As a proud member of the Meta Leaders group, I had the distinct honor of being selected among 200 passionate small business owners to embark on a pivotal journey to Washington DC. Our mission was clear: to meet face-to-face with lawmakers and convey the real stories behind our businesses’ growth, fueled by social media and digital advertising.
The corridors of power echoed with our collective voices, as we shared our experiences and the challenges we face in today’s digital landscape. It also was a rare opportunity to ‘talk shop’ with fellow entrepreneurs, exchanging insights and strategies on leveraging Meta’s tools to scale our ventures.
A topic that resonated deeply among us was the hefty 30 percent fee Apple imposes on boosted ads in Instagram. We united in our stance that this fee places an undue burden on small businesses, hindering our ability to compete and thrive.
Our gathering wasn’t all serious talks, though. Meta ensured we ended our day on a high note with a dance party that will be remembered for years to come. It was a celebration of our dedication, our community, and the potential for change that we had all gathered to advocate for.
A heartfelt thank you to Meta for orchestrating this event and for listening to our stories. Here’s to hoping our discussions translate into policy changes that bolster the growth of small businesses everywhere. Pictured here are my fello New York Small Business owners. Photo by Ed from Zorz studios.