January 25, 2013

Anything for a Like?

"I'm looking for some likes."

"If you like my page, I'll like yours in return."


I see requests and offers like the ones above all the time on Facebook. Every time I see this, I have to wonder, what's the point? Do the number of likes really matter that much? What purpose does it serve having people you don't even know liking your page? Why would anyone blindly agree to like someone's page whose work or product they know nothing about in exchange for them to like yours, whether they know anything about you or not? Do appearances really count for that much?
Someone help me out here; I really can't wrap my brain around this type of thinking, and I'm seeing these types of requests more and more frequently. Amazon's taking the number of likes into consideration when determining whether a a book will or won't be a recommended purchase has only added to the wild solicitation for likes...but whatever happened to honesty and sincerity? Surely there are others besides me who only want those who've actually read and enjoyed my books to like my publisher page or my page on Amazon?


I have about 320 people who like my Facebook publisher page, but every one of them is genuinely interested Bunderful Books, because I have only approached those Facebook friends whom I don't know personally (whom I presume befriended me because they've read my books) or those whom I do know who read my books. What do I care if I come off looking like the proverbial red-headed stepchild no one wants to play with? For me the key word is genuine.  I want the diamonds.  I'm not interested in cubic zirconia.

Do you think it's better to have 1000 or more likes from people who couldn't care less about your product, or 100 likes from people who have an authentic interest in it?

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I don't exactly understand the like fests either. Would rather have actual readers of what I've written.

Anonymous said...

Whew! I feel cleansed. Because of your post I went through the pages I "liked" on FB and got rid of perhaps 30. That number also included Bunderful Books. I've read a couple of your posts before and you seem to have a habit of throwing around numbers. Paraphrased: I have this many likes, I've made this much money through ebooks, etc. Just something about your posts leaves a bad taste in my mouth each time I read them. So thank you for giving me the notion to clean up my "likes" because it gave me the opportunity to get rid of yours.

Ka'Lu said...

I'm with you. I want people to be sinvere and genuine. When I am researching a product, be it book, movie, or appliance, I read actual reviews. I could care less how many likes or stars there are. I think if you truly want people to know your experience and share your enthusiasm, you have to give specifics, not just likes.

bettye griffin said...

Thanks, Brian and Ka'Lu!

Anonymous, the number of people who have told me my posts have helped them far outnumber yours. But obviously, given the way you feel I am "throwing numbers around," (I spoke of my earnings in one post in which I explained why I no longer do print) and my posts leaving "a bad taste" in your mouth, you clearly shouldn't be a fan of Bunderful Books. I understand I'm not going to be able to please everyone. I feel cleansed as well to know I've unloaded some negativity. All the best to you.