To ask for urgent help from anyone with a business who has a fb business page?

[shebuildsquickmachines]

I am a microblading and semi permanent make up artist so almost all my new enquiries come via my Facebook business page.

However since yesterday when I receive messages, rather than being able to reply it comes up that "this person is unavailable on messenger" (like it would if they'd blocked me, but as they're wanting to enquire, clearly they haven't!)

Has anyone else had this ? Any ideas how to fix it?

It is a frustrating, nightmarish scenario as not only am I seeing messages come through and losing the business but it's also making me look bad to potential clients as they think they're being ignored 😫 .

there is a what's app button on my page too but if they use messenger I'm screwed

I have spent a long time building this business which is this far successful and most importantly I love what I do, and this is stressing me out so much hence I've been awake most of the night 😫😢

No advice on how to fix I'm afraid but could you pin a post to your page and inform people that if they'd like to make enquiries then the best thing is to text you personally and put your number on your page because Facebook is playing silly buggers.

Thanks @MissCrowley

I have now done that

God Facebook stresses me out so much, it's so essential for my business but this could actually ruin me

Are you using the website, the business app or Facebook messenger to reply to messages?

I've tried all 3 ways of getting into my messages ( so iphone fb app, fb website on laptop, and meta suite (!! Think it's called) getting the same thing not being able to reply 😫😫

I've even tried searching the people up on Facebook so I can try and reply via my personal page but they don't come up, which I think is not a coincidence

That's weird!

What happens if you try and reply via the messenger app on your phone? So go into messenger, and you should be able to switch accounts to your business one and reply from there?

I've tried that too and it is still showing that I can't reply 🤦‍♀️

Try uninstalling and reinstalling the Facebook app on your phone.

it is a mistake to rely on Facebook in this way as you have no control over them. If eg your page is hacked and taken down, you will never see it again and there will be nobody to call and nothing you can do. In future it is a good idea to try to encourage customers to email/ text/ phone you so you can start building up alternative sources for your business data.

Yes I totally agree. From now I'll be doing this. Lesson learned 🥺 ... fb is a bloody law unto itself