all your social media at the same time with one post? I think other bloggers I follow use them? It might make Twitter easier for you. So sorry for the headaches. I appreciate all you do to keep us informed and save us $$. I know it takes hours for you to do that. I have learned the hard way and now save time by following you!
Yes and I use that for Twitter! BUT I like to “talk” to people and mess up those on Twitter!
That is unfair. To charge people that are trying to help you save money makes no sense to me…however I am glad we could be friends on your new page maybe this will work out for you. I love following your post. You have helped me learn about how to coupon and how to get the best deals.
Wow, I really guess I’m out of the loop so to speak. I never realized it cost that much to “advertise” or post items. I’m not into facebook anyway but geez I don’t blame you for your decision.
Yes i have not been seeing you on facebook but i love deals so i go out and look for you. Sure it takes a few extra steps but it’s worth it. I also have your blog on my favorites list on my work computer because i cant do facebook at work anyways. So now all i have to do is twitter and the newsletter. I do however get the newsletter from your hubby! 🙂
Thank you!
I also have your website bookmarked on my work computer. I can’t get on Facebook or even your husband site at work – not sure why his site is blocked but that is the first place I go every morning and leave it open all day long. I am so looking forward to the event on Nov 3rd. Love Love Love your website. Just wish I could find a similar site for my daughter to use in Oklahoma City. No Krogers, HEB or Randalls there. Thank goodness she has CVS, Walgreens, Target and Wal-Mart. PLEASE keep up the great work. We all need you.
Thank you! Really you guys are awesome!
Have you tried google+ or at least considered a different social network site. Since fb went public I’ve detested the changes. I really love google + though.
Do you? Google is ok, I have an account and never really used it. Maybe I will give it a try.
And I have noticed that because of this, it is encouraging other deal websites (that will go unnamed) that I am friends with on Facebook to start posting deals/”offers” that are shady and suspect to make money for themselves-I’m sure to offset the cost of this nonsense. It is making it difficult to know who and what to trust now. Don’t even worry about it I’ll just check your website daily like I always do-don’t give into all this baloney.
What happened with that, is that one day that offer tab popped up and everyone got a free one. But there was nothing that said what you had to use it for. So some blogs started posting some questionable deals and getting tons of clicks. Then Facebook jumped in and said you can’t use it for offers, only personal items. It is just getting crazy!
Got you on Twitter now. I can’t believe that they may you pay them to show up in my news feed (if I’m understanding what you said here).
Ok I moved over to the group page, I have twitter but I dont have a cell phone that uses twitter (real old phone) so I dont see tweets people do. I dont think facebook should charge someone for seeing a page. where ever you go i will. thanks for all that you do
Thank you so much! I am going to keep posting on regular FB but every day fewer and fewer they let see my page.
HOLY CRAP! $200 to post that? Seriously what are they thinking? That really upsets me because I have 1. learned a great deal from you and 2. saved a great deal of money from the wonderful things you SHARE with us! And 3. you make me laugh just because I love someone who relates to me, and funny, your stories are normally ones that go on here and my friends think I am NUTS! :o) There has to be SOMETHING we can do to HELP you! You have some many people who support you and would be willing to do something, we should put our heads together to think of something! THANK YOU for all you do!
Jen thanks! Just keep coming to the site and I will be here!
My hubby has been having problems with his google ads. I don’t know how much server space you need but maybe we can help. That doesn’t fix your frustration but he can tell you if you can save on any of that expense or if we have any extra room on ours, also he is going through a new company that does ads, I can ask him about that too if needed. He does have his own business so he’s not an amateur he knows about this kind of stuff.
Nice! It can be crazy to figure it all out. We had to up what we had and I think it is a lot because Paul and I both share space. I might be wasting space though and not know it.
I never set up Facebook. I am retired and normally have time to look at your web site in the morning and a quick look at your email. Yes, I do miss out on some coupons, but I am doing just fine. Love your site and your sense of humor.
Pat good for you! I wish I had not ever gotten sucked in!
Don’t worry I visit ur site daily, several times and am sure others do also. I don’t like clicking on ur posts from Facebook to be taken directly onto site but still stuck on the Facebook browser. It’s like fb wants to hog all it’s users. It’s annoying and suffocating. I prefer to type in on MY browser, of choice ur site. I’m not that dependent on fb, and am sure others are not also. Love ur site, Melissa C
The facebook group page will not let me join the group. It simply will not allow you to click. I had a friend try and yet the same problem. I recently made the switch over to Twitter and I love it so much. I’m still learning as well but I feel it gives you a lot more freedom. I am really excited to now receive your “tweets”.
I was kicked off Facebook as a “fake account” because I would not give them my cell phone number so they could text me a code to log on. I don’t even have texting, but I didn’t want to give them my phone number anyway. I am missing out on some great coupons, but I have to draw the privacy line somewhere!
That’s so frustrating! I hope your new fb group works for you. I can’t believe they would charge that much to post that. That’s crazy! Thanks for all you do!
There isn’t a mountain too high or a river so deep it could keep me away from you!!!! 🙂
Facebook is ridiculous. Thanks for letting me know.
I read your actual webpage when I need deal help!!!
I completely understand! Ever since Facebook when public they are trying to make more and more money! If every blogger like you refused to take part then eventually they will give up and look for another way. The sad thing is, ever since it went public facebook has gone downhill. It can be such a great thing – but they are ruining it for everyone! I think it will take a little while, but if things don’t change soon there will be a mass exodus out of facebook. Good luck with twitter and google+ and thanks for all you do to help us save money!
I will still check your blog daily. I enjoy your site so much and have learned alot from it. I am getting frustrated with facebook also because it is so slow. I do not have a business. It have become so non-user friendly. So dont worry. I do not want you to pay to post there. That is not worth it. If you go to google I will just get an account there. We will still follow you wherever you go. You are AWESOME!!!
I loved running my blog, but when facebook changed I simply could not afford that cost. I post because I love sharing deals not because I want to make money. It is sad and I can’t wait till other social networks begin to become more popular. You have a great page!
Oh dear. Saw you and the I heart the mart man on the news tonight. Glad you went to the local news. What a silly thing for facebook to do. You guys are doing so much for the facebook community . . . and now the businesses we all support will suffer. Love what you do. Have learned so much from you and your posts . . and coupon hints. A big sincere Texas Thank You from Cypress. Couponing is work but very rewarding and when pinching pennies is a huge issue, people like you are just angels in disguise.
Thank you so much!