You’re probably wondering, what the heck Facebook Instant Articles are and if you need it for your direct sales business.
Short answer, unless you have a direct sales blog, you don’t need to worry about Facebook Instant Articles, but the lessons in this post will still resonate with you.
What Are Facebook Instant Articles?
My journey begins with finding out about Facebook Instant Articles. Simply put, Instant Articles are a way for website links (URL’s) to open up within Facebook’s platform on a mobile device. So instead of going to an outside website to read all about the latest trending Starbucks drink, it opens right there for you inside your Facebook app. Pretty cool right?
So how did all of this come about? Well, if you are like me and spend A LOT of time on Facebook, you begin to notice quirks, changes, and new things all the time. I started to observe that when I visited my favorite news and entertainment sites for their latest posts, their links looked different and did not have the URL at the top of the screen. I thought, how cool! And, how do they do that?!
Facebook Instant Articles was discovered and I had a serious case of FOMO as a direct sales blogger.
Direct Sales Lesson 1
In your direct sales business, it’s important to follow those who are in your direct sales company, others in the direct sales community and watch what they are doing. Observe what they do, how they do it and think of how you could be doing the same.
I don’t mean to outright copy what others are doing, that is a surefire way to land in Facebook jail and it’s wrong to plagiarize someone else’s content and creations.
Think of a pretty graphic that someone in your company uses and you wonder how they made that awesome image. Find out the tools they use, be creative, and incorporate them into your direct sales social marketing strategy.
One Obstacle After Another
So the technical side of Facebook Instant Articles is a nightmare to put it plainly. I did some initial research and started plugging along. Following the convoluted instructions from Facebook with no clear roadmap to follow. Step-by-step I went, but I kept hitting roadblocks. I got to the point of giving up until I asked for help.
Being a part of a direct sales blogging community has A LOT of advantages. We are each other’s cheerleaders, we answer each other’s questions, and it’s a group of friends who “get it”. So in the case of my Facebook Instant Article debacle, I reached out to my direct sales blogger friends. The answers I got helped immensely and gave me the boost I needed to continue figuring all of this out.
Direct Sales Lesson 2
Ask for help!! Don’t be afraid, no question is silly or stupid, chances are, someone else is wondering the same thing you are. Collaborate with other direct sales friends in your upline and downline. Seek out knowledgeable mentors in the direct sales community. Anyone that you feel will help move you in the right direction.
Ask for help, advice, feedback… just ask!
Nope, Not Today
Here I am, trying to figure out this whole Facebook Instant Article thing and I kept getting stuck. There’s no clear instruction manual on how to get this all set up and I was frustrated.
So what happens? I would leave my quest to conquer Instant Articles for another day. Week by week I thought about it, but never got any further forward. I would start again, only to give up angry and rifling through the cupboards looking for more Cheetos.
Direct Sales Lesson 3
This is a super important lesson. Believe me when I say it is OK to do one thing in your business, hate it, and leave it alone for a bit.
Not everyone follows the same path and if there is a piece of your direct sales business that is something you don’t love, change it and focus on what you love to do. This will make you happier and work harder at the aspects of your business that you DO love.
Hey, I’m Not Giving Up Today
I’m a pretty persistent person when it comes to figuring out techy things and the ways to work a direct sales business online. This whole Facebook Instant article thing kept clawing at the back of my head. It was always on my long running ‘to do’ list of blogging goals, but I would keep getting frustrated.
I sat down one evening and decided to revisit it and sure enough, I got to the point where I figured out how to submit my articles to the Facebook Gods (Praise Zuckerberg) to get them approved to start publishing my blog posts with Instant Articles.
Direct Sales Lesson 4
The key to every successful person in direct sales is Perseverance. No one in this business says it is easy (if they do, run the other way) It isn’t easy. Like any small business or work from home venture, it takes work. Time, effort, and lots and lots of work that you have to do yourself and figure out on your own.
It means going back and figuring out that thing that has been staring at you for months. You may have failed to do something 99 times, but what if success was around the corner with try number 100? You never know until you persevere and do it!
They Love Me, They Really Love Me
Hallelujah! After the months of trying to get approved with Facebook, I finally achieved it! My articles were reviewed and after 36 hours of painfully waiting, I got the message of approval! And you know what, it felt so good to have figured it out on my own, despite the many many obstacles that I faced.
Direct Sales Lesson 5
Celebrate your achievements!
Had an awesome Epic Facebook Party? Celebrate!
Gained 2 new followers on your Facebook Business Page? Go You!
Had a great conversation with a customer and are one step closer to booking a party? Woohoo!
No matter how big or small, it is important to you, it is important celebrating!
So with all this fuss about Facebook Instant Articles that I had to sit down and write a whole 1,000+ word blog post about it, you better come check out my Facebook Business Page to see how it all works. While you are there, don’t be shy, give me some love and “like” my page! 🙂
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very nice explaination, i also combine two blogs in one instant article facebook page, its look great
Thank you so much! I was glad to have finally figured it out! 🙂