Bruce Clay Blog : 4/8 : Facebook
May 25, 2011The Facebook Like Button, Dissected
The Facebook Like button. Not since the invention of the word “like” has “like” had so much impact on the human psyche.
Forget friends — gaining approval by people online via the Like button is the new popularity gauge, leaving those with less likes than others feeling a bit inferior and even lost.
And since Facebook, Bing and trends tell us we all need to be liked, the only cure for our complex is well, more likes.
So, let’s take a look at this crazy Like button phenomenon, its various uses and why you need to be liked to survive in the age of online marketing.
Read more of The Facebook Like Button, Dissected.
May 12, 2011
The Value of a Facebook Fan: What’s it Worth?
Just recently, I approached Bruce with an idea for incorporating a contest into a reveal tab on our Facebook page that I was sure would increase our “likes.” I had it all planned out and it was going to be FANtastic (pun intended).
But, Bruce and I got to talking about it … and he posed the question: “Why do we want more ‘likes’? I sat for a few seconds, and realized that the answer: “Because it’s the cool thing to do” really wasn’t going to cut it.
Why do we want more likes? What is that going to achieve? What really is the value of a like?”
I realized my affinity for unicorn and rainbow social media tactics simply wasn’t going to cut it this time. I was guilty of ignoring the nitty gritty metrics and simply jumping on the Like bandwagon with its popularity contest mentality.
I knew there had to be more to the value of a Facebook fan story, and I’m on a mission to uncover it. And that’s what we’re here to talk about today.
Read more of The Value of a Facebook Fan: What’s it Worth?
March 31, 2011
Baseball and the Social Experience: Why You’re Willing to Pay $7 for a Beer and What Businesses Can Learn
Today is opening day of baseball season, and everyone (including Susan) is just a little fired up. I happen to have a lot of Red Sox fans in my Facebook feed, and before I even had my coffee this morning, there was already a little not-so-friendly East Coast rivalry occurring (well, actually, the Yankees assaults started days ago). [It's the duty of every American to hate the Yankees. --Susan]
Baseball season got us thinking here in the writers department about the social aspects of baseball games. Why are people willing to pay seven bucks for a mediocre beer and five dollars for a hot dog at the game, when they could get a six-pack and whole package of dogs at the grocery store for half the price and watch it at home? The answer is the community and the experience.
Read more of Baseball and the Social Experience: Why You’re Willing to Pay $7 for a Beer and What Businesses Can Learn.
March 9, 2011
SMX West 2011: Building Buzz on Facebook: Getting Liked & Shared
This session is all about Facebook and how to best use this important platform for your marketing efforts. It’s the last session of the day and everyone looks a little tired … or is that me? It’s been a great second day, so let’s close it out right!
Read more of SMX West 2011: Building Buzz on Facebook: Getting Liked & Shared.
February 18, 2011
The Age of Social Media: Can Facebook Set Us Free?
Facebook might not be thrilled in claiming responsibility or heroism for Egypt’s freedom. In fact, it’s quietly trying to stay under the radar so it can likely eventually expand into countries like China.
Nonetheless, it’s actually quite mind-blowing that Facebook served as a catalyst for the people of Egypt to join together in a fight for democracy.
We should still move forward with caution, though, even as we marvel and delight in what has happened. Mass connectivity has its advantages and its consequences.
Read more of The Age of Social Media: Can Facebook Set Us Free?.
January 19, 2011
Sorry, but Social Media Is Not Like an Old Friend
You know those old friends you have – the friends you’ve known for, like, ages who, no matter how much time passes, you know you can always call them up and it’s like there was never any space between you? Yeah those friends.
OK, take those friends – you picturing them in your head? Take those friends and think of the exact opposite of them. And those are your friends on social media networks.
I’m sorry to be the one to break the news, but unlike an old friend, your peeps on social media networks like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and others will forget about you unless you take the time to let them know you’re there.
And unlike an old friend, it takes more than just a phone call or drop-by every so often to let them know you’re thinking about them. It’s a full-time job pleasing those finicky little social media goers.
Read more of Sorry, but Social Media is Not Like an Old Friend.
January 13, 2011
Why Social Media is like Getting out of a Warm Bed
Diving into social media, just like thrusting yourself out of a cozy bed, can be a harrowing thought. Why? Because just like your trusted mattress, you’ve been comfortable with your marketing plan thus far – it’s familiar, it does the job.
Like an irritating alarm at 6 a.m., developments in online marketing warn us that there’s a job to do, and time is running out. Social media, in one form or another, is becoming an extremely important facet in marketing your business.
So, wake up and smell the coffee. We’ve got work to do. But first, let’s look at some of the common barriers to starting social media.
Read more of Why Social Media is like Getting out of a Warm Bed.
December 29, 2010
Social Goes Local: Tips for Local Rankings
In the past couple weeks, I’ve talked about factors that affect local rankings. I first spoke about keyword selection and PPC campaigns for local search. Then, I talked about some of the factors that Google says affects local search rankings. Next, I covered how business listings in important online directories play a role. Now, I’m going to talk about other factors we’ve seen that affect local rankings, and no surprise, social is becoming a key player.
Read more of Social Goes Local: Tips for Local Rankings.
December 3, 2010
Friday Recap: Life and Death Edition
The first week of December has come to a close. Here’s a healthy dose of industry and other news to give you plenty to think about over the weekend. Top stories include the Google-Groupon deal, NASA’s discovery of a new life form thriving here on earth, Facebook and maintaining real-world relationships, helping shelter animals in need and much more!
Read more of Friday Recap: Life and Death Edition
November 18, 2010
MySpace: Mashup with Facebook
A new “non-financial” partnership between MySpace and Facebook called Mashup with Facebook launches today. This new feature, accessed from MySpace’s home page for its users, integrates information from the “like” data a person has on a Facebook account to personalize the entertainment experience for the MySpace user. Questions about privacy arose once again from attendees of the announcement webinar at noon, but the companies assured that the data transfer is no different than the Facebook Connect function currently on more than 1 million sites.
Read more from Mashup with Facebook
