How Do You Guys Handle Scammers in Your Marketing?

[saffet_okyay]

Quick question about a problem I'm facing with my online marketing. I keep getting hit by scammers, especially on Facebook and Instagram messages. They pretend to be fellow Shopify store owners or offer some kind of service, but they're just scams.

It's super annoying and i feel like it's messing with my marketing budget and audiance. 

So, I'm wondering, how do you guys deal with this? Anyone found a good way to filter out these fakes? I'm all ears for any advice or tricks.

PS: I have just started my website and running ads for 2 days.

[OneMobile]

Hi @saffet_okyay 

Here's what you can do to prevent your ads from being spammed:

1. Adjust your message filtering settings

• On Facebook, you can filter your message requests. Go to your Page, click on 'Settings' at the top. Under 'General', find 'Messages' and check the box that says "Allow people to contact my Page privately by showing the Message button".
• On Instagram, use the Message Controls feature. Go to your profile, tap the three lines in the top right, tap 'Settings', then 'Privacy', and then 'Messages'. Here, you can select who can message you directly and who can send you message requests.

 2. Use Facebook’s and Instagram’s ad targeting tools to focus only on demographics, interests, behaviors, and locations that are most relevant to your legitimate audience. This will help reduce the visibility of your ads to potential scammers.

I hope that this helps!

[saffet_okyay]

Hi there,

Thank you so much for the valuable suggestions. I really appreciate the time you took to share your insights.

I understand the importance of adjusting message filtering settings on Facebook and Instagram. However, I'm a bit hesitant to restrict who can message us directly. As a new business, every potential customer interaction is crucial, and I worry that tighter controls might lead to missed opportunities. I aim to keep our page's response time under 12 hours, as prompt replies are essential for customer satisfaction and engagement.

Regarding ad targeting, I've been quite specific with my ad sets. I'm currently targeting two main demographics:

• 1.Parents Segment: This includes parents with toddlers (01-02 years), preschoolers (03-05 years), and early school-age children (06-08 years). I've also added 'engaged shoppers' to this mix to reach a more relevant audience.
• 2.Interest in Children's Clothing: This ad set is tailored towards those who have shown interest in children's clothing, coupled again with engaged shoppers. The age range for both ad sets is 25-65+, with a focus primarily on women.

Thanks again for your help!

[magenest]

Hello Saffet_okyay,

I have read your question and your approach to maintaining open communication channels and specific ad targeting. I think your solutions are quite commendable, especially for a new business. Here are some additional tips and considerations to enhance your strategy while managing the risks of scams without worrying about losing your potential customers because of message filtering settings:

• Utilize Regularly Automated Response Features: To efficiently maintain response times under 12 hours and effectively manage queries, consider combining automated responses, such as instant replies or FAQs on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, with scheduled manual message reviews throughout the day. This strategy ensures prompt initial engagement for legitimate queries and allows for the filtering of spam or scam messages.
• Educate Yourself About Common Scams: Familiarize yourself with the types of scams frequently encountered on social media. Knowing what to look out for can help you quickly identify and disregard fraudulent messages. You can make a list of types of scams with Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, or some tools that you find convenient to you. Or you can refer to our article about the most common types of scams on Shopify to equip yourself with the necessary knowledge.

All of these practices require a lot of manual resources. Remember, a key aspect of avoiding scams is to trust your instincts. If something feels off about a message or offer, it's okay to be cautious and do additional vetting. Maintaining this balance of open communication with potential customers while being vigilant against scams will help safeguard your marketing efforts and budget.

If you've attempted the two methods we suggested and still haven't reached your desired outcome, we encourage you to reach out to our specialists for assistance. The information you've provided so far isn't sufficient for us to accurately diagnose and recommend the best solution. By connecting directly, we can gain a deeper understanding of your issue, allowing our experts to offer more targeted support. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with us for further help.