Trust is important in the marketing industry, yet it seems that the vast majority of marketers are more than happy to overlook this when it comes to Facebook. According to a recent survey conducted by Quartz, nearly 80% of people say that they don’t trust Facebook with their data. This was a reasonably large survey with about 16000 respondents.
Facebook ranked last out of the options listed, yet the company still brings in billions in revenue each year from ads. Of course, marketers are primarily interested in the return on investment, and not the trust the company has. That said, it is also important for a brand to be aware of the trust factors on the sites where they are advertising.
At this point, most people are still happy to visit Facebook every day, but it is certainly possible that the lack of trust will turn them away. Companies that continue to advertise on the social network could end up hurting their reputation.
Taking steps to ensure your brand is seen positively is essential for long term success. Facebook should be seen as the great tool it can be, but it is never a good idea to blindly follow a company just because it is large and successful.
