I like Blogger and Twitter's "Follow" .... do you follow what I'm saying ? Do you follow my blog, do you follow my tweets ?
In the olden days if we liked something, we would "Recommend" it to someone else.
Why not "Recommend" ? Do you recommend this comment ? If so - you will Love my Blog.
Dave - 14 years ago
For sports clubs/professionals, the change from "Become a Fan" to "Like" has proved to be very damaging. Many more people 'like' clubs than are true 'fans' of clubs and this is now proving difficult for clubs to achieve real cut through and value from their posts. An example is Liverpool Football Club posting a video news item and 300 comments coming back saying 'Go Reds!', 'Hope you win tonight' etc. which doesn't even relate to the video.
If Facebook truly is a marketing tool then surely they should cater for all needs rather than trying to provide a 'one size fits all' solution such as "Like". Why not provide options related to the type of Fan Page being created? "Become a Fan" for sport, "Like" for brands, "Follow" for people etc.
Robert - 14 years ago
Which would you rather have: True/Raving Fans or Lukewarm Likers? Another stupid move towards mediocrity and blandness by Facebook. There's already enough bland in the world. Goodbye, Facebook.
Jeannie - 14 years ago
I prefer Fan. It's much easier to ask someone to become a fan of your page versus "will you like my page". What do you call someone who likes your page - are they still a fan or a liker????
"Like" and "nice" are such bland terms, it's almost the same as not saying anything. As a brand manager I'd rather have a "fan" than a "like". Perhaps multiple levels are needed to reflect the various levels of commitment a consumer has to a brand/page.
Eric - 14 years ago
The business owner in me feels like it's a shady, underhanded way to get more followers to my page. The consumer in me agrees.
I really dislike the new terminology. It confuses the pages and it's hard to use. What is a fan page now? A like page. I agree with what a previous commentator said that it would be much better to use follow, but it still makes describing one's business page awkward. I have several different pages on facebook and help others with theirs and it's frustrating how things keep changing. There are so many glitches and it's not user friendly or intuitive at all. I'm pretty computer savvy and often have to dig for something that a week ago, I knew where it was. Getting the code for the "like box" especially, has been acting strangely. As it's all still free, I guess we shouldn't complain, but if we have a voice, I would like to see another word used instead of "like".
I like "Become A Fan" way better than "Like". Recently I became a fan of writer/director Tyler Perry's Facebook page, and now it says that I "like" Perry. That sounds a bit weird, so I'd prefer if we went back to me becoming Perry's "fan" instead.
"Like" is awkward when you're wording a call to action, but "fan" has difficulties as well. Who wants to be a "fan" of a politiican they don't agree with but wish to keep informed about? And who wants to "like" a page about a serious disease? Anyone know of one word that means "pay attention to" or "take notice of"? (Should "follow" be out of the running because of Twitter?)
A person - 14 years ago
I think 'like' is fine. It's less of a commitment that being a 'Fan'.
Although, you may find many people don't like change (pardon the pun) as they're familiar with the term and know what happens when you click the button.
Even though 'like' has no different functionality (as far as I know), they'll still prefer 'Fan'.
FB ain't worried about this, I'm sure. There's always a transition period with a change and everything'll be fine once everyone's used to it.
Genevieve - 14 years ago
I guess I'm in a minority that actually likes 'like'. I think it lowers the entry for less committed users to express interest in what you're promoting. Essentially they are warm leads. Once they've liked you the tricky bit is giving them content that will take them the next step - to become a fan. And they don't need a button to do that. They'll know they are a fan when they become one!
How the heck do I invite someone to 'like' my fan page?
"LIKE ME!" sounds rather meretricious.
And, will it soon be called a Like Page?
Jefferson - 14 years ago
Become a Fan may be too much of a commitment for some people so they don't click. Like is less of a commitment. But I think the problem is that Like is being used for everthing on FB - photos, articles, comments, pages, badges - so there is no disctinction of interest. When I join a page I want people to know I'm a Fan. I don't just "like it," I'm a fan of it. If the Like button is suppost to get more clicks because it's more generic, I don't think this will generate more clicks for pages. Like may work for photos and articles. But when Pages lost its I'm a Fan endorsement, it lost something important. The Like button is a "leveler;" it makes all things on FB equal in value.
Why not just do both. If you like something click the like button. If you want to become a fan click the fan button.
But of course there will be someone out there that then wants a dislike and hate button as well.
If you walk, just walk. If you sit, just sit. Just don't wobble.
Sam K - 14 years ago
"Like" is such a weak term. If "fan" is done away with, at least give a "really like" option for those that are a little more passionate about a brand/person or item.
Some people who have reached the friend limit on their personal pages are uncomfortable with the "Fan" language, so "Like" is a little softer, but I think the comment that suggests Page Admins can come up with their own wording, or at least have a choice of a few options that might be appropriate for the various types of pages that exist, is a good idea. We LIKE having choices - shared control is much more fun than feeling controlled...
John Crozier - 14 years ago
When I started to Like things it tricked me into following those pages. Which really sucks because I did not actively want to 'become a fan' of that particular thing. From what other people are saying in these comments it would seem that this is a common experience and that it has had a negative effect on fan pages as a whole!
I can see why brands would think that this is a good thing. They just need to post one thing that someone 'Likes' and they are in that persons news stream from then on, or until the user realises and 'unlikes' that option.
Either way I think it was a little underhand and is another move by FB away from what the users want to what Businesses wanting to access the hugely powerfull and valuable trapped network of FB users want.
BOOOOOOOOOOO
jp - 14 years ago
Why couldn't we have both offering different degrees of committal. You can like something in passing and you can also be(come) a fan which gives page owners/brands the ability to differentiate between both and the user to declare their degree of excitement (or lack of) about that brand. Ideally there would be 3, loath, like and love which allows the end user to express themselves and brands a means to indentify their loyalists and their high risk/high reward opportunities. Just a thought...
Liking something is only marginally better than indifference actually. 'I 'like' Thai food'... so what really! 'I LOVE Thai food'... wow get me some of that... 'I like you Zuck' ...great how nice! (Get a life...) 'I LOVE you Zuck'... wow we really have bonded! (Not such a bad guy after all) ... I don't want to drown in a sea of 'likes', it's just so meaningless... Kill it now along with privacy, corporate integrity, the free internet and the right to own your own persona anymore...
I feel that Facebook pulled the carpet out from under me. I was just in the midst of devoting a lot of time developing my Fan Page. Then the change. While I can see people clicking on a LIKE button, I do not see many of them becoming devoted FANS. Therefore, I've conclued that developing a strong "fan page" is no longer worth the effort.
Since then I find that my own use of FB in general has dropped way off. I've simply lost interest in it.
Diane - 14 years ago
I have a page & note on the weekly update that few choose "Like" & many more chose "Become a Fan". I know the change is confusing...
Annie - 14 years ago
I miss my fans. Fans were people that engaged with my products and endorsed them. Likers might just think the page looks pretty. Having 'xxx became a fan of xxxx' in a profile clearly pushed more people to check my page out, now... meh...
If someone "likes" your page, what do you call them? "Likers?"
I'm a "not liker" of this change to bland.
Andrea - 14 years ago
Like is too diluted becoming a fan is a truer endorsement of brand, organisation or cause, as such it supplies more of a mandate of support than just 'liking' something.
beth - 14 years ago
"like" isn't overly committal. whereas "become a fan" makes me feel like a groupie; like I'm joining a club, which is too much.
I think that Like was a step to right direction, but it still isn't good enough. Something similar to Twitter follow might do the trick, or if we Page admins could choose our own wording for it...
Patrick - 14 years ago
I manage 14 pages for clients, some large some small, all took a remarkable flatline the week like was introduced. Some have recovered some have not, but none are at the level of new fans/likes that they were at before. Overall the engagement in our pages has also dropped way off. Again it looks like people are getting comfortable with the new format but not at the level they were prior to the "like" changeover.
I like Blogger and Twitter's "Follow" .... do you follow what I'm saying ? Do you follow my blog, do you follow my tweets ?
In the olden days if we liked something, we would "Recommend" it to someone else.
Why not "Recommend" ? Do you recommend this comment ? If so - you will Love my Blog.
For sports clubs/professionals, the change from "Become a Fan" to "Like" has proved to be very damaging. Many more people 'like' clubs than are true 'fans' of clubs and this is now proving difficult for clubs to achieve real cut through and value from their posts. An example is Liverpool Football Club posting a video news item and 300 comments coming back saying 'Go Reds!', 'Hope you win tonight' etc. which doesn't even relate to the video.
If Facebook truly is a marketing tool then surely they should cater for all needs rather than trying to provide a 'one size fits all' solution such as "Like". Why not provide options related to the type of Fan Page being created? "Become a Fan" for sport, "Like" for brands, "Follow" for people etc.
Which would you rather have: True/Raving Fans or Lukewarm Likers? Another stupid move towards mediocrity and blandness by Facebook. There's already enough bland in the world. Goodbye, Facebook.
I prefer Fan. It's much easier to ask someone to become a fan of your page versus "will you like my page". What do you call someone who likes your page - are they still a fan or a liker????
"Like" and "nice" are such bland terms, it's almost the same as not saying anything. As a brand manager I'd rather have a "fan" than a "like". Perhaps multiple levels are needed to reflect the various levels of commitment a consumer has to a brand/page.
The business owner in me feels like it's a shady, underhanded way to get more followers to my page. The consumer in me agrees.
I really dislike the new terminology. It confuses the pages and it's hard to use. What is a fan page now? A like page. I agree with what a previous commentator said that it would be much better to use follow, but it still makes describing one's business page awkward. I have several different pages on facebook and help others with theirs and it's frustrating how things keep changing. There are so many glitches and it's not user friendly or intuitive at all. I'm pretty computer savvy and often have to dig for something that a week ago, I knew where it was. Getting the code for the "like box" especially, has been acting strangely. As it's all still free, I guess we shouldn't complain, but if we have a voice, I would like to see another word used instead of "like".
I like "Become A Fan" way better than "Like". Recently I became a fan of writer/director Tyler Perry's Facebook page, and now it says that I "like" Perry. That sounds a bit weird, so I'd prefer if we went back to me becoming Perry's "fan" instead.
"Like" is awkward when you're wording a call to action, but "fan" has difficulties as well. Who wants to be a "fan" of a politiican they don't agree with but wish to keep informed about? And who wants to "like" a page about a serious disease? Anyone know of one word that means "pay attention to" or "take notice of"? (Should "follow" be out of the running because of Twitter?)
I think 'like' is fine. It's less of a commitment that being a 'Fan'.
Although, you may find many people don't like change (pardon the pun) as they're familiar with the term and know what happens when you click the button.
Even though 'like' has no different functionality (as far as I know), they'll still prefer 'Fan'.
FB ain't worried about this, I'm sure. There's always a transition period with a change and everything'll be fine once everyone's used to it.
I guess I'm in a minority that actually likes 'like'. I think it lowers the entry for less committed users to express interest in what you're promoting. Essentially they are warm leads. Once they've liked you the tricky bit is giving them content that will take them the next step - to become a fan. And they don't need a button to do that. They'll know they are a fan when they become one!
For me, the verb "become a fan" is better than "like."
It comes down to:
Can you "fan" my page v. can you "like" my page?
Don't forget to "fan" my page v. Don't forget to "like" my page.
Like is lame. When I have a product or service that I am marketing I want to know who is in my constituency - I want to know who is a fan.
Do I like Joe's Diner? ??? No, I am a fan of Joe's Diner because I like the steak sandwich. See the difference?
Bring back the Become a Fan button.
How the heck do I invite someone to 'like' my fan page?
"LIKE ME!" sounds rather meretricious.
And, will it soon be called a Like Page?
Become a Fan may be too much of a commitment for some people so they don't click. Like is less of a commitment. But I think the problem is that Like is being used for everthing on FB - photos, articles, comments, pages, badges - so there is no disctinction of interest. When I join a page I want people to know I'm a Fan. I don't just "like it," I'm a fan of it. If the Like button is suppost to get more clicks because it's more generic, I don't think this will generate more clicks for pages. Like may work for photos and articles. But when Pages lost its I'm a Fan endorsement, it lost something important. The Like button is a "leveler;" it makes all things on FB equal in value.
