Facebook "Like" button update
After months of updates to "Like" button, Facebook has released an update that fundamentally changes the button's functionality to that of a "Share" button. Now after hitting the Like button, a full story with a headline, blurb and thumbnail will be posted to our profile wall. We will also be given an option to comment on the story link. Previously, only a link to the story would appear in the recent activity, often going unnoticed by users. I feel this is a great marketing strategy to reach out to out target audience and also to give out the message out there in the world! Though, users might think twice about hitting the button, given how prominently it will appear on their walls and in their networks' news feeds, it should ultimately increase traffic to publishers' websites.
Perhaps the change was necessary. Because it was never made clear to users as many never understood what it meant to click Like on a piece of content. Making the result of the same as the Share button could bring stronger user expectations, ultimately fashioning a better user experience.
Facebook "Like" button update
Come to think of it, it was quite a logical move to get rid of the Share button and replace it with the Like one. It also brings more benefits if you have a commercial website. I just hope that they will ass the functionality to change the meta data (like what the "Share" button does), because many times what has been passed from the source is not exactly what you want your friends to look at. Same does for a thumbnail (for example, something unrelated, like a PDF icon). Liking something is much different from wanting to share it. I like things more frequently than I share them - and make a conscious decision to share. Therefore I feel that this idea holds good for commercial websites and organizations. This new action may make it sound dynamic and noticeable initially, but Share button is already doing its job as a good tool for bookmarking content. I also think that the "Like" button is such a casual action by the user. Putting it in prominence to actual comments doesn't make sense. What does make sense it will drive traffic and more page views for those links. From a user's perspective I think it's annoying!
I never thought of the like button as a marketing strategy. It is so interesting to see that it can actually be helpful to organizations and people who want to put themselves out there. Just the other day my mother asked me to make her business a fan page on Facebook and it was just then that I realized how big it has become!!
ReplyDeleteI agree, until now I never realized how big of a marketing strategy the Like button really is. I think it's pretty cool. I personally don't find the like button to be annoying and I think it makes much more sense then sharing. If you're on facebook anything you do is public knowledge anyway so if you don't want somebody to see what you've liked then you probably shouldn't like it!
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