3 Important Things About Facebook ‘Like’ Button
Posted by Ching Ya | Posted in Facebook, Social Networking | Posted on 21-04-2010
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‘Like’ is dominating our Facebook account today! Apparently the transition has started since yesterday, some said the button was pulled shortly after launched but as of today, a majority of fan pages had undergone the new changes. Facebook wants us to learn more about it but ends up putting more question marks in our heads. We had a heat discussion at the fan page last night about the new feature. Then this morning prior to log in to my Facebook fan page, there I saw the brand new ‘Like’ button sitting comfortably on the landing page:
You know what that means don’t you? Welcome page customization – a redo!
But before that, thought I share with you a couple of things first:
#1 What Exactly is this ‘Like’ Button anyway?
i) A Friendlier Call to Action
To Like a fan page means a connection forms between you and the page:
“When you click “Like” on a Page, you are making a connection to that Page. The Page will be displayed in your profile, and in turn, you will be displayed on the Page as a person who likes that Page. The Page will also be able to post content into your News Feed.“
There will be no more egoistic phrases such as ‘Be my fan’, but a humble-ish ‘Like my page’. Facebook claims this to be a “light-weight and standard way” to connect with people. This generic term is highly potential to bring you extraordinary results (so much for the wordplay). To some extent I agree with this as we are so used to give thumbs-up (like) to the links and comments of our friends in Facebook. It’s our nature to build relationship and supporting one another as a Facebook enthusiast.
ii) A Connection between Profile to Fan Pages
According to Facebook,
“Connecting to Pages will now be the main way to express yourself on your profile.”
A more accurate, personalized Profile can be created based on your connections with the fan pages. Instead of the previous random Bing search results, now your Likes & Interests are connected with valid links to Community Pages and Fan Pages you participated in. Think about the exposures and support you can give to your favorite fan pages by determining which to be shown publicly, even your own! All in all, Facebook is encouraging info disclosures – the more you’re willing to share, more sociable you can get with fan page suggestions coming your way.
Suggested Read: Facebook to Link Profiles and Pages
#2 What Happened to Our Fans Box?
Since yesterday, I have noticed the below transition for my fan page. Facebook has renamed the ‘Fans’ box as ‘(number of) People Like This’. As you can see during the preliminary transition, we cannot access our complete fan list while the ‘Edit’ pencil is not functioning at all. Later, Facebook finalized the transition by removing the ‘Edit’ pencils and retrieve the ‘See All’ feature (thank God!). And just for the record, none of these will affect our interactions with fans – ‘ Send an Update to Fans’ is still working fine till date.
So to clear your doubts about the new terms:
People Like This = (old terms) Your existing Fans;
Friends Like This = People in your friend list (personal account) that fanned this page … opps! I mean, ‘Like’ this Page. This is similar to ‘Common Friends’ in your personal account, which can be a major influence to one’s decision in Liking a page.
Still confused? Wait till you see the Facebook wall on personal account. Noticed the identical ‘Like’ symbols? From now on there will be no ‘Become a Fan’ symbol so you will need to read carefully to distinguish which are fan pages updates. User friendly? Not so much.
#3 Our Fan Status on Fan Pages We ‘Liked’?
Remember the time when we can see ourselves listed among other fans in other fan pages? There is currently no active link for us to access the complete fan list (‘People Like This’). The ‘See All’ option is only visible to fan page admin.
Fortunately, there is a workaround for this thanks to Peggy‘s brilliant suggestion. In case you’re looking for like-minded people to connect in a fan page, here’s how you can access the complete fans list:
1. Use the Facebook ‘Search’ box and key in the page you’d like to check on the list. For example, I’m looking for fans list for Social Media Examiner. Click as indicated to display the results:
2. Look for the targeted fan page and you will see the Fans link is still active here. Click it to bring up the fans list dialog box.
‘Like’ Button to Go Global?
It is predicted that Like button will be used outside Facebook to encourage info-sharing and data collection for developers. There goes another contender for Digg and Twitter, but how is it any different from Facebook ‘ Share’ button? Users behavior can be tracked even outside Facebook with Like – now that’s a valuable asset. One thing for sure, Facebook is evolving fast preparing itself to a much bigger picture. Just how serious this ‘ Like’ button can get, we’ll leave that to time and upcoming Facebook announcement soon. In the mean time, would you be kind enough to Like my page? 
Now Is Your Turn…
How do you plan to adapt your networking goals with this new implementation? Are there any pros and cons you would like to point out? Fire away.
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Great overview! But too much new stuff all at once.
I’ve noticed on pages like yours that have the widget the widgets aren’t saying that I already like it – it doesn’t seem to remember that I was a fan. I’m not sure if it’s a glitch but it’s a little disturbing to thing that I might need to re-like everything that I already fanned.
