Social Media Marketing - Why NOT TO BUY "LIKES" on Facebook.

Mike V

Member
Why You Shouldn’t Buy Facebook Likes.


I get it, you start your pressure cleaning business and want to touch as many potential customers as possible. You have spent some time on your website, Facebook page, Twitter Account, etc...... but you look around and see that you only have a few likes and you want MORE. Is it ego? Is it not being familiar with metrics and SEO? Is it the thought that having more likes will increase your bottom line and get you out there washing more houses or cleaning more windows? I don't know the answer but what I do know is there are three main reasons why you should not buy Likes and why I am personally against this practice.

1. Ethics - It just feels wrong.
2. Statistics - It will end up hurting you long term
3. ROI- You are wasting your time and money with no ROI

Ethics
If you choose to purchase "Likes" on Facebook, you are simply paying a service to Like your Page with Likes from fake Facebook members. These are not potential customers, they are fake people with fake profiles. You will never hear from these people again, they will never interact with your business, read your posts, look at your pictures.....they are FAKE. Also remember that creating fake profiles is a violation of Facebook policies, when the creator of those profiles is busted, your likes will go away.

The purchasing of "likes" is a reflection of your character and you are a reflection of your business, deceitful practices reflect badly on you which in turn reflects badly on your brand. Character is everything in business.

Statistics
Under your cover photo are three little words.......“Talking About This?” , Have you ever wondered what this is? I call it the Facebook Fan page LIE DETECTOR. Do you know why? It tells anyone who understands this little metric if your "likes" are real or fake. That number indicates the number of people who have engaged with your brand during the past week.

If you have purchased 95% of your Likes, the "Talking about This" metric is going to be very small because the "fake people" that liked your page are long gone and have never been back. What this would tell someone that is not in the know about all your fake friends is that you have a miserable brand/product/service because no one is talking about you.

Understanding Edgerank and knowing its importance should also persuade one to not artificially inflate their "likes" by simply buying them as this would also negatively impact your EdgeRank. An Edge is basically everything that "happens" in Facebook. Examples of Edges would be status updates, comments, likes, and shares. There are many more Edges than the examples above—any action that happens within Facebook is an Edge. If a very low percentage of fans engage with your content, that will decrease EdgeRank.

The Edgerank Algorithm is somewhat complicated, but understanding that unlike your fake "likes", real people may not see your content because the fake ones destroy your EdgeRank.

ROI
Return on Investment. That really says it all......you pay someone for "likes", you will never see a return on that investment as not a single one of those "FAKE" likes will ever pay you for your product or service, they will never be a real customer. Do not throw your money away on this, buy some flyers....even a 2% ROI with flyers is better than wasting your money on "likes".


In conclusion, the desperation to buy Facebook Likes comes down to two simple factors, laziness and not understanding how smart your customers really are. Building a solid, engaged, REAL audience isn’t difficult. You just need to know how to do it. If you want likes that will bring business your way, be sure your content is interesting to those who would genuinely like what you have to say, whether you are looking for likes for you page or leads to your website.

Good Luck and Wash On!
 
Great Post Mike! Have to admit though I fell under that "I need more likes" myself when I first started. Thanks
 
Ive not had much of a problem with this, If you set it up the right way, it promotes to friends of your friends.. I haven't gotten a TON of jobs from my facebook page, but I did get maybe 8-10 jobs from it this year. And I tried out the free credits they were doing and I had several neighbors and family members tell me that they had it pop up as a suggested page.. Just my 2 cents.
 
Mike,

Although I appreciate your input on this subject I do have some questions. Please feel free to look at my new Facebook page(www.facebook.com/poconononpressureroofandexteriorcleaning) and let me know your opinion on it. I just put on my thick skin so I'm ready. I've never "purchased" any likes but how do you feel about Facebook's own advertising program?

Hank
 
Mike,

Although I appreciate your input on this subject I do have some questions. Please feel free to look at my new Facebook page(www.facebook.com/poconononpressureroofandexteriorcleaning) and let me know your opinion on it. I just put on my thick skin so I'm ready. I've never "purchased" any likes but how do you feel about Facebook's own advertising program?

Hank

I think the Facebook advertising is beneficial as you can target users in your local market(I.e potential customers)

I am no expert, just love marketing and understanding how it all works and benefits my bottom line.
 
Mike,

Although I appreciate your input on this subject I do have some questions. Please feel free to look at my new Facebook page(www.facebook.com/poconononpressureroofandexteriorcleaning) and let me know your opinion on it. I just put on my thick skin so I'm ready. I've never "purchased" any likes but how do you feel about Facebook's own advertising program?

Hank

I think the Facebook advertising is beneficial as you can target users in your local market(I.e potential customers)

I am no expert, just love marketing and understanding how it all works and benefits my bottom line.
 
Ive not had much of a problem with this, If you set it up the right way, it promotes to friends of your friends.. I haven't gotten a TON of jobs from my facebook page, but I did get maybe 8-10 jobs from it this year. And I tried out the free credits they were doing and I had several neighbors and family members tell me that they had it pop up as a suggested page.. Just my 2 cents.

My post is about buying likes, not using Facebook advertising or credits which are both good as you can dictate the location.

Fake profiles are used when you buy likes. Fake profiles can't hire you to pressure wash and fake profiles don't have friends that will hire you.

Anything you can do to increase your visibility in the market you service is the key to increased sales.
 
Matt,

I just gave your page a like.

Hank

Thanks, I'm trying to find your page, on your website I clicked the Facebook icon and got nothing, post your link here, your like hasn't showed up yet so I can't just click on your page yet.
 
Thanks, I'm trying to find your page, on your website I clicked the Facebook icon and got nothing, post your link here, your like hasn't showed up yet so I can't just click on your page yet.

I got you now, it was under your name, thanks
 
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