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Where There’s Hope, There’s Profit
By L. Corwin Christie | July 20, 2009
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We got pretty excited over here today about the launch of the new Facebook Actions Application by Grassroots Enterprises.
Just think! An application for your cause that does the following:
-Your visitors can instantly email Legislators from your FB page
-You can promote a fast way to “Take Action” on your page or in other emails and status updates
-Your visitors can quickly pass the word on to their friends
-And more.
This application could be invaluable to organizations (like all those here in PA waiting, with bated breath, to find out whether or not Arts funding will be completely eradicated from the state budget) to urge their followers to quickly and easily contact their legislators.
As you can imagine, I was disappointed to learn (via other Twitterers sad lamentations of it being “sadly out of our range”) that an organization wishing to add this exciting innovation to their Facebook page would pay $3000 to start, with a monthly charge of $250.*
As you know, I am all for people profiting from their hard work. In earlier posts I have railed against organizations expecting work for free, companies wanting art at no charge, and the pressure to enter into that trading system. BUT–that’s a LOT of money to most of us. Especially when you consider this is AIMED at non-profits and organizations, most of whom are using Facebook precisely to try to cut some of our online operating costs.
I was really looking forward to talking up a great new low-cost addition to getting the word out about non-profits arts causes. Sorry ’bout that.
*Caveat: I have contacted Grassroots Enterprises and perhaps they will inform me that there are different pricing structures for various sized organizations. I look forward to bringing you further news about this.
Topics: Art Meets Tech, Product & Service Info | 3 Comments »
July 21st, 2009 at 11:40 pm
I thought their app was great as well and was also a bit reluctant at the price. Any update on their prices based on organizational size?
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I have received no further information from the representatives I attempted to reach both by phone and email. I will let you know if they do contact me with anything that contradicts what I have above.
July 27th, 2009 at 10:35 am
I also have to question the real-life value of a service which leads with emailing legislators — it’s been some years now since congressional staffs took seriously voter feedback received via email. Every congressman and senator is bombarded every day with online petitions and the like, and knows that it’s trivial for every issue group and lobbying firm to generate thousands of emails for or against any issue. Hence all that stuff put together now has less political impact than just one actual personally-written hardcopy letter or a handful of phone calls to legislators’ offices.