The Monetisation of Facebook Likes Explained

One of the main complaints we have read is the increase of advertising through others in Facebook. There has been an exponential growth in seeing friends ‘liking’ a brand or product.

Many users aren’t happy with it, but most brands are. As an example, in the same day I saw these two comments in my feed:

From a user:
“Down Arrow -> Hide -> Hide all posts from [Samsung, Samsung USA, Samsung Mobile USA, Samsung]. I get that fb is free and advertising is its main source of revenue. But ease up a bit on the unrelenting spamming ads from the same vendor, eh facebook?”

From a Facebook marketing agency:
Posting a Business Insider interview on the same campaign…

You can see the problem, can’t you… on the one hand the users don’t like it, but advertisers are seeing the rewards.

Why Are These Appearing?

There are three main challenges which Facebook have been facing up to:

  1. Monetisation: It is no accident in timing that this activity has started in earnest since Facebook has floated on the NYSE. The early share drops have been down to concerns about Facebook being truly able to realise the income and value in every member. We are all ‘valued’ at about $80 by Facebook, but we don’t pay for the service so they need to realise this value somehow.
  2. Mobile: Facebook knows that mobile is (and will continue) to dominate Social Media use. Currently smartphones dominate mobile access with small screens giving limited viewing space. The only way in which to realise the mobile opportunity is by placing advertising into people’s home feeds.
  3. Marketing: The first form of advertising on Facebook down the side of the page has disappointed. The aim was to make it as effective as Google Adwords and yet, given the amount of traffic to the pages, it has performed badly. Facebook has tried a variety of ways to improve this, but with very limited success. Ultimately, they realise they need adverts in user feeds to have people click on them.

So, What is Facebook’s Advertising Solution?

Facebook are testing advertising in your feeds to deal with these mobile and marketing challenges. They have some posts which appear as adverts, but are also trialling automated recommendations: if a user has ‘liked’ a page then it will appear in your feed if the brand has paid to advertise to you. They can see that the power of a ‘like’ and personal recommendation improves performance.

Facebook has gambled that your desire to remain within their platform is greater than your frustrations with such activity and, as you get used to these methods, then they gain acceptance. They have some problems, and it certainly has not been plain sailing.

Firstly, there is a lot of user dissatisfaction with this, just read your feed! Many users are threatening to quit… although most complainants generally don’t leave.

Secondly, people are getting repeated ‘like’ messages from the same users where the advertisers’ budget is much greater than the number of users who like them. So, if only one of your contacts ‘Likes’ Samsung, but they have a big advertising budget, then you will see the same user liking Samsung again and again in your feed.

How Can I Stop Them?

There are really two issues here…

How Can You Stop These Marketing Messages?

You cannot stop them overall (whatever you think your legal rights are, you have accepted Facebook’s Terms). The user quote earlier in this post shows how to hide repetitive marketing messages from brands. When you see one on your computer, click the down arrow (top right) in the post, choose ‘Hide’, then remember to click the link ‘Hide all messages from [brand]’. We’re not sure about on the mobile app, these options don’t seem to be here… let’s hope they’re coming!

You will need to do this for every brand, so there is not a single opt out, nor do we expect Facebook to come up with one.

How Can You Stop Your Name Being Used?

The second issue is hidden from you: your name, your personal ‘brand’ is being leveraged to your friends through Facebook. You don’t know how often this is taking place, or two whom it is appearing, but if you like a brand which advertises on Facebook, then you are almost certainly being used in this way.

The best way to deal with this is by doing some pruning. Just click on your profile, choose your ‘Likes’ box and unlike all the brands you no longer want to use your name in this way. Note that some of your likes are hidden by the year in which you liked them. So go back into the past and make sure your likes are brands you genuinely like today!

We have not yet found (as has been claimed) that Facebook are faking likes and doubt that this is happening because it would create uproar. So check first, and ask others when you see a promoted ‘like’ from them whether they are aware and happy for this to be occurring.

What is the Likely Future for Facebook Advertising?

That really depends on their numbers and how this is performing for them. There is little doubt that if this doesn’t work well then they will need to make some substantial changes. The two areas Facebook will look very close at are Advertisers and Users.

Advertisers have already had their fingers burnt by Facebook deliberately reducing page reach to the users who liked them, mainly to setup this new advertising initiative. Brands who spent millions on gaining Likes are feeling very sore as the goalposts have been moved.

So, it is important that they get this right and prove it works for brands otherwise, without advertising spend, this initiative will fail.

