Before we go any further, I've just got to ask, "Do you like me?". Do you really like me? Even more important than the answer to this question is, how do you feel about me asking that question right up front?
I was recently invited to visit a Facebook page so I could "Like" the organization. When I arrived I learned I really didn't have a choice. I was instructed to click the Like button before I would be allowed to access the content.
If my opening question caught you off guard, I'm not surprized. In most social settings, people like to get to know you before commiting to a "Like" relationship. The same is true with online Social Networking. Many novice Facebook business marketers use the Like button inappropriately. Not only are they unsuccessful, but it's such a turnoff they lose ground from the very start. Sounds downright needy to me.
Academy Award winning actress Sally Field was ridiculed for her acceptance speech for Best Actress for “Places in the Heart”. She is often quoted as saying “You like me, You really, really like me."Not only was she misquoted, but like Facebook's Like button, terribly misunderstood. I think she was acknowledging Academy members liked her performance, not her as a person.
What's missing? Your visitors really don't care how many folks follow you, or which color scheme you used to build your site. What they really Like are your blog posts or funny YouTube videos. They respect your community involvement, not your mission statement.
Tips for Using the Facebook Like Button
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Change your frame – switch your thinking from Like Me to Like This.
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Place the Like button after blog posts or announcements of your organization's accomplishments. Turn it into a Call to Action.
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Remove it from your home page. Do you really want visitors to leave your site?
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Before you place the button, ask yourself, “What is there to like right here?”
Reference: Facebook Like Plugin