Kim Woodbridge´s last blog ..Giveaway – Win Any Three WordPress Themes from Templatic
Hi Kim,
Thank you for dropping by.
I believe it still remembers our fan status on the page since we still able to receive the status updates. My guess is due to a glitch, unfortunately there’s no way to confirm that except to wait for Like to get past its adaptation period.
I’m still waiting for the Profile-Fan Page connection dialog box to appear, any luck?
I noticed that on another site where I knew I was a fan… the button is blue when you’re a fan, white if you are not. I thought I was a fan of one site but their widget still just said like, so I clicked it, and it went white which I guess removed me, and then I clicked it again to be a fan and it turned blue. That’s what I gather is the indicator if you belong or not.
Kristi@Blogging Tips´s last blog ..Top 5 Social Media No-No’s To Get Away From
Another one those things that will further “confuse” me while using FB. Can’t seem to get a handle of all of FBs features. Liking is similar to Buzz’s like I think. We’ll see how it goes. Me? I like this post, so RT on the way:) Have a nice day Ching.
DiTesco´s last blog ..Five Elements In Deciding On A Blog Theme
DiTesco,
The Like function is similar to both but with a slight edge of viral potential for FB. Let’s say if you’re an influencer with a huge friend list, once you Like something it will be published on your friends news feed –> draw them to the site & if some Like it too –> further passing on the message via news feed, and it could go on and on.
Thank you for your kind RT, it’s always a pleasure to have you here.
Well … I came here to ask what the heck is the difference between “friends” who like this and “people” who like this, but you explained that pretty well
Any word on the ability to change the URL? I’ll never get 25 fans now on a few fan sites
HART (1-800-HART)´s last blog ..WHS Ad – April 21, 2010 – Please Adopt Me
HART,
Glad I squeezed in the info in time.
You should be able to change your URL once you hit that 25 ‘Likers’ mark, I believe? How many you have now? I thought all your fan pages are all secured with vanity urls? Let me know I’ll give them a shoutout & we’ll check if the username works.
Thanks so much for commenting, always enjoy you participation.
It shows today on my fan page box that I am displaying on my blog! so I just hit it with out knowing what it is
of course I like my blog lol!
Thanks for the good information, nice post!
Hesham @ FamousBloggers´s last blog ..How to Add Social Bookmarking Image Buttons and Speed your Blog
Hesham,
I’m glad you’re enjoying the post.
I think the Like button will encourage us to share info while at times, liking our own blog too. ha.. It’s starting to feel like Twitter in here.
Do have a pleasant day! It’s a day of ‘Like’-ability.
Awesome information here Ching Ya! Thanks for doing all the hard work of putting this post together!
Kevin@ShootingtheBreeze´s last blog ..Get a Firm Grip
Kevin,
Most welcome my friend. I’m glad I got in the discussion with the page supporters that the idea sparked for me to write about this. So I owed them a lot in this.
That’s the magic of connections so I’m really hoping the Global-Like button can do some good in spreading good messages.
Appreciate your support always, Kev.
Excellent post Ching Ya!
You’ve explained this all so nicely. Like most changes, we’ll make the adjustments but you have to wonder where they we heading with this.
Thanks for this post. FB should thank you as well for clearing up their confusion.
Jimi Jones´s last blog ..The Perception Game – How Your Brand Can Be Created by Others
Jimi,
I hope you’re right (that they’ll offer me a job as thank you).
Can’t blame the girl to dream big once in a while. Truly appreciate your comment and I like you mentioning ‘we’ll make the adjustment to the changes’. At this stage, this is all we can do. ^^
See you around & thanks so much for the input.
interesting.. thanks for sharing and explain in details regarding the changing of the “be a fan” to “like”.. now i understand better =)
kenwooi´s last blog ..Kek Lok Si Pagoda So High!
Most welcome, Ken.
Nice seeing you here again, hope all is well for you. Enjoying the Facebook experience? Hope it’ll help in your blogging as well. Appreciate your visit.
Hi Ching Ya, earlier today I was searching for a way to put the Like button on my blog. I see you’ve figured it out. So, you can probably tell what my next question is…How???
Jonathan – Advanced Life Skills´s last blog ..Allow Gratitude to Transform Your Life
Jonathan,
No problem, the answer is on the way. I’ll be writing a follow up to this post, thanks to your quick request. Do stay tune. If you’re in a hurry, send me a message & I’ll provide you the details asap.
Thanks so much for commenting.
Hello, Ching Ya!
First things first: you are officially my go-to person for Facebook technology news. This post is so instructive and I love how you have “before” and “after” screenshots!
