By now Facebook users should be used to change. After all, they seem to go through some change every few months, from privacy settings to news feed displays, Facebook users have learned to expect the unexpected. And while the urge to resist the change is always there, faithful users adjust and move on, still utilizing the awesome features this popular social networking tool has to offer.

The most recent change, however, can have a positive effect on businesses if implemented properly.  Businesses can now more than ever, connect with users on a dynamic level with the new “Like” icon. The “Like” icon replaces the recent fan pages and option to “Become a Fan”. This could potentially become an awesome cross selling tool for businesses. Facebook developer tools has created the Open Graphic Protocol which allows businesses to generate a custom “Like” icon that has authentic meta data that is specific for each page or product.  The “Like” icons can be added to any or all pages of a website, and when users are on that page they can click “Like”, which in turn connects them directly to their Facebook account, and sends a feed to their homepage on Facebook that says “So and So likes ISOCNET’s “whatever you put in for meta data here”. Make sense?

If not, think about this. We have an ecommerce store- let’s use Custom Wine Online as an example (this is one of our current customer sites we are working on). CWO requests us to put a “Like” icon on every product page. We place the icon someplace visible on the page and apply meta data that is very specific for that product. Let’s use the product “Cabernet Sauvignon” as an example. I click on “Like” (see the box below)- it logs me into my account (without actually taking me to Facebook)- and displays on my feed for ALL my friends to see “Jamie Brumley likes Custom Wine Online’s Cabernet Sauvignon”.  Now that’s what I call- Insta-Advertising!

You can also use this as a social media icon, so it doesn’t have to be page or product specific. The sky is basically the limit for this little widget! In consulting my clients on web design and development, I really thought that Facebook was a dying trend for businesses. I have been patiently waiting to see what they come up with next. Upon learning about this new tool, I have to admit it’s ingenious! And while I know the frustration from users strongly exists (since this applies to more than just business websites- and really displays anything a user likes for all of their friends to see) I believe they will begin to embrace the change and use the “Like” feature more often than not. After all, we are so quick to tell the world what we are having for lunch, or how little Susie did on her spelling test, so why not share our favorite movies, beverages, or clothes we like?!  Will your website and product be the next to be shared amongst the 400 million + users on Facebook today?


Statistics anyone?
Check out this fact: Since Facebook announced the new "Like" feature during the 2010 WWW Conference a couple of weeks ago, over 50,000 websites have already incorporated the new icon. Well known sites that are using the “Like” feature include:

Sephora
IMDB
Simply Hired
ABC
Levis

Ready to get started and add the Facebook icon on your site?
Check out Developer Tools for Facebook to learn more, or call one of our Account Managers today to talk about your options 859-525-8730.
http://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/like