Techblog
The Power of a Facebook ‘Like’
Boosting the popularity of your business has a powerful new solution: Facebook Like. Find out how you can wield that power with these easy tips.
By the myBusiness techblog team
Mention social media to anyone and Facebook is most often or not the first word that comes to mind; and for good reason too. Originally a program used by Harvard students to compare the attractiveness of their peers, Facebook has since evolved into one of the biggest and most popular social networking platforms today. With more than 900 million users worldwide1, Facebook is the ideal platform for you to spread your marketing message to the masses.
What is Facebook Like?
Facebook boasts a wide range of features called social plugins: the most used being the Like button. According to its website, the average "Liker" has been found to be have ‘2.4x the amount of friends than the average Facebook user’; and are usually ‘more interested in exploring the content they discover on Facebook - they click on 5.3x more links to external sites than the typical Facebook user’2.
Why should I use it?
First, let's consider how this works. Take for example a scenario where you publicly share on Facebook an article about your company or an upcoming event by your business. When users read the article, some of them will click the Like button to show their appreciation and/or approval of the content. What happens immediately after they click the Like button is this:
- The article gets added to their Facebook profile
- The "Liker's" friends will all be notified of them liking your article, allowing both the article and the link to your site to be available
- The popularity and credibility of your article increases with every Like received
Facebook Like, therefore, provides a virtual avenue of spreading your articles, and adds a cascading effect that grows your Facebook presence via word-of-mouth.
Tips on how to wield it effectively
The Like button is, of course, just a tool. So here are some tips on how you can wield this tool to achieve optimum results:
#1: Integrate your Facebook page
Having just a Facebook wall just isn’t enough anymore. Users may just visit your wall, read your posts, and move on without giving any likes - even if they loved your updates! Provide value-added services such as interesting reports, links and special offers that require "Liking" to access. When sending out emails or other forms of marketing collateral, remember to include a quick link to the Facebook Like as well.
P/S: Check out our Facebook page!
#2: Facebook Ads: Like and Direct
Keep your ad content simple, and include a Like button after your ad. It is highly likely that a user would click the like button if he or she understood and appreciated the ad. Just in case the users want to know more, let the ad direct them to your Facebook page. This is especially prudent when the user wants to reserve ‘liking’ until after viewing more content beyond the ad. By directing them to your Facebook page, you're doubling your chances of getting a like out of them.
#3: Keep things fresh
New information brings new interest. Keep updating your Facebook page with more content, and rotate between your ads to give your existing fans more things to like, and your potential fans more reason to like you.
Not many methods of advertising can be as effective, or spread as efficiently, as Facebook Like. Additionally, similar to viral marketing, it also lets your growing fan base spread your popularity for you. Thus, Facebook Like makes an ideal option for letting you reach the masses. Isn’t it time for your to make your Facebook page Likeable?
This article is part of a series about why SMEs should consider including Facebook as part of their marketing tools. Click on the links below to read more:
- Facebook for SMEs: Top 10 reasons to use Facebook to market your business
- Facebook for SMEs: Top 10 reasons businesses should use Facebook Timeline Brand Pages
- Facebook for SMEs: The impact of new Facebook Brand Pages on SMEs
- The Power of a Facebook 'Like'
How do you find the use of Facebook Like? Do you have any great stories to share? Let us know in the comment box below!
Read about more trends, technologies and tips on how you can develop and execute your digital sales and marketing campaigns in our exclusive myBusiness eBook. Sign up for our free membership and read it today!
1 Source: Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_virtual_communities_with_more_than_100_million_users
2 Source: Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=1506303383057973