10 Reasons To Stop Using Facebook Messenger For Business

We have all gone to the dark side to get leads and make a few bucks, especially those of us in the freelance realm.

Dark social is sexy. Facebook knows we’re doing it too.

Imagine if you met someone on Tinder and never met up with them. Ok, many of you probably have, but you know you’re not going to ever actually have a date or anything more than a few messages back and forth if you don’t make a move. This move could be a phone call, an invitation for coffee, or showing up at their workplace and stalking them. (OK. PLEASE DO NOT ACTUALLY DO THAT).

It’s less about where you go as much as it is making a gesture of interest. Without the gesture, you’re just going back and forth with no real momentum. It’s a waste of time.
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I’m a big fan of actually speaking with people on the phone or in person to ensure the most focused interaction possible in the most time effective manner possible for both parties.

​It’s very difficult to detect someone’s emotions in a Facebook message, and if we’re emoticoning all over the place, as fun as it may be, it’s not super productive for professional purposes.

More importantly, it opens up the floodgates for digital miscommunication big time.

Don’t have time to talk on the phone? Ok, I get it. I have a suggestion — email!

​Here are 10 reasons that you should stop using Facebook Messenger for business and start emailing:

1. Searchability

Yes, you can search for keywords and names within Facebook messenger, but it’s tedious and time consuming, and figuring out which words will get you answers to what your next steps are and when the money is going to hit your PayPal account, you are going to drive yourself nuts. It’s inevitable.

​Why put yourself through the scavenger hunt?!

2. Subject lines

These matter, especially when you’re working with multiple clients and freelancers you may be hiring. Even in a group chat, it’s a lot to manage the conversation. It feels live because it is.

​If someone doesn’t respond to an email of yours within 30 seconds, you’re not gonna sweat it, but if someone takes 2 days to respond to a Facebook chat, you’ve already forgotten about them. ​

3. You can become easily disrupted

Your aunt just messaged you about no-bake cookie recipes and you’re simultaneously trying to discuss what exactly your friend wants the content calendar you’ve been asked to create for her to entail. It’s all too much.

Get off of Facebook and email your friend about content calendar ideas or set up a time to Gchat with them or *gasp* give them a call!

Or, you can continue to chat with your aunt about cookies and tell the potential or existing client that you’ll email them later.

​Those are your options people.

Don’t overbook yourself by talking about cookies and content calendars at the same time, unless, of course the content calendar is about cookies or you’re going to be making cookies for the potential client.

4. Skype and Gchat Are More Professional

If you really want a real time chat with someone about business, there are plenty of other options other than Facebook messenger. I’m a huge fan of Gchat because it’s searchable for reference. ​

5. Facebook chat is distracting

When you have Outlook or Gmail up, you most likely have other apps running or other tabs going, but if you’re anything like me, when you’re actually working on an email, you make sure that you look it over before sending.

If you’re using the messenger app on Facebook you’re basically sending a text and you’re probably not being as intentional with your interactions.
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When someone is reading an email from you, there’s no real way to verify that they have no other distractions going on, but it’s a lot more likely that they are paying attention to what you’ve lined up versus sending them a string of rambles (I am THE WORST with that).

​You may even be distracting them from something else they’re working on too.

6. It Blurs The Professional/Personal Lines Together

Let’s say you love grabbing margaritas and complaining about dating with your friend Johnny but he was a nightmare to work with on a recent website project, the friendship MAY be over, but it doesn’t have to be.

​If you communicated about the nightmare project on your email versus Facebook messenger, you’re both far more likely to at least stay friends once the project goes sour. That’s been my experience anyway!

7. It encourages hasty decisions

In a lively Facebook messenger conversation about an exciting new project, you’re more likely to make a few promises that you may not be able to keep and have extra explaining to do later in order to back out of something.

“Sure I’ll come up with a few ideas for you by tomorrow!” can easily turn into “Oh no, I forgot I have a huge project due” a day later. You may even forget to touch base with that person entirely.

​When you ask someone to email you or tell them that you’ll email them, you’re a little more likely to check your calendar and make an outline of your thoughts and let them know a more realistic deadline and plan. ​

8. Calendar integration

I use Gmail and Google Calendar and in my years of freelance writing and marketing, I’ve tried many other tools and these are my go-tos. When I see an email with a deadline, I’m going to click on the icon in the top right corner, click on my Google Calendar and stick it in there.

​It shows up on my phone and gives me an alert and everything. If it’s collaborative, I’m inviting everyone else to the party too. Can’t do that with Facebook Messenger yet!

9. There Is No Undo Button

If you use Gmail like I do, there’s a magical setting that will allow you to unsend an email that you’ve hit send on before you send it. Yes, there ARE takebacksies with Gmail, not so much with Facebook Messenger. Kind of a big deal.

​All you have to do is click on the gear, click on the settings, and scroll down and check the box in the General tab! Personally, I like to go for the full 30 seconds.

10. Compartmentalization

If you’re associating Facebook with work and family and friends, you can easily get overwhelmed. I certainly do. I don’t like to lose the human element of Facebook and as a marketer and writer who’s been in the game for quite some time, it happens to me and I hate when it does.

​I love engaging with everyone and seeing what everyone is up to. For me, switching over to my email for work instead of using Facebook chat allows me to compartmentalize and give everyone the attention they deserve! ​

​If you want to approach someone about their services and the only information you have about them is their Facebook profile. It’s ok to contact them on there, but send your salutations and ask them to email you!

​If they really want you, they’ll reach out. It’s a matter of opening a new tab. Everyone has an email address. Make the move!