What Do You "LIKE" on Facebook?

I sat on my couch munching the contents of a bag of regular Tostitos. Nothing better than hanging with my kids, tortilla chips and some homemade guacamole. My daughter makes the best. This day, however, there was no guac. Just some chips and a little Ghost Ship, one of our favorite flicks - there is a fantastic twist scene when all is revealed, you should check it out some time. Anyway...,

While snacking, I went to grab the bag of Tostitos and noticed the Facebook button on the bag. Yep, Tostitos expects consumers to login, look up their fan page and "like" it. Permission marketing. Bring the consumer to you. Compel the consumer to follow a trail of bread crumbs and convert curiosity into brand loyalty. If you "like" the product, you have consented to contact, you have consented to receipt of future coupons or emails or ads down the right-hand side of your Facebook page.

I have been talking about this for a couple years now, actually advocating for it. But I must admit, it's kind of scary to see it come to fruition. The potential was undeniable, it was exciting and different. It was new, it was contemporary and Corporate America seemed to shun the possibilities. That is until a few took the plunge. I remember a year ago seeing random companies adding Twitter and Facebook buttons to their advertising. Two years ago, I consulted smaller companies and convinced them to create fan pages and start engaging. They were eager to learn more, especially when I told them their competition wasn't doing it. Yet.

Currently, I like over 170 pages - translatable into a product, service, person or form of art. That's down about fifty from last Fall, as I recently went through my Facebook likes and deleted those that I didn't remember even liking, those I no longer liked, or those I saw no need to like and no longer wished to receive messages from. That number will continue to dwindle as I streamline more and "like" less.

Facebook is now considered a strong and necessary marketing strategy. With its rate of growth, it will not be long before the number of FB profiles reaches One Billion. That is a lot of consumers. Most companies are starting to get the picture of what that represents. Chance. Opportunity. Growth. Branding. But it also means maintenance. It isn't easy, it won't be easy. Make it worth the endeavor, not a wasted effort. The payoff will be a direct result of what is put in. It will require consistent work . That means exertion, which means it isn't free.

by rayannethorn

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on January 10, 2011 at 8:36am

I like a lot of stuff. I like a tank full of diesel in my Chevy. I like the smell of bacon in the morning. I like a good conversation with people who know the topic. Liking things seems to be a hobby of mine.....

But "liking" products? Lame. I don't need Tostitos to connect with me in any way. I'll connect with them on Aisle 6 - right after I connect with the Folgers organization on Aisle 5.

It's gone too far. I don't need it. And for the most part - I really can't relate to people who feel the need to connect in these ways with companies just because they fill their cart with them at Piggly Wiggly.

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Permalink Reply by Sandra McCartt on January 10, 2011 at 11:39am

To me it's sort of like a conversation that goes:

"I voted for John Smith."

"But he's not running."

"I know but i like him anyway so i voted for him."

"But there's no election so there is nothing for him to win even if he were running."

"400,000 other people voted for him too."

"But what does that mean if there is no election."

"It means if he did run and there were an election he might win". "If a lot of people like him he must be ok."

"So if i like rainy days and i vote for them will we have more.?"

"No but if everybody knows you like rainy days they will let you know when it's going to rain."

"I can look out the window."

"Yes, but it's important that people know what you like."

"Why?"

"Then they know something about you."

"Will they use my service because i like rainy days or I vote for John Smith?"

"Maybe, it's the wave of the future."

"That is sort of pitiful." "Have we all gotten to the point that all we have to do is sit in front of a computer and click "like" buttons cause we don't have anything to say or do." "Maybe we could do this in bulk so we could do a "one click like button" about anything and anyone we think is ok then go take a nap." "Sounds kind of childish to me but let me know if clicking any like buttons ever makes you any money and i will sure try it."

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Permalink Reply by Alasdair Murray on January 10, 2011 at 12:39pm

I can't stand Facebook. It is inane, trivial, childish and boring. It's the online equivalent of small talk in a bar - and I wouldn't want to be sold to in a bar anymore than I would on Facebook. Indeed, if it wasn't for the fact my daughter uses it to tell the world about her on off relationships, I wouldn't visit it at all.

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Permalink Reply by Sandra McCartt on January 10, 2011 at 2:15pm

Agree Alasdair, but let me introduce you to a new bar. Or at least let me say that in the bars i drop into the conversation is not about God, babies and who threw up with the flu last week. One more baby picture or click this if you "like" Jesus on my news feed and i am shutting it down. :) I had no idea that people i used to know had reached the point of being that boring or had developed a burning need to have everybody click on Jesus.

