I’ve been wondering about this myself. What’s the difference between
inviting people to your website or facebook? Is it that much easier
for people to share the info? Don’t “fans” still have to decide to
look to see what’s new? If yes, why is that different than looking
at your site? Is it kind of like…already being in a shopping mall
and going into the next store as opposed to having to decide to go to
a specific store and making the effort to go there?
Old school, Marianne
Marianne Hunter
http://www.hunter-studios.com
Marianne, I think it’s about ‘virtual’ friendships replacing 'real’
friendships. But then, I could be wrong.
The only answer I’ve gotten was "It’s a way to reconnect with people
you ‘slept with’; or maybe it was people you didn’t ‘sleep with’ in
high school or college.
“Cui bono” as they used to say. It could be some emotional return or
it could be some slight financial return. In my questioning of people
I haven’t received a satisfying answer.
With some younger people it could be “because everybody else is
doing it”. Although I’ve heard from informants that that is no longer
the case because their parents have joined FB; that’s a signal to
move on.
KPK
Okay Marianne - here are some answers to your questions from my
perspective:
-
What’s the difference between inviting people to your website or
facebook? Many people are on facebook daily anyway - talking to
friends, keeping in touch with distant family, playing games… so
it is easy for them to check their page info. Not like they have to
make a decision to go check your website just in case you have
something new up. When you post something new they get a message in
their pages section telling them what you posted.
-
Is it that much easier for people to share the info? Yes. Many
posts you can just click “share”, and what your friend or page posted
then goes out on your feed… and then if that person’s friend likes
it and clicks it goes out on their feed… and so forth. So the
potential to reach lots of people you don’t know and who don’t know
you is definitely there. With a web site, someone would have to
decide to go to your site, then decide to take the time to write an
e- mail, then send it to their friends… who then have to decide to
send it to their friends… more work, less chance of it happening.
Plus people make “friends” on facebook WAY beyond what they have in
their e- mail address books! I have hundreds of Facebook “friends”
around the work who are NOT in my e-mail address book!
-
Don’t “fans” still have to decide to look to see what’s new? If
yes, why is that different than looking at your site? Is it kind of
like…already being in a shopping mall and going into the next
store as opposed to having to decide to go to a specific store and
making the effort to go there? Exactly!!! They are already in
Facebook, and they can check their fan pages, check their friend’s
pages, share interesting posts - all from the place they already are.
Plus, often you share something and get immediate feedback from
“friends” - who have clicked “like” or who have made a comment. So it
is immediate gratification if you will… an interaction with
others.
It is incredibly fast and easy to update photos or add events to
your Facebook page(s), plus you can invited your Facebook friends or
fans to events. And often they will come!
Beth Wicker
Three Cats and a Dog Design Studio
http://bethwicker.ganoksin.com/blogs/
Yes, it’s different than a website. You should just sign up and
observe a bit. People see their friends latest comments and links
each day. Something sent via a fan page is also seen. It’s a bit like
reading a forum every day, but with pictures and links. It’s very
short-lived. Most people don’t look back more than a day or two.
It’s just a place that more and more people go to each day. I"m
finding I use email very little for friends and family now, as most
are on FB and check that more often.
-mLu
With some younger people it could be "because everybody else is
doing it". Although I've heard from informants that that is no
longer the case because their parents have joined FB; that's a
signal to move on.
I have Facebook friends ranging in age from mid-teens to the 90’s.
Yes, you read that right! Most of my fans on my fan page are adults,
middle age and up, although I do have fans going down into the teens.
Facebook is definitely NOT just for youngsters, and the ones buying,
in my experience and hearing from others, are NOT the youngsters.
I was on Facebook quite some time before my teenage daughter ever
joined it.
Beth Wicker
Three Cats and a Dog Design Studio
http://bethwicker.ganoksin.com/blogs/