Second: did you discontinue the Facebook Comment plugin? No biggie, just curious about your thoughts on the plugin.
Third: The Like button is brilliant. By replacing one semantic representative with a more familiar substitute, the site gains a bit more cohesiveness.
I love Jimi Jones’ musing, above: “…where are they heading with this?” C’mon, Jimi, everyone knows FB is a tool if the CIA!
Cheers,
Mitch
Mitchell Allen´s last blog ..How To Secure Your Personal PC
I have to second that…..you are definitely my “go to ” Facebook person. I’m learning that I need to use your tips quickly …. the last ones I have stored hasn’t been looked at again and now you’re illustrating updates to those.
Gotta keep up with you, Lady!
Great teacher, thanks.
Kissie´s last blog ..Crusty Elbows
Mitchell,
You are too kind, it’s comment like this I got encouraged and wanting to provide more value.
Thank you so much.
Regarding the FB connect it’s still here, but as predicted by Mashable Facebook will kill it soon for OpenGraph. More updates on this matter soon. So do stay tuned!
Kissie,
You are always so sweet.
Thank you dear friend, I’m still a student (yet a teacher) but sharing notes. Facebook is racing to be no.1 so gotta keep up with its pace. I just hope you guys won’t get fed up with Facebook updates continuously here.
*hugs*
I kind of like the new LIKE link instead of the Become a Fan one. I think it’s more friendly and also cool to say you have 1000 people who like your blog rather than the “as u said it” egoistic “I HAVE SO MANY FANS”…IMPLYING “hey i have more than Mr X etc”.
Kurt Avish´s last blog ..5 tips for a busy blogger
Kurt,
Welcome and appreciate you dropping by.
I’m really looking forward to see how ‘Like’ is going to outperform ‘Become a Fan’ in coming months. May time be the judge. Although I have to admit, seeing ‘Like’ went global sure is encouraging.
I think I’ll wait to get used to it before I start using it. I’m still getting used the old stuff, let alone all the new ones:-)
I ‘liked’ your page. The only thing I’m worried about is that one may not get a good indication of how readers actually benefited from their stuff. People will start ‘liking’ only to get their pictures all over the place.
Hopefully, this won’t take the place of commenting and feedback.
I know of some people who’d just quickly retweet rather than leave a thought-out comment on a post.
Anne Lyken-Garner´s last blog ..Use Your Blogger Nav Bar: Share On Google Buzz
This is a good point you raised, Anne. I think people can still see the benefits of commenting despite Like is another indication how social media web has evolved and will continue to make sharing all the more easier. To really make an impact and connect with people, there’s no stronger way than words and personalized messages. Commenting will stay, even if we may need to remind our readers to do so from time to time.
Thank you for this valuable input.
You just clear so much thing but yet I can’t say anything until I use it for a week. A week use will give me a decent picture in this issue and hope it will come out with some good result.
Arafat Hossain Piyada´s last blog ..Download Zemana AntiLogger with free 3 years license key
Arafat,
Looking forward to hearing your experiment with Facebook ‘Like’. We’re all anticipating for a good result out of this, since that’s all we can do – embrace and make full use of Facebook however we manage. Thanks so much for visiting.
I don’t get it; why all the fuss and controversy of a word change – fan to like – is it really more then that?
Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Theme Customization 4 – NEW Social Media Icons & RSS/Newsletter Subscription Box(s) Coming – You Need to Settle an Argument!
Dennis,
Looks like the decision is final with Facebook, kindly refer to #1 for the answers.
Thanks for visiting.
I was merely referring to the insane amount of “controversy” over 2 little words. LOL
Not just here, but on almost EVERY blog I read; a lot.
I guess I’m missing how whether or not someone is my fan or likes me is going to change my life in some astronomical fashion.
Dennis Edell @ Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Comment Contest: 5 Days Left!
Facebook never fails to amaze me, they keep improving and improving.
This reminds me — I have not been on my page for a long long time!!
xoxo
P.S.
Facebook fans will wait for you.
(as per my latest poem — oh the one that’s showing up in Comment Luv here!)
Jannie Funster´s last blog ..____ will ____ you (a poem)
Jannie,
I think you can really make full use of your Facebook.
Setting up a fan page for your music career will be fabulous, I’m sure many would love to know there’s a jolly Funsterland. ^^ I’ll be glad to help out anytime too.
Appreciate your continuous support for this blog, Jannie.
I think like buttons for facebook fan pages is a bit misleading and i guess, people will get updates just for liking something which can be considered spamming.