This is year of the unfollow and clearing out of "friends" on all sites who post inane stuff, retweet each other's stuff over and over or tweet and post the same thing over and over and over. I may "like" you but i for one am tired of the clutter. And i honestly don't have time to click hide to get that crap off my news feed. I don't look at it once every two weeks so only Jesus knows how much of that stuff i miss.

Cleanup to aisle six , please.

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Permalink Reply by Alasdair Murray on January 10, 2011 at 2:25pm

I visited Facebook earlier for first time in ages.I had invites from Farmville, Cliffville or somewhere and Tattooaddle or some such. Why?

When the humble Messenger chat facility came along years ago it had a certain novelty value and I did indulge for a while, but Facebook has taken it and blown it out of all kind of proportion that it should have in people's lives. I will never 'like' cornflakes or any other product and I will never invite someone to Farmville or wherever. it's like some people have gone back to their childhood or something. i just don't get it, particularly as in the same breath you'll hear how Facebook is fast becoming a great recruitment vehicle. Really? It would honestly be the last place on earth I would advertise a job, because if people have got enough time to fully indulge on Facebook and all its inanities they clearly have too much time to burn and thus aren't the kind of people I would want in my workplace. Everything in moderation. People, don't live your life through these networks, please.

Sandra McCartt said:

Agree Alasdair, but let me introduce you to a new bar. Or at least let me say that in the bars i drop into the conversation is not about God, babies and who threw up with the flu last week. One more baby picture or click this if you "like" Jesus on my news feed and i am shutting it down. :) I had no idea that people i used to know had reached the point of being that boring or had developed a burning need to have everybody click on Jesus.

This is year of the unfollow and clearing out of "friends" on all sites who post inane stuff, retweet each other's stuff over and over or tweet and post the same thing over and over and over. I may "like" you but i for one am tired of the clutter. And i honestly don't have time to click hide to get that crap off my news feed. I don't look at it once every two weeks so only Jesus knows how much of that stuff i miss.

Cleanup to aisle six , please.

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Permalink Reply by Navid Sabetian on January 10, 2011 at 6:35pm

Facebook's aim, generally speaking, is about keeping in contact with friends rather than looking for products or liking a product or service....

Now the whole concept of companies trying to take themselves on Facebook goes back to the concept of "word of mouth is the strongest advertising tool there is". So they are just using Facebook as a medium to get the strongest form of advertising going for themselves.

IMO it works for some industries. For instance DJs, event organizers etc use it to promote themselves mostly because they are considered "fun stuff". In recruitment and headhunting space in my opinion Linked In is by many folds better than Facebook or even Twitter. Linked In is designed for the corporate type business whereas Facebook and Twitter are not. It is like going to a general car yard to buy a Mercedes. Sure you may find one but your chances are improved if you went directly to Mercedes dealer.

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Permalink Reply by Martin H.Snyder on January 10, 2011 at 7:39pm

Gawd I like a full tank of diesel too

Well played.

Jerry Albright said:

I like a lot of stuff. I like a tank full of diesel in my Chevy. I like the smell of bacon in the morning. I like a good conversation with people who know the topic. Liking things seems to be a hobby of mine.....

But "liking" products? Lame. I don't need Tostitos to connect with me in any way. I'll connect with them on Aisle 6 - right after I connect with the Folgers organization on Aisle 5.

It's gone too far. I don't need it. And for the most part - I really can't relate to people who feel the need to connect in these ways with companies just because they fill their cart with them at Piggly Wiggly.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Stephen on January 10, 2011 at 9:20pm

There's one more reason to delete my Facebook profile

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Permalink Reply by Thomas Patrick Chuna on January 11, 2011 at 8:55am

I enjoy facebook.

I like it for keeping up with family and friends, and it's a great place to offload the metric ton of pictures I seem to accumulate..remote hosting kicks ass.

As for "liking" this or that, I am not big on liking products, who gives a crap what kind of 'tater chips I like? BUT I like liking the service based businesses my friends have, and they like liking mine.I like being a referral machine.

I'm more about liking pages related to the things I enjoy in real life, like the martial arts from the Philippines and Indonesia, or musclecar restoration, or whatever.

I like to use social media to make new friends and to augment what I already participate in,, in real life.

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Permalink Reply by Sandra McCartt on January 11, 2011 at 12:59pm

I wish they would put a "I hate this crap" button. That would be fun!

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on January 11, 2011 at 1:47pm

What is the point again? Being a fan of everything in your fridge? I'm lost.

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Permalink Reply by Alasdair Murray on January 11, 2011 at 1:59pm

Not just the fridge though Jerry. You can 'like' anything from a box of cornflakes to a whole company. Honestly, woudl you want to employ anyone who professed to liking an organisation? I'd say they had a screw loose! :-[)

Jerry Albright said: