Do you think many Facebook likes will generate more revenue for your business? It is not easy to increase your Facebook likes today for your Facebook page organically. It can take a lot of time, effort to research, and advertising money. However, should you buy Facebook likes?
When Facebook Pages first came out everyone was doing what they could to obtain likes for their business pages. Some would offer things for FREE if you liked their page.
Others would hold a contest. Others would buy Facebook likes for their business pages.
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Do Likes Generate More Business?
Everyone wanted to make money off their Facebook pages but now it might be easier to make money listening to music.
Facebook Page Likes With Millions of Likes
Take Tai Lopez for example. He has over 6 million likes today on his page. He is a public figure that trains people how to have a good life through his videos and seminars.
One of his recent video posts which was pinned had 1.2 million views with 35,000 likes and 1549 shares and 863 comments. Another post with a quote and no image had 701 likes and 25 comments.
Another video post had 17K views with 595 likes and 20 shares.
As you can see from the above example the organic reach of Facebook Page posts is 1-2%. I would guess that the pinned post was either boosted or paid for by the ads on the network.
Facebook has come a long way since those early days with its Facebook page for businesses.
Facebook Likes Today
Today the measurements are different for Facebook pages as the algorithms have changed. Now, it’s more about the engagements that a Facebook page gets from its posts. It is no longer all about the Facebook business page likes.
When you see people sharing your Facebook posts that is like having ads on the network of the biggest social networking site.
Today a good Facebook page makes a business look more professional. Having many Facebook page likes is not a bad thing.
For example, if you reach only 1-2% of your audience organically the higher the page likes, the higher that number will be. It’s all based on math with the algorithms.
Of course, you can pay to play on Facebook. And I do recommend that if you are a business. Even Coca-Cola still advertises today. Cola-Cola has 107,904,589 likes and 8,731 visits as of today September 17 2018 on their Facebook page.
As the old saying goes: “Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing, but nobody else does.” – Stuart H. Britt.
Engagement Is Key On Facebook
Engagement on your Facebook business page is also a key to having others see your posts. Many clients I meet with don’t realize they can interact on their page with other pages.
This means you can comment, like, and use the emoji’s symbols on other Facebook page posts.
When you do this, others will see your branded Facebook page along in the comments. That’s a FREE branding opportunity.
But use it wisely, don’t be one of those spammers or fake followers out there. Think strategically about which other pages you want to like and interact with. Be genuine with this tactic or it could backfire.
I always prefer to collaborate vs. compete with others in a similar niche. You can also choose businesses that you do business with, etc. to engage with. That’s why it is called social media!
The New Pay-to-Play Model On Your Facebook Page Today
Facebook is now making billions of dollars per quarter on advertising. Yes, that is billions per quarter. This past year was $153.76 billion per year on advertising.
If businesses were generating revenue off their Facebook business pages without advertising Facebook would not be making that much money today. They were smart.
Facebook built up its user base and businesses wanted to reach these users via ads on the biggest social network.
Can You Buy Facebook Likes?
In the old days of Facebook, you could easily buy Facebook likes. Today it is not as easy. I’ve seen some ad spends not generate as many like as they once did.
You can pick and choose an audience. Why waste a Facebook ad budget on people that don’t live in your market?
But if your Facebook page is new I still recommend that you buy Facebook likes to get your page started with an audience.
Inviting People To Like Your Facebook Page
Of course, as an administrator of your own Facebook page, you can invite your friends to like your page and I strongly recommend you invite some.
Be choosy depending on what type of business page you have. You don’t want to invite your negative Nellie relative who will comment negatively on every one of your business posts!
Facebook Page Boosts – Are They Worth It?
Ironically many small businesses think that boosting posts is advertising. It really isn’t. Boosting your Facebook page posts is paying to get in front of your audience and their friends with your posts.
However, it can be a great way to generate some engagement on your Facebook page today. But, remember only 1-2% of your total audience sees any of your Facebook posts without a boost.
But, think about this: If your followers and their friends can see your posts, could the post go viral? The more Facebook page likes you have, the higher the chances are it could!
So, I do recommend boosting your posts on Facebook today. (People must like your Facebook business page before they can follow it. Those that also follow it may see your posts more).