Why not just do both. If you like something click the like button. If you want to become a fan click the fan button.
But of course there will be someone out there that then wants a dislike and hate button as well.
If you walk, just walk. If you sit, just sit. Just don't wobble.
"Like" is such a weak term. If "fan" is done away with, at least give a "really like" option for those that are a little more passionate about a brand/person or item.
Click like
Click Digg
That's about the same.
Click Fan... You like me, you REALLY like me.... you will most likely come back to me again.
Some people who have reached the friend limit on their personal pages are uncomfortable with the "Fan" language, so "Like" is a little softer, but I think the comment that suggests Page Admins can come up with their own wording, or at least have a choice of a few options that might be appropriate for the various types of pages that exist, is a good idea. We LIKE having choices - shared control is much more fun than feeling controlled...
When I started to Like things it tricked me into following those pages. Which really sucks because I did not actively want to 'become a fan' of that particular thing. From what other people are saying in these comments it would seem that this is a common experience and that it has had a negative effect on fan pages as a whole!
I can see why brands would think that this is a good thing. They just need to post one thing that someone 'Likes' and they are in that persons news stream from then on, or until the user realises and 'unlikes' that option.
Either way I think it was a little underhand and is another move by FB away from what the users want to what Businesses wanting to access the hugely powerfull and valuable trapped network of FB users want.
BOOOOOOOOOOO
Why couldn't we have both offering different degrees of committal. You can like something in passing and you can also be(come) a fan which gives page owners/brands the ability to differentiate between both and the user to declare their degree of excitement (or lack of) about that brand. Ideally there would be 3, loath, like and love which allows the end user to express themselves and brands a means to indentify their loyalists and their high risk/high reward opportunities. Just a thought...
Liking something is only marginally better than indifference actually. 'I 'like' Thai food'... so what really! 'I LOVE Thai food'... wow get me some of that... 'I like you Zuck' ...great how nice! (Get a life...) 'I LOVE you Zuck'... wow we really have bonded! (Not such a bad guy after all) ... I don't want to drown in a sea of 'likes', it's just so meaningless... Kill it now along with privacy, corporate integrity, the free internet and the right to own your own persona anymore...
"Like" makes for some very awkward wording in promotional materials, etc.
"Like" is just so much simpler, and nicer. One smart syllable to capture it all.
Also, you may be a fan and still dislike- but if you like, you ARE a fan
I feel that Facebook pulled the carpet out from under me. I was just in the midst of devoting a lot of time developing my Fan Page. Then the change. While I can see people clicking on a LIKE button, I do not see many of them becoming devoted FANS. Therefore, I've conclued that developing a strong "fan page" is no longer worth the effort.
Since then I find that my own use of FB in general has dropped way off. I've simply lost interest in it.
I have a page & note on the weekly update that few choose "Like" & many more chose "Become a Fan". I know the change is confusing...
I miss my fans. Fans were people that engaged with my products and endorsed them. Likers might just think the page looks pretty. Having 'xxx became a fan of xxxx' in a profile clearly pushed more people to check my page out, now... meh...
If someone "likes" your page, what do you call them? "Likers?"
I'm a "not liker" of this change to bland.
Like is too diluted becoming a fan is a truer endorsement of brand, organisation or cause, as such it supplies more of a mandate of support than just 'liking' something.
"like" isn't overly committal. whereas "become a fan" makes me feel like a groupie; like I'm joining a club, which is too much.
Like is already too generic.
I think that Like was a step to right direction, but it still isn't good enough. Something similar to Twitter follow might do the trick, or if we Page admins could choose our own wording for it...
I manage 14 pages for clients, some large some small, all took a remarkable flatline the week like was introduced. Some have recovered some have not, but none are at the level of new fans/likes that they were at before. Overall the engagement in our pages has also dropped way off. Again it looks like people are getting comfortable with the new format but not at the level they were prior to the "like" changeover.
To me "like" is a relatively milder term when compared to "become a fan". I can like a brand or its products but am not necessarily a fan of it.