2017-November-28th
To Our Valued Customers,
It’s never easy to say goodbye, and even harder to admit defeat. But today, we must share a heartfelt message with all of you—our customers, supporters, and advocates—who trusted us and believed in the work we were doing at Esoteric1. Over the years, we’ve had the honor of helping thousands of businesses amplify their voices in an overwhelming digital landscape. We’ve heard stories of triumph and resilience, of small victories that meant everything, and of businesses that found hope and growth through our services. But as the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end.”
Our journey began with a simple idea: to create opportunities for businesses that often lacked the resources to compete with larger players. Social media is an unforgiving arena, and standing out requires more than just effort—it takes strategy, expertise, and often, a significant advertising budget. For many of you—local stores, family-run businesses, budding entrepreneurs—hiring a full-scale social media manager or committing to costly ad campaigns was simply out of reach.
That’s where we came in. Through our Facebook engagement services, we provided a streamlined, cost-effective solution to help you engage with your audiences, tell your stories, and grow your brands. We were transparent about what we offered and adamant about what we wouldn’t. We turned away anyone seeking to exploit or deceive. No scams, no manipulation—just honest tools to help good people succeed.
When we started, Facebook granted us API access, essentially greenlighting our operations. At that time, there was no question of violating terms of service; in fact, the arrangement felt almost symbiotic. They enabled us to help small businesses while we steered clear of anything that could undermine trust or integrity. But as Facebook’s priorities shifted toward monetizing their platform more aggressively through advertising, the narrative began to change.
The irony of our situation lies in this shift. What was once acceptable—encouraged even—was later reframed as a violation of their evolving terms. Overnight, the very services that had uplifted countless businesses were recast as a threat to their revenue model. The same tools we used to support small businesses were suddenly viewed as competition to Facebook’s burgeoning advertising ecosystem.
It wasn’t long before we faced mounting restrictions: reduced API access, stricter policies, and eventually, legal action from Facebook’s formidable legal team. As a small team of ten passionate individuals, we simply did not have the resources to fight a billion-dollar corporation. We were forced to make an impossible choice: continue fighting for what we believed in, risking everything, or cease operations and admit defeat.
Looking back, we must acknowledge the complex reality of our situation. While we acted with integrity and good intentions, we cannot ignore the fact that we eventually found ourselves at odds with Facebook’s terms of service—terms that, ironically, changed long after we had established our business model. This is not an attempt to shift blame but rather to illustrate the difficult position we were placed in. Our intentions were never malicious. Our work wasn’t about subverting the system but about creating opportunity where there was none.
We are profoundly sorry for the outcome and for the disruption this has caused. To those of you who relied on us to grow your businesses, who celebrated milestones with us, and who trusted us to help you compete in an unforgiving digital world, please know that our greatest regret is not being able to continue supporting you.
The hardest part of this journey has been letting go of the stories that kept us going. The emails from small business owners who turned things around with our help. The gratitude from entrepreneurs who found hope when they thought they had none. Those stories reminded us why we started this journey in the first place. They were our north star, even as the landscape grew more challenging.
This chapter has been a humbling reminder of the power dynamics in our world. As a small, independent team, we poured our hearts into this work, knowing full well the odds we faced. But in the end, the weight of a corporate giant was simply too much to bear.
While we may no longer offer Facebook engagement services, we remain committed to the ideals that brought us together in the first place: helping small businesses, championing entrepreneurs, and leveling the playing field in whatever ways we can. This isn’t the end of Esoteric1; it’s the beginning of a new chapter—one where we will find ways to support you that align with industry standards while staying true to our mission.
Thank you for believing in us, for trusting us, and for sharing your journeys with us. We will never forget the stories, the people, and the communities we had the privilege to serve. We only hope you’ll continue to thrive in this ever-changing digital world, knowing that your passion and determination will always set you apart.
With profound gratitude and respect,
The Esoteric1 Team
esoteric1.net