Changes For How Facebook Like Button Works On Your Blog And Web Site
If you have installed a “Like” or “Recommend” button on your blog and web site (you can see the “Like” button on top of this blog post), there is a big change to the way the story looks in the feed of people who click on the button.
In the past, when people clicked on “Like” or “Recommend” button, a simple, one line story appeared in their Feed. For example, if you clicked “Like” on this blog post, Cucumber Recipes: Radish and Cucumber Salad, a story would appear in your Feed that will say:
You like Cucumber Recipes: Radish and Cucumber Salad at tastygalaxy.com
Now if you click “Like” on that story, here is what you will see in your Feed:
This story is much more visible in the feed now, which means two things:
– When people do click on “Like” button on your web site or on your blog post, this information will be much more visible in their Feed, and you will get more traffic as a result.
– At the same time, though, since the story IS much more visible in the Feed, people might start being much choosier about where the click “Like”, so they will be clicking “Like” less often.
What do you think? Do you like this change? What do you think the implications will be – does this mean more traffic for people who have “Like” buttons on their blogs and web sites?
To see how the story now appears in your Feed, click on the “Like” button on top of the post, and check your Facebook Profile.
March 1st, 2011 at 1:21 pm
From a user perspective, I’m not particularly happy about this, as it ends up sharing far too much about my personal interests with people who read my page. I try not to be political on social networking, but sometimes I feel strongly about an issue raised by a friend’s page and want to show solidarity (in a quiet way) by acknowledging the person’s post with a “like”. I will likely be much more circumspect regarding the changes.
Conversely, there’s nothing embarrassing or political about the content I post, particularly on my business page, so I don’t see users being any less (or more) likely to click “like” on my material. However, the more people click like, the more everyone’s newsfeeds will grow, making it harder to get through a day of posts, making busy people dread even going to Facebook! Oy.
March 1st, 2011 at 5:18 pm
Julie, this change is only for when you click “Like” outside of Facebook, on blogs and web sites.
If you click “Like” on Facebook, for example, when you become a fan of a page, or when you “Like” someone’s status, this will still be a one-line story on your Feed.