"I only liked your facebook page for selfish reasons"

First, I want to say I know that everyone at some point in their business has probably done this. But that needs to change. This is a really poor business practice, and there is no return on it, and we all need to practice better ways to build lasting connections.

Now, you're probably curious what I'm talking about, so here's an example: Someone likes your business fan page on Facbeook. They leave a comment that says something like "New fan from *name of page*, please return the like".

Sad truth, is they aren't really a fan, though. It appears that they only liked your page solely so you would return the favor.

It's never okay to spam another person's business page with advertisements. Their Facebook fan page is an extension of their business. I actually have comments on all of my page's walls turned off for this very reason. Like I said, at some point I think everyone has done this. I have before, and deeply regret it. I know better now, and know that the people who post things like that probably don't see those posts as rude. So let's change the perspective a bit.

Imagine if Facebook fan pages were stores (which they are, in theory, as they are an extension of the business's brand where they engage their consumers about their products) and imagine if you walked in and started telling people to come look at YOUR store. Look at what YOU sell. Come shop with YOU. Think what that would do to their client base. How it may affect their sales. How it affects the impression their customers have of them to have unaffiliated advertisements blasted at them while they shop. How you would feel if someone did that to you.

And, if you wouldn't go into someone's business establishment and advertise your business to their customers right in front of them, or you wouldn't walk into someone's booth at a craft show, stand beside them and pass out your business cards to their customers...

It stands to reason, you shouldn't go to their business's promotional outlets and advertise your business.

And further, a cheap like for a like does not generate new consumers and it doesn't amplify your engagement on Facebook. Social media is not about the quantity of likes but the quality of fans and followers. You want consumers to like your page because they love your brand, they want to stay up to date on your products, and hopefully they plan to purchase from you in the future. You do not want people just to like your page so you feel obligated to like their page.

But guess what? There is ways to utilize connecting through Facebook pages to grow your audience organically and create genuine interest in your brand!

If you really want to like another page and let them know you also have a business page they might be interested in, utilize the ability to function as a fan page on Facebook to like photos and leave encouraging, positive comments praising their work. This creates an actual, organic connection that could be the building block for a future strong friendship among business owners! If you represent your business as one that wants to help other businesses grow, then the pages you visit and interact with will be more likely to like your page, engage with the content you post and probably even cross promote for you or maybe even buy from you!

To use your Facebook page as a profile to like pages, like photos and statuses, and leave comments:

Log in to Facebook as you normally would. Then, look in the top right hand corner:



Then click on your Facebook fan page you want to function as: 



Then, use your Facebook page just as you would your normal profile to visit fan pages, leave comments, like images and statuses. You may not see results right away, but great things do not happen overnight. Build your brand's integrity by being a quality "like" on someone's page, not a quantity like, and page owners and their fans will come to associate that with your business.


23 comments:

  1. I never thought of it that way, but it totally makes sense. For so long, I've liked with my personal page and tagged my business page because that is how "likes" are increased, but you are right that its quality not quantity. Thanks for such a great illustration!

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    1. Thank you so much for your comment. I am really glad you found this post helpful! Saw you shared it on Facebook, thank you so much!

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  2. Thanks for this post. I've actually been struggling to figure out my own stance on this. I mean i want to help other shops grow, but i've been a little bothered by how my customers and fans really feel about seeing these types of cooments... sigh.

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  3. I had someone actually do this i never thought it this way though. Thanks for this it really puts a different perspective of their possible ulterior motives

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  4. First of all, the title of this post made me laugh. I love it!! And what a fabulous illustration. Sometimes I think the anonymity of the webosphere makes us all do weird things that would never be done in real life. Great observation!!!

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    1. Thanks Sarah! I am so glad that this is a relate-able illustration. I think sometimes taking things off the screen and imagining them re-enacted in a real person-to-person scenario helps put our web actions in perspective. And glad you liked the title. ;) I was worried it may be too direct.

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    2. The illustration was totally on point.

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  5. I see this happening a lot of blogs, but not so much on FB.. lucky I guess! I do try to make sure I only follow pages that I really LOVE and support.. I know this happens a ton, all over the social media world... I just try not to be that person and hope Karma takes care of the rest!

    thanks for posting this it really is awesome that someone put it out there as a etiquette rule!

