Here’s the thing, I can’t rant about Facebook and Instagram and their connection to Shopify. Oh, wait, yes I can.
I didn’t post when I was frustrated. I wanted to but I kept quiet.
I changed the name of my site within Shopify and next thing I knew, Facebook was no longer approved. The status within Shopify for Instagram was that I was on hold for review. At least before that, I had been approved by Facebook.
Instagram approval had been on perma-hold for over a month. After I changed my site name, Shopify said go ahead and reconnect your new Facebook and Instagram pages.
But, backing up for a minute, before I even changed the name of my store, I asked Shopify if I should just open a new store. They said no. I took that advice because it saved me a lot of time and a little bit of money. I figured they’d warn me of any problem in switching midstream.
But once I committed to the new, more memorable store name based on feedback, I went ahead and reconnected Instagram and Facebook while simultaneously updating every single mention of the site name and all the logos to the new look. Since I hadn’t even promoted the site or connected Google analytics, I figured nobody knew I existed anyway.
Wrong. Wouldn’t you know it that within 24 hours, while Instagram had ignored me for at least a month, they rejected my site. Boom. Just like that. Crap. Now what?
So, I did want any human would do. I vented. No, I complained to Shopify because the Shopify rep that told me to go ahead and connect the new Facebook and Instagram accounts associated with the new name.
Here’s the funny thing. The second I apologized to the Shopify rep and told her I knew she’d just tried to help me, the second I hit send on that email apology, I kid you not, the universe answered.
Once that email sent, instantly I had a message in my inbox from Instagram that they now approved me. And earlier had approved the new Facebook page as well.
I know what you’re thinking, but Shopify is NOT connected to Instagram nor Facebook. This was instantaneous. There was no way a human could have received or read my apology even if they were a speed reader. It was pure coincidence.
Some things are inexplicable. But I think it’s more than that.
It’s the power of gratitude.
Because once I let go of caring. I decided I didn’t care at all if I got approved and in fact talked myself out of it, and then I further removed my ego and apologized for blaming Shopify for bad advice, I effing got approved.
The universe said, now, now you are deserving of access to these ridiculously powerful marketing programs.
I literally had not changed a thing. I did not even do the latest suggestion of disconnecting and reconnecting the pages. I was just magically approved. I am not kidding. The instant I let go and was just grateful that at least Shopify was answering me, even if I hadn’t heard from Instagram or Facebook, I got exactly what I wanted.
I didn’t pray. I didn’t beg. I let go of my anger and frustration.
I was simply grateful.
Now, I can’t say that did the trick. But it certainly didn’t hurt and I felt a lot better. I was gonna be fine either way.
So I can’t rant.
Because I got what I wanted. I didn’t have to go through some complicated 13 step process that was my plan B. I didn’t have to try connecting the old pages and trying again or changing the name back.
Now, I did send a message the day I got rejected to Instagram. Maybe they just read that message and fixed it and didn’t email me. Shopify told me that they expected me to receive an email response as another customer had. I did not get an email. I simply got approved after not being approved.
What did I learn? Most importantly, be grateful and let go of worrying. What will be, will be.
But two, wait to connect your Shopify store to Instagram and Facebook until you are super proud of every last thing on there. I hadn’t broken any policies, but I think I had some broken things regarding the name and even though it had been sitting, unlooked at, the next time they looked at it within 24 hours of the new name. It’s quite possible just the name change threw it a red flag for AI. I don’t know.
But rule out any possible misunderstanding. Only then, then connect your store to Facebook and Instagram. It’s too frustrating to think you have to get in line and you have time to update everything only to find that they put you first and saw flaws. Be flawless to the best of your ability. Then connect.
But all along the way people, it never fails to just be grateful. And if you make a mistake and are rude, even if you feel you are right to be upset, don’t be rude. Be the bigger person and if you make a mistake and vent? Apologize. It will come back to you. When in doubt? Be kind. To yourself as well.
So maybe that’s a little rant. Are you happy? Be happy. And quit caring about the frustrations in life. They’re only as big as you make them. I can make mountains out of molehills. Don’t let them derail you. It’s not healthy. When you catch yourself doing that? Let it go. And apologize, replacing it with gratefulness. There’s no downside.
