Tech Issues on Social Media Platforms: What do I do?
Say it with me, UGHHHHHH TECHNOLOGY!!
We Social Media Managers know first hand all the struggles and issues that can arise with technology. In fact, most of our work specifically relies on our online apps, tools, platforms, and website to work effectively. Do you remember when Instagram and Facebook were down for a whole day and we all just kind of blank starred at the wall all day in shock? That day was like a weird dream and nightmare all wrapped up into one...But things like this happen all the time - even on smaller, more personal scales. Whether we can't log into our account, can't publish our posts correctly, or are having trouble with one of the features, technology is sometimes just a mess.
As much as we'd like to say "well I guess we have to wait for them to get everything up and running again," or maybe just purely panic, sometimes there are a few more steps we can take to get back on the right track!
1.) Ask others in the industry
The first thing you need to know, is it me or is everyone having the issue? If it's a nation/worldwide issue, such as the Instagram outage of 2021, there is unfortunately not a lot we can do about it other than contemplate life together. If it's not the entire planet, what a better way to learn than to ask people that experience the same struggles!
If you haven't already, join our Facebook group! We discuss issues, questions, and positives of being small-business owners and social media managers, that can be really helpful in times like these!
2.) Research
Sorry, I know it's obvious but I have to throw it out there - Google it. Some of the time, the answer it actually a lot more simple than we think! You can research some options using keywords and different phrases. You can also check blogs to see if this is a common issue others are having, some of my go-to's are the Social Sprout & HubSpot blog.
3.) Customer Service
Contact customer service? *shivers* Customer service is such a FUN process (yeah, if "fun" stood for Frustrated, Unfun, and No thank you). But, in some cases it can be really helpful. If the issue doesn't seem widespread and is more unique to you, this might be the best option. The Meta Business Help Center, the Twitter Help Center, and the TikTok Help Center have a variety of FAQ's and articles to help you troubleshoot your issues. Even if you can't find yours specifically, you can submit a ticket or chat with them for more specific questions and help.
We wish you the best of luck with your tech troubles and don't hesitate to reach out if it's something we can help you with!
