Mastodawn

DesertHarper Feb 17, 2023

@rasterweb I think the question, from what I've seen, depends on what the business is. I've seen several really creative people who have posted links to their sale page or their etsy, but most of what they do is share pics of what they make. I don't think I've really seen a non-creative business (say, like selling commercially made stuff) really have a presence here. Have to say, I wouldn't want to see it, either. But that's just my opinion.

@rasterweb I'd been wondering the same thing. There are a lot of businesses of different sizes where I have a genuine interest in what they're doing and I don't want to need to go to Twitter for it.

I wanted to have a play so set up an instance for my small business, felt it was maybe more appropriate than asking a volunteer server to host me?

Not sure if it's welcomed or not, are we @hammertonbarbados ?

@pandapoo @rasterweb That is correct, we aren't sure… would be nice though. 🤷
–George

@hammertonbarbados @rasterweb That's true other me, it would.

@pandapoo @rasterweb Agreed. 🙂
–George

@hammertonbarbados @rasterweb Thank you for your contribution. 😘

@pandapoo @rasterweb That's my pleasure! Have a good day. 😇
–George

@hammertonbarbados @rasterweb And you! 👍

@pandapoo @rasterweb Okay, thanks, bye! 👋
–George

@hammertonbarbados @rasterweb Byeeee 👋

Admin of Gamers RIP Feb 17, 2023

@pandapoo @rasterweb This sounds like an ideal solution. If individual people or instances are opposed to it, then they can simply fediblock and move on with their lives. Whether or not we'd federate with such an instance would depend on the way it was run and moderated.

Mo Feb 17, 2023

@rasterweb @Bilchi We just discussed that. For me it is like every other social thing: Do never advertise stuff. Talk about your company. Communicate with your customers. Give your knowledge and so on.

We are not having a mastodon account with our company because they are not allowed on most instances.

Eric Buijs Feb 17, 2023

@rasterweb I think Raspberry Pi is an interesting case study for this both for good and not so good.

First know your audience or your promotion can blow up in your face.

Second, interact! Interact with people that reply and do it in a positive manner. Just posting ads will annoy a lot of people and will probably get you banned.

Third. No repeated posts and make the posts interesting, worthwhile even and with a little humor.

Fourth. Consider having your own instance.

Thomas 🇪🇺Feb 17, 2023

@rasterweb

I think its great, the tendency to small businesses producing locally, essentially establishing a new healthy capitalism or simply "trade for money to live" is the way to go.

Why shouldnt they be allowed to advertise? I want to see newest versions releases and whatnot thats why I follow them in the first place. Its selective on demand opt in advertising. What not to like?

I don't see a difference to any other open source project just because they get funded indirectly?

A company isntance seems right though so there are no problems in the future.

Small business, freelancer and selfemployed hooooo!

GeekMomProjects Feb 17, 2023

@rasterweb it's tricky. There are creative people who share some of their ideas and sell others, using the interest they generate to drive sales that support their work. I think it's a fair trade-off in which everyone wins. If they're discouraged from promoting their commercial work, then what is their incentive to share their other ideas here? No one wants this to be a commercial platform, but banning all self-promotion asks content creators to entertain us for free or leave.

Jon C Feb 17, 2023

@geekmomprojects @rasterweb to go even further, I think if companies (no matter how large or small) wish to be on the network, there's no real problem with it. I do think they should run their own instances though, so as to not overload the existing now, or at least contribute financially to running the network.

The beauty of mastodon for the users is how there's no algorithm boosting ads in people's feeds. This translates to a challenge for the companies then, to be heard. But the way I see it, if they engage in the network in meaningful ways, and add some of the Wendy's Twitter pizzazz when it comes to generating entertainment, and it should still work fine.

Getting followed initially will be harder as ads won't create the shortcut to exposure it did on Twitter. But on the other hand I expect the following to be a bit more loyal/interactive than it tends to be on the more corporate networks.

Eric Dannewitz Feb 17, 2023

@rasterweb

So I have some people on my instance that do “business”. They promote shows, podcasts, some music wares, etc. I think that is fine. There seems to be a actual person posting, not some 30 second link to a video promo. Maybe a post about the product, then a in action video of it?

I think banning ads, like algorithmic ads a la Facebook or shitter is a good thing. But ads posted that are hashtagged for their audience is fine. But not 50 times a day.

Andrew Crawford Feb 17, 2023

@rasterweb As someone who has been involved in moderating forums for creative people, I think this is likely to be fairly self-regulating here. People can tell the difference between someone who is a community participant mentioning that they sell their work occasionally and, people who just fly-by as part of their advertising circuit. With no engagement-driven algorithm or paid promotion shoving stuff at us here, the later will get ignored and blocked and, give up.

Roni Rolle Laukkarinen Feb 17, 2023

@rasterweb I have my own company on my own instance. I can't see it any different than on other social medias in that regard. Companies should start their own instances or join the ones that accept them.

Pete Prodoehl 🍕Feb 17, 2023

@rolle @pandapoo @MastoAdmin @ericbuijs @goeland86 I think the idea of a business setting up their own instance is a good one, but does that push out any biz who can't figure out how to do that?

That might be okay if there are service providers who can say "Okay, for $5 per month you get an instance and can do this with it" or something.

The good thing about Twitter was that an idiot could create an account. (Well, that's the bad part as well!)

Roni Rolle Laukkarinen Feb 17, 2023

@rasterweb There are 10 000+ instances, I'm sure many take in businesses. There are easy choices available. @pandapoo @MastoAdmin @ericbuijs @goeland86

Jon C Mar 11, 2023

@rasterweb @rolle @pandapoo @MastoAdmin @ericbuijs I mean, I don't think it's too hard to imagine finding a docker compose template with a ready to roll Mastodon instance, as long as you plug in a few variables... Any IT admin running company websites should be able to do it.

@rasterweb @rolle @pandapoo @MastoAdmin @ericbuijs

Jon C Mar 13, 2023

Case and point, I set this instance up for my company in 2 hours today: @john

Shomila Feb 17, 2023

@rasterweb I haven’t come across anything specific for small businesses but there are places where accounts are listed and promoted. Adding @feditips in case they know. Also I started a little list on topics (just directs you back to a post with accounts). I am wondering whether to create a small business section…

wow_elec_tron Feb 17, 2023

@rasterweb I sell what I make so im essentialy a small bus! I just post alotnof WIP and final projects. Same on Insta. Link to my web store is in my BIO but i rarely post direct purchasing links