Posted by Erin Templer
I know we don’t all have the same Facebook background. Some are novices, while others are whipping up Facebook apps like it’s, well, their job. I’ve been on Facebook for personal use for probably five years now. But, within the last few months I’ve started posting to CUES’ Facebook page. I’ve even attended a Facebook for Marketers seminar to help me get started.
Over my next few posts, I’d like to share a few things with you about my experiences with CUES’ Facebook page, and Facebook in general. Maybe we can help each other learn about this ever-changing world.
The first thing I’d like to address is the idea of being “liked.” It’s something I’ve touched on in a previous post, but I want to take a look at it from a different perspective.
Clearly, a business benefits from being “liked.” When you post a comment it shows up on the newsfeed of those who “like” you. You’re listed under that person’s Info tab as something they have a like or have interest in. You can easily reach them with the content you post to your wall. But what is in it for an individual to “like” you?
In one word: Nothing. It’s this relatively new cultural phenomenon in which people simply choose to share with their friends that they like your page. It’s electronic word of mouth, an outlet for people to express and present themselves to their peers.
Even if you incent someone to “like” you, what’s stopping them from “unliking” you in the future?
It’s a hard concept for this marketer to wrap her head around. But maybe it’s not worth spending my time analyzing it. Maybe I should just accept it as a phenomenon and let it happen instead of trying to figure out why.
OK, that’s just not going to happen. I can’t drop it like that. Tell me how you choose whether or not to click the “like” button on Facebook. And, what about “liking” your brand do you think helps others express themselves to their friends on Facebook?
