9 Places The Like Button Lives Outside The Facebook Wall
A couple months back I said “Like” on Twitter, and realized I am so used to just clicking a Like Button on Facebook that I have started using the word, phrase, and action in other places in my life.
I even use it in Google Chat and email now. Facebook has created, in the Like button, a cultural phenomenon.
Facebook Likes have taken over my regular and internet vocabulary due to the simplicity of its message and because it is such an easy action. And, as with my own actions, the Facebook Like Button has many purposes.
Let’s break down 9 different places where marketers are using the Facebook Like Button, from the simple to the elegant.
1. The Original: Like A Brand
Liking a brand’s fan page on Facebook adds emotion to the relationship and can make the link between the brand and consumer more genuine. I know I usually only Like brands that I truly want to hear from on my Facebook wall and care to see what is happening (along with awesome offers, of course).
2. Like A Website
Facebook Likes have gone beyond the interface of the platform and popped up throughout the internet so brands, people, and organizations can further promote themselves. It is a great way to have people show their sentiment towards a certain website, certain webpage, and/or just because they love that brand/person/etc.
The added benefit of liking a URL, besides the fact that the link gets shared on a Facebook user’s wall, is the bonus of showing up in Facebook search more often.
3. Like An Article or Blog Post
As with a webpage, this is a great way to promote your content and have people show their networks what an awesome post you have and then others will also see how valuable your content is. In turn they may Like it too, and so on and so forth.
Liking a specific piece of content is more likely to get promoted and clicked on since it is more specific. Specificity causes more urgency for the end user to consume your content. It is the difference between seeing a sports blog promoted and an article promoted on your favorite team’s announcement of a new coach.
4. Like A Comment
This is not the comment on your Facebook profile or page (but it does apply to that too). We are talking about comments on an article or blog post. Sometimes you just do not feel like commenting back but really appreciate the comment and feel the same.
The new Facebook commenting system, seen in action on Techcrunch, also allows you to sort comments by the amount of discussion they receive, including Likes.
5. Like A Product
Taking it a step further now you can show your sentiment, not just towards a brand or their webpage, but their specific products as well. I was sitting in one of my MBA classes one day and our professor was amazed how she could Like a pair of Levis Jeans and it would automatically show up on her Facebook profile to show her friends and family that she thought that particular pair of jeans was cool. Probably not the best thing if you’re “liking” something personal, but why would you Like it unless you don’t mind the social sphere knowing it.
6. Like To Vote
Threadless is great at letting the consumer become part of the product making process. People can design their own shirt, submit them, and the consumers then vote on designs to see what will actually be printed and sold.
Cool concept.
In addition, you can Like a design and share with your friends, which can assist in getting better scoring for that particular design. Great promo, great product, great Like Button usage.
7. Like A Directory/List Item
When you have a directory resource or a list of items/companies/etc. user feedback can be a great resource for filtering that list.
Sometimes companies are listed on other sites, such as below on InvestinSocial.com, a social media directory. Aggregated lists, directories, and any site where your company or products are allowed to be liked is a good thing. This allows a consumer to Like you without thinking you are asking for it directly. For both the listed brand and the hosting website, promotion opportunities in the newsfeed and Facebook search are, again, great opportunities.
8. Like A Real World Object
Coca Cola took this to the ultimate for the Coca-Cola Village, where people could Like items at the village in real-time by their RFID bracelet (holding their Facebook profile login and password), which transmits back to the facebook page and shows what they Liked right then and there.
Great promotion, great engagement, and great way to use Facebook Likes. Want to see more? Check out the YouTube video on the Coca-Cola Village and see the greatness in action.
9. Curated Popular Product List
1800flowers.com allows Likes on all of their products. So you can like a certain flower bouquet or a gift for a special occasion. And your better half can log in and see what you selected. Even more clever is a “Most Liked” list of products that they feature in some spots on the site, showcasing their more popular selections.
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The Future Of Like Buttons
We can already Like a location with Facebook places. We can Like a person if they have a fan page setup. How far away are we from liking these items when we are out and about like the Coca Cola Village example above?
Will we be able to snap a picture and press “like?” Too lazy to respond to an email from a friend, maybe email providers can through in a Like Button so we can show a friend you read it and think it’s awesome, without having to reply.
The Like Button is starting to function as a subscription to a product or service. When you like something, you are becoming more and more public with who you are and your information. It is a way for brands to tap into you with the click of a button. Great for brands, and hopefully creating more relevance for how we are all marketed to in the future.
