The Difference Between Facebook "Likes" versus "Talking About This"

[OnsiteDetailing]

What is a party like if a lot of people show up, but no one is engaged with each other? It sounds like a boring party, doesn’t it? I hope the information I share will help you to increase your social marketing efforts on Facebook.

The number of “Likes” on a Facebook page is important. Another important number is “Talking About This.” “Likes” means that someone clicked the “like” button once. This person liked your page, but may never come back. “Talking About This” is the actual number of people who are engaged and interacting with your Facebook page.

In terms of numbers, look to see that the number beside "Talking About This” is at least 10% or higher than the number of “Likes.” So, if a page has 155 “Likes,” the “Talking About This” should be 15 or more – the higher, the better.

Several factors increase your page’s “Talking About This” number, such as comments, sharing posts, posting on a page wall and the number of “likes” to that post, answering a question or survey, and writing a recommendation. If you have a fixed site location, have people “Check In” when they drop their vehicle off to be detailed. You can also offer Facebook exclusive offers and when people claim that offer, they are engaged.

AND GET THIS – even if a person has not “Liked” your page, she or he can still become engaged in your content and increase your “Talking About This” number. This is because of how Facebook connects people. People do not have to “Like” your page to engage with it, although they may potentially become a "Like."

As the number of people engaged with the content on your page changes you will see the "Talking About This" number ebb and flow. The number of “Likes” you have is in real time, meaning that as soon as a person “Likes” your page, the number increases instantly. “Talking About This” tracks engagement on your page over a period of about seven days, so there is some lag behind the time people are actually engaging on your page and the number that you see.

To keep people engaged it is important to be continuous with your postings. Remember, however, that the content needs to be engaging. Posting once or twice a day is usually enough, but be careful to not be the person at the party that talks too much because you do not want your followers to shut you out. Too many post can drive people away.

Once you have your Facebook page set up, you can track a lot of information from the Page Insights section. You can even find out the time of day when most people are engaged with your page.

On the Autogeek forum there is a thread titled, “Facebook users start "like"ing our pages” (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...our-pages.html). I find it fun to “Like” another’s page and anxiously wait to see if someone “Likes” mine. What is more important is that I "or we" engage with each other’s posts. This is how the “social marketing” in the “social networking” world will actually help to expand awareness of our businesses. The level of engagement detailers have with one another’s sites can stimulate business.

Happy social marketing.

[zmcgovern45]

Good info!