In fact, stop asking everyone.

Those ‘likes’ you are getting? They’re worthless. Worse, they could actual hurt your efforts.

If you haven’t decided I am completely off my rocker and are still reading, I’ll explain why (and it might just make sense – and what if I am right?)

Back when Facebook launched pages fans HAD to like a page to comment. You needed likes and asking was the best way to get them.

After the requirement to like pages for engage was dropped, likes still mattered. Those who liked your page saw your content. You WANTED likes and again, asking was the best way to get them.

Fast forward to Facebook’s big algorithm shift in 2012 and more so to the one in 2015. The changes meant an individual liking a page would not be guaranteed to see its content. Facebook’s decision to ‘restrict’ or ‘chose’ what would be seen meant likes have far less value.

Less value but not worthless.

I did say likes were worthless, but that is not entirely true. They still have an iota of value.

Page likes still mean the opportunity to get your content seen in the news feed (though there are better ways to get visibility), so you still want them. The difference now – you no longer want to ASK for them. Why? A little something called ‘relevance’.

Timeliness. Shareability. Relevance.

Facebook determines what shows in a fan’s feed based on 3 factors: Timeliness. Shareability. Relevance.

There are effective tricks to get around the timely and shareable factors. There is just no way around the relevance issue. Your content, at the time it is posted, is either relevant to your audience or it is not.

So how does Facebook determine what is relevant? Data. They have data. They have it and lots of it. Most of it we willing provide.

Those lists of books, movies, sports teams, etc you like? Facebook combines that information with your actions – what you like, what you comment on, pages you like, what you search for, who you are friends with, what you share – and then adds in everywhere you go on Google (there is something called a tracking pixel website owners can add to allow Facebook to track visitors to their pages for ad targeting – but it also means Facebook knows your every move).

All of this data means Facebook knows your habits, interests, needs, wants and who knows what else, at any given moment. Content that fits this ‘profile’ is considered relevant and will (potentially) be seen.

At a bare minimum, asking for likes is worthless.

Why?

I will place bets that most of the people you ask to like your page do so as a courtesy and I am willing to bet you do the same.)

  • They do not or will not find your content relevant organically
  • They do not or will not find your content relevant based on Facebook’s profile of them.

Those fans you asked to like your page? They will likely never see your content. Period.

So why even bother asking?

I get the ‘more likes look better’ factor, the ‘feel better / ego’ factor (‘yay, I’m loved’) and the ‘credibility’ factor – more fans makes the brand look better.

Of course it is nothing more than window dressing. If more fans does not equate to more visibility and interaction – it is nothing short of a vanity number. Why even put effort into something of little real value?

Besides, wouldn’t you rather know earn likes because your content has merit rather than out of courtesy?

The real pitfall in asking.

Facebook’s algorithm, like Google’s, keeps changing to prevent gaming the system. They want engagement and interaction to be purely natural and organic. Asking for likes is not organic! Yes they allow it – because they do not care if you invite others for whom your content is truly relevant.

Joe, I am inviting you to my page. After speaking I think my content would interest and might be of value to you.

That’s great.

Joe, I met you last week at a networking event, will you like my page?

Not so great.

Beyond not great – it is actually bad. Very bad.

What do you think Facebook sees when you invite 100 people (or everyone you meet) to like your page when they know your content is not relevant to them?

Me? I think they see you trying to game the system – exactly what they are trying to prevent.

Asking for likes from everyone could actually preventing content from being shown to those who WOULD find it relevant!

While they won’t blacklist your page…..there is no doubt in my mind they are blacklisting your content. I have admin rights on 25+ pages. I know which page owners ask for likes and which follow my line of thinking. Anecdotally, I can tell you, those who ask see lower overall reach.

Granted this is just my theory and I cannot prove it, but….What if I am right?

With content already not likely to be seen by fans and the possibility that you could be doing harm asking for others to become fans, why even risk it?

And why would I like your page when asked if I already know the content is not relevant knowing it COULD hurt you?

Besides, if the feel good /ego factor is in play, I’ll personally tell you it feels far better getting likes without asking.

Your thoughts?