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    1. We unfortunately had to turn posts by others off on our fan page because we got so many every day, and we felt awful having to delete or hide them so our content didn't get lost in the mix of wall posts from other pages. Hopefully this posts helps everyone learn new ways to interact using Facebook fan pages!

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  6. A great post Daft Crafts!!! This is a great perspective! I "like" a lot of pages on fb...most times to help a new friend or because I fell in love with one of their creations. I have never asked for a "like" back. I have had it happen but I don't ask for it. I will be a little more aware of my "liking"...but I do interact with most if not all the pages I liked on fb...may not be a purchaser per say but I do share them with MY followers/friends...help promote them a little...thanks for making me aware of this. :)

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    1. This is a perfect example of being a quality 'like' - you pay it forward and interact with and share content from pages you like, which earns organic likes back! :) Way to go! Stay awesome, Kelly!

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    2. Kelly, I do the same. When I see posts that I like from pages I've liked, I share them with my followers. I evenshare the posts from the jewelry makers even though that's my business. Afterall, I'd like them to share my work if they like it. My thought is that if I'm showing genuine interest in a fellow artist's work it validates me as a serious artist/jewelry maker.

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  7. Lol, yet there is one thing worse than liking a facebook page for selfish reasons and that's liking a Facebook page to flag their every post. Right now I have a Facebook "Follower" on my Designing Life Facebook page who constantly flags even my most genuine and pleasant posts. Drives me nuts. I totally agree with you though being a selfish Facebooker really doesn't form relationships or help build business. I've left notes to indicate that I found people through a certain team or site, but I don't say "follow me back." Kind of presumptuous, right?

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  8. Great post! I have had a couple of people like my page and then all they did was post a link to their own business page in my comments. I promptly sent them a message explaining that doing so was spam and that I had deleted their comment off my page. If someone says "Hi" or "New fan from" I leave those on, but you're right, they are just doing the same thing as the people who only post their link. I think if people want to link swap to promote eachother then that's wonderful, but posting your link solely to get others to visit your own page and not even being sincere in liking the business you visited is considered spam (and selfish) and people should be aware of it. :)

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  9. I like the article, but using your example isn't disabling wall comments just like restricting when people may speak in your store? Both prevent unwanted advertising, but is it really worth it?

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    1. Not really - you can still receive private messages to your Facebook page. It is also important to have your email address listed in your page's info so customers can easily contact you.

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  10. Yeah,.. is sad and true guilty. At some point I wanted to keep my page clean and like what i actually liked but ppl kept coming and I thought they're working and trying hard to have their business known. So, just help them out! and do the same. Likes galore! I would feel bad to dislike ppl. Also, when they're somethings that grabs my attention well, y not say it out loud right?! like this blog. Thanks for the post too bad not everyone on FB is reading or uderstanding this

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  11. I like your analogy of the business establishment. Previously, I was envisioning it in my head as watching a movie in my living room with my friends and having a stranger barge into the room to tell me about how they were showing a better movie at their house and trying to get my friends to leave my house to go to theirs. LOL. But there's no reason why we can all be friends and everyone has their own taste in movies and goods/services. I will be using your article as a reference and linking to it from our Treblemaking Hookers crochet community facebook page.

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    1. Thanks so much for sharing our post within your community. I love the scenario you created - it is spot on to how we feel about it!

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  13. Oh Lord! I feel so ashamed... I don't ask for like backs, but I did had left a mess. I do like to know if my new likes are from new SE friends. Is my way to meet my peers and also the a way to relate a person with a SE or Etsy and being able to promote them at my page. For those who knows me (virtually of course) are aware that I'm always promoting and talking about my SE friends and products. Thanks for this great information and for opening my eyes! Still ashamed but never-ever again!

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  14. I agree with you here. I feel the same way when I do local craft shows, and someone approaches me to ask questions, seemingly interested in my work. Turns out, they are only trying to promote their own classes they offer, or business. Really gets to me! It's like a compliment in sheep's clothing! Thanks for the post. :)

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  15. I always hated when people would do that. So glad you talked about this! ! I actually went on then other day and unlike a few pagea bc I wasn't really interested in their content and I thought I'm only hurting their numbers by of liking the page but never interacting.

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