New Ways of That Boosts Work Even Better
Today Facebook has gotten smarter with its boosted posts. When others see your posts and don’t like your page, Facebook now sends you a message. Yes, and you can easily invite these people to like your Facebook page on your mobile or via desktop. I LOVE this feature.
Now, I LOVE how Facebook interacts with its business page admins and editors. I think after a few lousy advertising quarters they are really reaching out to business page owners directly.
(In the old days of Facebook, you had to have a strategic relationship with them, which cost lots of money.)
No more. It’s like Facebook is drinking its own juice when they interact with their Facebook pages.
Some of you may remember me talking about getting an email from Facebook to set up a meeting on Facebook ads. It was the best meeting I’ve had. They gave me specific info I could use to do ads for clients.
If you get that email, do respond! If you missed it – it was on my last post about Facebook pages and the new services tab.
Facebook Ads Today Have Come A Long Way for Pages
Facebook ads today have come a long way. Today Facebook ads are like Google AdWords as they are based on an auction. Therefore you pay based on what the market can bear.
A newer feature of course, is the use of AI for Facebook ads. They train the AI from everyone who uses Facebook.
They know what people like and want to buy. You must have seen ads following you around from a conversation you have had on or off the network?
There are many formats to choose from when generating Facebook ads. First, they are video ads, and second, carousel ads that show several images in one ad scrolling.
Meanwhile, the targeting capabilities are amazing. (except for the real estate category which has left little targeting capabilities.)
No doubt that was the real beauty of doing Facebook ads – real targeting. Recently, Facebook got hit with a scam from data that was used.
You may remember the Cambridge Analytica news. Facebook was sued for $725 million dollars. (If you haven’t signed up for your settlement money, learn more here.) Since that time in early 2018, some of their targeting capabilities have changed especially for the real estate category.
But along with it, Facebook changed things up once again.
You Can View Other Facebook Ads
If you are logged into Facebook and are looking at anyone’s Facebook business page, on the left-hand area of your screen you can see Info and Ads at the bottom.
See the example here from Coca-Cola along the side. This is because Facebook had to be transparent with its advertising after the Cambridge scandal hit.
Do you think Coca-Cola still needs to advertise? They have been around forever but yet they still continue to market themselves today.
Yet, they have over a million Facebook page likes and they still advertise on the Facebook social network. If that doesn’t make you think, I don’t know what else would!
So, think about this when you do ads for your Facebook page. Everyone can see your Facebook ads including your competition.
Does it change what you may advertise? That really depends on your business and the competition.
I would not let this stop you from using Facebook ads but do give them a little more thought with this Facebook feature.
However, you do not see boosted ads for those that buy Facebook likes.
Facebook Ad Rules
Facebook is constantly changing the rules for creating an ad. Each ad must include so much text vs the image area. Facebook will let you know that your ad has not been approved.
Recently they have changed this. But only 20% of your image should have text within it. Any more than that the ad and it may not work as well.
Many small businesses today are hiring others to do their ads for them as it has become a real-time sucking chore for them. Even for them to buy Facebook likes with boosted ads becomes more complicated.
Facebook Video Has Become HOT!
In fact, many ads today on Facebook contain video. These compete with Google with Google’s YouTube channel.YouTube is the 2nd largest search engine in the world today.
Now, Facebook has Facebook Live which uses video to communicate between users and their audiences. Many bloggers today are using this as a tool to generate a larger audience.
Donna Merrill has been doing a terrific job at this recently. It’s a great tool for small and large businesses alike to take advantage of at no cost (yet).
You can even schedule them in advance now if you are fearful of the LIVE factor. I would recommend you let people know prior to the time you will go Live. (Marketing, marketing, marketing!)
Videos are generating the most engagement on Facebook today. The latest numbers show shorter videos do best and you may want to include close caption text under/on your video as many don’t want the volume up watching videos at work and other public places.
Reels have really taken off on the Facebook platform and generate many Facebook likes.
Hubspot marketing analyzed data on their Facebook videos and found that one-minute videos worked best for engagement. They went on to say 95% of their viewers had the videos on mute. Imagine, 95%.
Your video has to show what you mean or have the words below it to be effective today.
Facebook Business Page Workaround for Live Video
Now, you can’t do Facebook Live from your Facebook business page but they are testing it in beta and it’s available to some on their mobile devices.
