Comments on: Notes on ‘Like’ (and why Nike got it wrong)

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 08:25:01 +0000

Hey Asi,

Great article and thanks for mentioning my blog! Likes are nice, but not when they come at a price (perhaps I’ll trademark that). I wrote a follow up post about your point here: http://coziggy.com/inspiration/to-like-or-not-to-like-now-an-ethical-question

By: To “Like” or Not to “Like”? Now an Ethical Question.

To “Like” or Not to “Like”? Now an Ethical Question. — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:47:01 +0000

[...] been some recent grumblings over certain uses of Facebook’s new “Like” button for fan pages, but none more [...]

By: Tal

Tal — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:29:57 +0000

Two thoughts:
1. I think its all boil down to pre/post purchase decision. Either you blindly LIKE me before you know what I’m offering or you LIKE me because of what I’ve done.

Nike is indeed the cool kid, people indeed blindly like it. The problem with this approach is that the cool kid is using this unconditional liking. It takes for granted the LIKE for it. This could only result in a future disaster, as the cool kid lives on past successes rather than in humility, earning people appreciation time and time again.

Nike just turned from an athlete to a jock

2. The evolution of Like –> Love. I see a future where a user has two options. Either Love or Like. I can love (something like being a fan) or I can just Like what I’m seeing.

made me think. cheers

By: asi

asi — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 05:45:16 +0000

@Dan
thanks for stopping by – totally understand the followers growth opportunity (cynically, opportunism)

I’d probably advise my client to act the same

@Sam
I, like you, would LOVE to see some numbers – how has that symbolic downgrade in commitment changed the volume of interactions.

@Andy
now that’s a forced-tweet value transaction I would consider clever. I’d love a bit of personalisation too.

By: andy

andy — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:13:29 +0000

And what about ‘pay with a tweet’ http://www.ohmygodwhathappened.com/about.html

Now this I think is totally reasonable. And quite smart.

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:24:12 +0000

Facebook certainly knew what they were doing when they changed ‘Become a Fan’ to the less committed, but more devious ‘Like’. I wonder how many more ‘Like’s’ brands are seeing compared to ‘Fans’ they were accumulating previously? I’d imagine more. This means there is more chance of brands deeming their Facebook pages a success and of importance, and hey, maybe even spending more money on ads on Facebook pushing people towards them.

So, maybe ‘Like’ is good for Facebook and good for the targets of marketing teams (even if the metric becomes slightly tainted), and maybe users don’t mind if they can ‘Unlike’ easily enough. But then again maybe ‘Like’ will soon mean little, and a new level of ‘Love’ will need to be introduced to bring back that adoring, exclusive, member of a club feel – maybe with added benefits for these Lovers.

I don’t see ‘Like’ disappearing anytime soon though. The word has taken on a new lease of life through Facebook if anything.

See. http://www.wearenation.co.uk/2010/06/the-like-button-stamp/

By: dan

dan — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:55:58 +0000

Very interesting post. Agree with lots of it. With the change from ‘Fan’ to ‘Like’ the same behavior got a new description. And therefore is interpreted as a new behavior. The intention was to grow the group (you could still argue cynically) more than force people to announce their affection. It’s maybe the bluntness of buttons.