Besides that, facebook likes for content is a really good move and is one thing which will become popular
Gautam Hans @ Blog Godown´s last blog ..The “4 Move Checkmate” of Blogging
Gautam,
That’s true, whether to make it a tool to build oneself or another way around, it depends on how it is used. It will take more than just quantity alone to determine the true quality of a content now. Hopefully we won’t ever wish to filter our ‘Like’ just because it is getting overwhelming. Let’s give it a chance as in Retweet in Twitter. *finger crossed*
Thank you so much for visiting.
I really enjoyed this change. I think it makes it easier for people to actually want to become a fan. Many people have a problem with the word “fan” so I think this is the reasoning behind them deciding to change.
In the end tit’s getting better. I still haven’t created a page but definitely plan on doing so soon
All the best,
Eren
Eren Mckay´s last blog ..Inspirational Parenting – The Way I See My Calling as a Parent…
It’s good to hear you’re putting Facebook in your future plan, Eren. This new change might do more good than we think, hereby wish you a great success in your blogging & Facebook experience as well. *hugs* Appreciate your comment. ^^
Thanks Ching Ya for this update..
Yeah it is a bot confusing at the moment.. But we will get it … I Like .. Like.. tehe..
And I did Like your Like/Fan Page.. so hope you Like mine .. tehe..
Cheers.. Are
Are Morch´s last blog ..Smile.ly – Social Media Marketing on Steroids
Hi Are,
Sure thing, Liked.
Thank you and I appreciate your kind support always.
I have several levels of like.
1. I genuinely like you. And if a day passes by without me knowing what’s up with your world, I’d be hopelessly morose.
2. I like you but for some reason I can’t live reading your emo updates 24/7. Here’s praying you don’t spam me.
3. I like you, and for the sake of world peace, I’m willing to hit that like button. But I sincerely hope you and your updates stay in your own corner of the woods. Once in a while, if that can be arranged.
So these concerns can still be preserved as far as FB like feature is concerned?
Maybe. But one thing is sure though. That’s a gold mine right there in user data and preferences. And given FB’s record of handling user privacy issues in the past, I’m not sure I like it.
Jan,
I do think data collection is the main reason of such changes. You’re right, comparing to how Facebook was originally designed, this is another new resolution to embrace the open web. Standing in the viewpoint of personal use, I would like to see how Facebook persuade its users over time that no privacy concern is needed. We’ll see.
Thank you for visiting, my friend.
Thanks Ching Ya,
I’m still a bit confused on the ‘Friends Like’ and ‘People Like’ area. When I click on the ‘People Like’ people, I notice that some of them are my personal ‘friends’ too. Confusing….
I posted a link to your page on my Facebook! =D
I think the change made a lot of sense. I personally didn’t have a problem with the term “fan”, but I see how some people may not have liked it.
kosmo @ The Casual Observer´s last blog ..What Does Mitch Albom Know About Fantasy Baseball?
Hi Kosmo,
Welcome back, nice seeing you again.
Absolutely, it’s not just about the change of name, but also a challenge to make sure new users will understand Like is just as important as ‘fan’, supporters and how a click can make a difference to that particular content and most of all, a fan page. ^^
Thank you for dropping by.
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Great info. I wasn’t sure I liked the “Like” but its growing on me. Thanks for the sharing all the ins and outs
Ralph´s last blog ..How to Keep Promises to Yourself
Yes I liked the article and pressed Like, will now see what happens on my Facebook feed!
Jörgen Sundberg´s last blog ..Personal Branding: the UK Experience
Thanks for the heads up Ching Ya i believe Facebook is keeping up with the socail networking worlld by not letting the site goes dormant changes or good even if it is controversial at times.
lawmacs´s last blog ..A New Social Bookmarking Site Itrackthatsite.com
Hi Chingya
Very descriptive and interactive post
Very soon as you said Share button will be replaced by Like button and hope to see you first notify about it
Sunil Jain@Tech18´s last blog ..[How To] Boost your Old posts with Twitter in WordPress
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I’m not sure how I feel about Facebook’s most recent updates. I also noticed a “Like” button a Youtube recently. I personally didn’t mind the “Become my Fan” before.. I can see how it would be somewhat egotistical, but I hadn’t really thought of it that way before. I feel like all of these social networks are trying too hard to compete against each other, and the end result is needless updates and changes. Just my $0.02.
Ryan Cowles@Metacom Creative Design´s last blog ..Metacom Newsletter and Invoice / Resume Redesign
Just wanted to say thank you for the info – much of it is over my head, I’m not good with Facebook. But you’re right, this “like” feature not only enables more people to share your work, but gives powerful information to companies, as you note in your concluding remarks.
I’ll have more to add once I come up with a strategy for getting people to “like” my work.
ashok´s last blog ..The Passion of Politics: “Pamphleteer,” The Weakerthans