Why Do We Follow/Like Brands on Facebook?

Recent research by Facebook’s rival, Google, has shed some light on why we follow (or “like” as the new terminology would have us say) brands on the social giant. It also suggests that over 50% of people in the US don’t follow any brands at all!

Of the people asked, it appears that a quarter have an ulterior motive and like a brand to receive discounts and promotions. The second most popular reason is because the individual actually likes the brand and wants friends to see this.

“Consumers are looking to receive promotions”

Both of these reasons should help shape a social media campaign for small and large businesses. As ruthless as it may seem, offering regular promotions and discounts to fans of your brand will help to improve popularity and ultimately gain traction with a greater audience.

Heidi Spector of the Google Retail Team suggests that social media campaigns should be realistic to their objectives and if this is to increase followers then promotions and discounts is the best approach. She said:

“So when developing your social media strategy, keep in mind that consumers are looking primarily to receive promotions, with secondary goals of learning new information first and being entertained”

To speak with a home james campaign manager to understand how we could help implement an effective social marketing strategy for your company, please get in touch with us.