The workaround is using your Instagram business page stories and sharing that with your Facebook business page. (I feel another post coming on about Instagram soon!) If you want to get started today with Instagram check out this post for Instagram basics.
Facebook Likes with Ad Retargeting
Facebook also allows retargeting ads on its networking site. So when your customers leave your website a pixel follows them around on Facebook reminding them to come on back to your website.
They may have left a shopping cart without purchasing or viewing other items on your website. Just be sure to have the Facebook Pixel installed on your website.
Click here for directions on how to install your Facebook pixel from Facebook.
Look Alike Audiences
According to Facebook, a lookalike audience is a way to reach new people who are likely to be interested in your business because they’re like your best existing customers.”
Facebook goes on to explain more about look-alike audiences:
When you create a Lookalike Audience, you choose a source audience (a Custom Audience created with your pixel data, your mobile app data, or fans of your Page) and we identify the common qualities of the people in it (ex: demographic information or interests). Then we find people who are similar to (or “look like”) them.
You can choose the size of a Lookalike Audience during the creation process. Smaller audiences more closely match your source audience. Creating a larger audience increases your potential reach but reduces the level of similarity between the Lookalike Audience and the source audience.
We generally recommend a source audience of between 1,000 to 50,000 people. Source quality matters too.
For example, if a source audience is made up of your best customers rather than all your customers, that could lead to better results. You can also create up to 500 Lookalike Audiences from a single source audience.
No wonder people are hiring others to do their Facebook marketing, it’s not so simple.
Dynamic Ads
One of the newer ad formats now on Facebook is called “Dynamic Ads”. These ads look like other ads on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Audience Network.
However, instead of individually creating an ad for each of your products, you create an ad template that automatically uses images and details from your data feed for things you’d like to advertise.
Dynamic ads use your Facebook pixel or SDK to show ads to people who have already shown interest in your business by taking actions you care about on your site.
These ads are great for businesses with products. You do need a Facebook business manager account and must set up your account for these dynamic ads. Read more on their Facebook help page for dynamic ads.
The Future of Facebook
At this point in time the average user today is 40 in the United States. The age of the average user has been going up as more and more people over 40 are getting on to Facebook.
The younger folks today use this network less and go to Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Kik and Snapchat.
One other thing to note with Facebook is that the average user also checks in 8 times per day. That’s 8 times in one day that they look at their Facebook account.
Wouldn’t you want your Facebook page posts to be seen in the sea of Facebook posts? Generating more Facebook page likes will help with that if you follow some of the tips above.
The hottest trend to hit the social network today is reels. They are similar to Instagram reels but appear in the Facebook stream.
I know my husband is addicted to watching short-length movies in the app. It has its own stream today.
Bonus Facebook Page Tips:
Another thing I’ve learned from clients is many don’t realize there is an app for your business’s Facebook page. If you have an iPhone mobile device click here. Or, if you have an Android device click here for the play store.
You will not be able to do everything from it but at least 90% of things for your page can be done from this app on your mobile device.
It’s a great way to respond quickly to comments, etc. When you do, you the get respond fast button on your page. This button once achieved can go away when you don’t keep up with responses though.
But keep in mind customer service on Facebook is HUGE. This page’s app will help you manage that from your mobile phone.
Facebook Stories
This newer Facebook feature called stories is not used by everyone yet but people are loving opening your stories for FOMO. Yes, Fear of Missing Out!
The stories rage started over on Instagram a few years ago and now Facebook seems to have more people using stories today than ever before.
Today in 2024 they seem to have taken over the old post feature and more use them as they are front and center on the feed.
How To Hide Likes On Facebook
Facebook also offers the option to hide likes on Facebook so people will not see the few Facebook likes you have.
This also allows your audience to focus more on the content, photo, and videos that you share on your page.
You can also hide the pages you have liked on the social network so others won’t see them and try to use them against you.
Conclusion: Facebook Page Likes
Facebook likes alone won’t fill your pockets, but they sure can boost your brand’s visibility. They increase your page’s credibility and attract more organic traffic.
Your next move? Start converting those likes into leads by engaging your audience consistently. Are you ready to turn those thumbs up into real business?
