Not too long ago a enterprise community colleague posted a message on our Facebook group page begging us all to “like” his Facebook page. The implied motive was so he might acquire a vanity URL. My initial reaction was that I’d like to assist so I visited his web page to see what he was offering. The answer was nothing, zero, zilch. He’d crammed in some temporary particulars about his firm (which operates within the highly competitive space of insurance) and that was all. No business updates, no company updates, no info that might help me determine if he was somebody that, first, I might want to do business with, and second that I would want to advocate to others.
I’ve a strong perception that networking is about giving and there was no proof of that on this page. In truth, it was moderately as if as a result of we were members of the identical group, that help within the form of likes could be automatic.
Facebook and other social networking websites are about connecting with others, definitely, but they are more about creating and maintaining robust relationships primarily based on mutual belief and respect fairly than merely gathering numbers. Begging for “likes” slightly defeats the aim of acquiring quality followers who will contribute to your web page, provide feedback and be interactive.
As nicely, by liking a web page, I am publicly placing my hand as much as say I think what another person is doing is price my associates and followers investing their time in wanting at. Now, I value their time as much as my very own, so I would not recommend they waste theirs by looking at a web page with nothing on it. A page that’s merely an act of blatant self-promotion.
If the web page had been up to date, filled with useful posts, or was even mildly entertaining, I might have helped this colleague like a shot. But I am within the enterprise of helping companies get observed, and infrequently that’s by means of social media marketing. By tacitly endorsing his Facebook technique I would effectively be saying that is the way in which to do it. I don’t imagine it is.
However, I may be a lone voice in the wilderness as a result of three different colleagues from the identical networking group followed our first colleague’s lead and in addition begged for likes. And, Andy Moore, a director at a company specialising in “creating revolutionary online advertising and marketing methods” believes it is a good strategy.
He says, “I’ve had success constructing a group round manufacturers using Fb pages and in my expertise one of the crucial effective methods to grow a business web page is to encourage likes by harnessing the personal network of the people associated with the brand. Upon getting their consideration the problem is create interplay by providing great content.” In other phrases, he’s saying it’s ok to ask folks you already know to love your web page, earlier than placing anything on it.
Perhaps there is no such thing as a right or fallacious approach with such a new medium. Though I might have thought simple courtesy would dictate that there ought to at the least be some reward (comparable to something to read!) for those complying with such a like request.
How should we go about getting individuals to like our Facebook pages? For a start, there is a facility on Facebook to “suggest” pages to friends. I haven’t got much problem with that, I’ve used it myself. However I tend to take action only after I’ve posted an merchandise I believe people will discover useful. I simply would not count on individuals to like me when there’s nothing there for them to like. It is like being asked to purchase earlier than figuring out what the product is. In spite of everything, as I’ve already mentioned, liking a page makes it visible to everybody in your network.
Listed here are some ways to encourage (versus beg) people to love your Fb page:
• Post useful data that helps individuals in their business or private life
• Ask (related) questions that inspire interactivity
• Put up events that followers would possibly like to attend
• Offer hyperlinks to different sites, pages or movies that entertain or inform visitors and followers
• Congratulate different connections on their achievements
• Touch upon related news objects pertaining to your trade
Really, you might be only limited by your imagination. However, like anything on the net, supply value. Give freely of your knowledge and experience. You will discover this returns far better dividends than begging likes as a result of your followers shall be genuinely curious about you, your page and your business. And is not constructing relationships what Fb is all about?
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