[JohnR]

This seems to be everywhere right now. I saw an ad on the back of a bus today, win something if you "like" us on Facebook? Is this just a way of getting people to volunteer to be targeted with ads? Obviously, it must be worth something if things are being given away to get "likes."

I guess with anything worth something, there's going to be marketplace for it. You can buy "likes" too - $57 for 1000! Well, that puts a value on it, I guess.

http://www.fanpagehookup.com/

[Elizabeth]

That stuff is for folks far removed from reality....

"Impress your other fake friends with our fake friends..."

[Bob in St. Louis]

I don't get it either.

The (small) car dealership I work for put a note on our website that if you like us on FB, we'll give a free oil change to the first 250 people. Our oil changes range from 75-100 dollars.

So basically, we're giving $20,000 back to our to existing customer.
I thought the point of advertising was to get new customers.

Oh well. I guess that's not why I'm in the marketing department.

Bob - Not on Facebook

[youravhandyman]

Hey Bob,
I need an oil change...    

Ok, how about some alternate buttons:













And my final word on the subject

[Bob in St. Louis]

Hey Bob,
I need an oil change...    

Got a Volvo or Saab? 

[youravhandyman]

No, but my PT cruiser is just as ugly as an old 900.  Would that count?

[Bob in St. Louis]

Since you put it that way.........YES!

[nathanm]

I don't get it either.

The (small) car dealership I work for put a note on our website that if you like us on FB, we'll give a free oil change to the first 250 people. Our oil changes range from 75-100 dollars.

So basically, we're giving $20,000 back to our to existing customer.
I thought the point of advertising was to get new customers.

Oh well. I guess that's not why I'm in the marketing department.

Bob - Not on Facebook

That sounds like a really bizarre  promotion.  Does your shop do online oil changes!?

[Mike Nomad]

I thought FB worked similar to YouTube... Likes = traffic. The more traffic, the bigger the add split on click-throughs...

[Bob in St. Louis]

Yes we do Nathan.
We received the technology to not necessarily "change" your oil, but we have the ability to cleanse it to a near "like new" state merely by using a simply everyday telephone. There's a phone number we give the customers and all they have to do is have the phone near the car and we emit special harmonic tones that pull the dirt, and sludge from the oil.
Sorry, I can't tell you the name of the company we got the technology from.

Bob

[launche]

I've never been on facebook but I am also seeing increased efforts to be "liked".  But recently I saw a business ad saying they where the most "liked" XYZ in town.  Then it all made more sense.
I will very very rarely question the marketing pro's, eventually they almost always win.  My home is full of crap to justify that. Years ago I laughed at bottled water now I imagine it's a billion dollar industry.

The smarter companies see the trends and do well to align themselves properly.  Better to get out in front rather that play catch up and better to be "liked" than not "liked"  At least if you have 10,000 FB "likes" in your favor those few real online customer complaints don't look so bad.

[JohnR]

My local video store has "like us" posters. (I was trying to remember where it was.) So Facebook is obviously encouraging this. They do no online business (as far as I'm aware) and the nearest competition is 10 km away.

I can't help feeling that the biggest beneficiary is Facebook.

[TONEPUB]

If you buy the bogus likes, it's like anything else, you get what you pay for.

For us, it's become a very quick way to interact with our readers and has
been very helpful in driving traffic to our site.

And again, content is king.  If you're talking about walking your dog, how
bored you are, etc etc., people don't stay tuned to your channel.

[Noseyears]

Well, i usually "like" the companies fan pages to make questions, sometimes complaints, or product updates..been really useful for me.

Buying likes is definitely a no no. Organic way takes more time but you have quality.