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Attract, Exploit, Extract, Extinct: The Only Ways to Earn on Social Media?
A-E-E-E — a social marketing business model we can only hope will be coming to an end
Over the past 18 months, I’ve written a bit about the real-life friendships I’ve been forming here in Southwest Florida. Some of these friendships began in local social media groups.
One group hasn’t been on an upward trend lately. I also recently interacted with another group that presents itself as being a self-help or marketing organization for independently published writers.
These online communities aren’t just voluntary associations. They are businesses that provide a variety of benefits for their founders, from cash income to the attention of others: even in some cases, adulation.
Both groups are Facebook-based, though one uses Meetup to schedule events while the other has additional membership platforms, a website, and extensive other social media as well as in-person meetings.
The local friend group hosts events that often include themes. Costs can run into several hundreds of dollars.
The publishing group hosts massive conferences in resort locations. Costs can run into several thousands of dollars.