Users who are not happy about this need to respond. Opt out of these messages, remove all the ‘likes’ you have accumulated over the last few years. Use Facebook less often if you can. Or, if you really are against this, then quit – leave Facebook altogether.

You have these options, and you can be absolutely sure that Facebook will watch this in detail too. The fewer likes, the more opt outs, a reduction in user numbers or usage will ring alarm bells. Rather than complaining, act on it!

Ultimately, however, we know that their aims remain. Whilst we have seen a few posts from users who would be willing to pay for Facebook without adverts this would be a last resort as it would end up creating a two tier service. Therefore it is likely that this kind of solution is here to stay. Facebook may tweak the frequency, but they know that the main way in which they can monetise their users is through advertising in user feeds.

As an online marketing business and Facebook users, we have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand we do believe that effective marketing involves reaching audiences some of whom will ignore or dislike the activity.

On the other hand, this is blurring the boundaries of marketing: this is not genuine, real endorsement of brands – this is using people unwittingly to advertise services for profit. There is good reason why the press needs to highlight bought placements in print as ‘Advertorials’. Facebook should do the same.

Let Others Know!

If you would like to share this article, then please use one of the social sharing buttons below. We think that informing Facebook users of exactly what is happening is the least you can do! Many thanks.

Achieve Growth That Works

Examples Of Our Create Work

Branding Flexspace

Building a Brand

Flexspace was a merger of a much smaller business and an established portfolio of commercial spaces. It needed a modern brand which combined some of the palettes of the established businesses, but also developed something fresh for future marketing.

The combination of blue, yellow and white is strong and yet flexible, offering a distinctive and confident brand, whether on a billboard or website.

A Fluid Solution

Taking on an unexpected full rebrand in thirty days was not necessarily part of the remit, but we’re always up for a challenge.

New iconography in place with a subtle and yet distinct nod to hydraulics and the ‘D’ for Domin. We also founded and formed a proper brand book to ensure that consistency remains in place for cross-media activity.

Branding Domin

Examples Of Our Video Work

Video Unloq

It's a Big Deal

When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, clarity of message and presentation is paramount. We worked closely with the client, writing a script, choosing a voice-over artist, stitching together images, video and illustrations.

The two videos were short enough to share on social media, but professional enough to take pride of place on the website – raising the profile and credibility of Unloq and with more to come.

Set Sail

With such an amazing range of locations, catamarans and experiences, Nautilus gives us an extravagant range of media to work with. Yet, we never forget the purpose.

High-quality enquiries booking premium courses to learn how to become a skipper. That’s what it’s all about.

Video Nautilus Sailing

Examples Of Our Ads Work

Ads Chargebase

Charging Up

With a number of local teams, we needed to come up with an ad strategy that ensured that the value of the job, and the journey time would make profitable commercial and residential enquiries for Chargebase.

A lightweight, geographically tight, precisely worded set of campaigns was plugged into the business. And the lights went on!

Filling Work Spaces

With 50 locations, an average of 100 units per location and four different types of units, with most being filled by short term tenants, we needed to create a flexible advertising structure that would work for Flexspace.

Every month we switch regional, location, unit and specific promotions on across the board to match the tactical advertising from their in-house team. Their website is the single largest lead driver in their business. You’re welcome!

Ads Flexspace

Examples Of Our Websites Work

Websites Chargebase

Powerful Presence

It’s always exciting working on a new venture. Chargebase has developed a direct-to-market proposition for car chargers, as well as a turnkey approach to home electrical work.

From developing their branding, building two distinct websites with two different online lead generation strategies, we have worked with the management team to launch a one of the South East’s leading EV specialists.

Making Connections

We have moved HCL from an expensive exercise in bug-fixing of two frustrating shopping sites to a rapidly growing successful online enterprise.

There are two brand new shops, generating four times the revenues of the previous incarnations, as well as a lead generation website covering their offshore and seawater protection systems for wind turbines, electric cables and offshore constructions.

Websites HCL Fasteners

Examples Of Our CRM Work

CRM Toynbee Associates

Building Business

The practice had just recruited a manager and was looking to bring together all their enquiries and proposals into one place. We recommended, configured and launched a CRM for them that gave them visibility over all their leads.

As they developed their services, and added to their team, we let them adapt and shape the process to remain ahead of the pack.

Good Prospects

With a growing sales team, and a range of clients and business partners with differing demands, we needed to not only store records, but also to drive the business forward.

We set up the various Opportunities, Tasks, Tracks and Tags to match the way in which the business went about the value chain and to segment their prospects and customers. We imported all the data from their previous CRM to track and store everything. We helped with adoption, and now no lead or opportunity goes to waste.

