Small Business Owners Reflect on Impact of Meta Platforms Outage
Businesses that rely on social media platforms for advertising, client communication, or direct sales felt the impact of Tuesday’s Meta platforms outage more than just a communal inconvenience.
Experts emphasize the importance of having contingency plans in place, like an email database, to ensure business continuity during outages. Cheyenne Smith, founder of Dakota Ridge, an e-commerce company selling children’s shoes, shared how the outage affected her sales but expressed her continued reliance on Meta’s platforms for driving sales.
While the outage served as a wakeup call for many business owners, small business consultant Ramon Ray advised using the opportunity to collect customer email addresses for alternative communication channels. Laura Levitan, owner of Mod L Photography, experienced disruptions in client correspondence during the outage but highlighted the importance of building up offsite communications to mitigate future risks.
David Lewis, CEO of HR firm Operations, Inc., acknowledged that outages are a reality businesses must accept in an increasingly internet-dependent world. Despite the challenges posed by such disruptions, small businesses are encouraged to diversify their communication channels and be prepared for unforeseen events.