The Social Part of Social Media: Part 2 – There are no shortcuts; Do NOT buy Likes or Followers

It seems like a good idea to promote your author Facebook page, but should you?  Well if you are thinking about purchasing likes for your page or paying Facebook for promotion – the answer is a definitive NO. 

It sounds very tempting, who doesn’t love the idea of rapidly gaining hundreds or even thousands of likes for your page.  You pay for an add and suddenly you feel like Sally Field at the Oscars “They like me, they really like me” (hopefully you are old enough to enjoy that reference)

But beware – purchasing followers of any kind can do more harm than good.  Once you decided to click that button to promote your posts or purchase those ‘fake followers’ your numbers may take a big jump, but almost none of those followers are actually interested in you and what you have to say.  They are even less likely to be potential future customers of your books. 

Facebook is actually an incredibly sophisticated program that chooses who gets to see your posts, based on all kinds of data including the amount of engagement your page typically gets.  Those fake followers may inflate your overall number of likes, but they actually destroy your percentage of followers who are genuinely interested in your posts and who interact (clicking like or commenting or sharing your posts).  That percentage of engagement is actually a primary factor in Facebook determining who gets to see your posts.  Lower engagement reduces how often your page is featured in the news feed of your followers.  So even with more followers your Facebook is now less effective at sharing with others.  This doesn’t seem right – but it is very strategic, because now Facebook can sell you more services to boost your posts. 

In terms of growing your Facebook numbers, organic growth is best.  Continue to connect with other authors, share your Facebook page info on all of your other social media and slowly build up a following of people who are genuinely interested in what you have to say.  This is the most effective way to grow your presence – Shortcuts usually come with a price and in the case of Facebook, shortcuts can actually be harmful.  If you really want to grow your Facebook numbers – ask people to come follow you. 

Did I mention - Please “like” me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LaurieWJN 

If you missed it - In Part 1 of this series we explored making your Facebook author page and how to begin connecting with other Authors and writers in the writing community (http://lookingonthesunnyside.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-need-to-be-social-on-social-media.html)