CRM Unloq

Examples Of Our Communicate Work

Ads Chargebase

Charging Up

With a number of local teams, we needed to come up with an ad strategy that ensured that the value of the job, and the journey time would make profitable commercial and residential enquiries for Chargebase.

A lightweight, geographically tight, precisely worded set of campaigns was plugged into the business. And the lights went on!

Filling Work Spaces

With 50 locations, an average of 100 units per location and four different types of units, with most being filled by short term tenants, we needed to create a flexible advertising structure that would work for Flexspace.

Every month we switch regional, location, unit and specific promotions on across the board to match the tactical advertising from their in-house team. Their website is the single largest lead driver in their business. You’re welcome!

Ads Flexspace

Examples Of Our Content Work

Content Nautilus Sailing

On the Right Tack

It’s too easy to be carried away by the lifestyle and adventure of the Nautilus crew, from the Pacific to the Med, they deliver award-winning sailing experiences.

However, we are not helping them sell holidays, they sell skipper courses so that clients can sail their own yachts and catamarans. So the content is geared around this. It’s still beautiful, but it speaks to the right audience.

Perfect Platform

What is there not to love about kids and garden play? The photos are great, settings wonderful and the structures are pretty awesome. But, to be honest, you can’t have photos of children included and then all the structures are based around the same ‘ingredients’.

So, you need to become storytellers, as tree houses and adventure play is about the joy and fun to be had by small and large adventurers as their ideas spark into life. It’s the story we tell!

Content Gardenatics

Examples Of Our Organic Work

Organic Flexspace

To Another Level

Having worked with Flexspace on two iterations of their website the biggest challenge has been leveraging their sites and types of property to build a range of keywords to reach business owners.

Whilst the first website was effective in building traffic, we learned so much from that process that round two (six years later) was another step uo. Structure and internal linking was optimised for a wide range of relevant keywords which built a steady flow of converting organic traffic to Flexspace.

Organically Sourced

In my line of work, each visit is valuable due to the specialized nature of the field. Instead of prioritizing quantity, we put more emphasis on the quality of inquiries.

Through our analysis, we identified specific keywords that were highly effective in generating leads for Nautilus. To capitalize on this, we created two separate websites catering to different audiences and tailored them to different sets of keyword clusters.

Organic Nautilus Sailing

Examples Of Our Lead Generation Work

Lead Generation Chargebase

Charging Forward

It should be simple to find leads for EV charging in the South East of England, but sometimes what looks easy is, in fact, a real technical challenge.

Firstly, whilst there is a lot of searching for EV points, we only want to target those who want an installation. Secondly, we also need to avoid congested areas where there is only on-street parking. Finally, they had a preference for commercial, not residential installations.

Not so simple, but we plugged away and found a steady flow of electric leads.

Enquiries Ahoy

Having worked with Nautilus Sailing for over ten years, through three websites where we developed and optimised a highly effective lead generation system, we have helped them grow from two locations to eight. From two instructors to a team of ten.

They focus on running the finest skipper school on the planet, we get them the customers who want the best experience.

Lead Generation Nautilus Sailing

Examples Of Our AI and Automations Work

AI & Automations Unloq

Enhancing Connections

Storing business data is easy, it’s tough to make it accessible as and when it is needed. We worked closely with Unloq so not only do they track all projects, contacts, businesses and introductions, but also these are all within reach. Company records are enhanced using API and AI technology.

We have also joined up digital signing, mailing data, contact records, online dashboards and project tracking to make sure that all is synchronised and efficient.

Build Smarter

An engineering firm wanted to build business but also be equipped to grow. With a new practice manager in place who was committed to digital transformation, we integrated CRM, task management and project tracking systems to create a system that works for them.

It now tracks quotes, commissions business, pushes through deadlines, keeps clients aware of progress and helps them deliver high quality structural engineering projects on time and on brief.

AI & Automations Toynbee Associates

Examples Of Our Branding Work

Branding Flexspace

Building a Brand

Flexspace was a merger of a much smaller business and an established portfolio of commercial spaces. It needed a modern brand which combined some of the palettes of the established businesses, but also developed something fresh for future marketing.

The combination of blue, yellow and white is strong and yet flexible, offering a distinctive and confident brand, whether on a billboard or website.

A Fluid Solution

Taking on an unexpected full rebrand in thirty days was not necessarily part of the remit, but we’re always up for a challenge.

New iconography in place with a subtle and yet distinct nod to hydraulics and the ‘D’ for Domin. We also founded and formed a proper brand book to ensure that consistency remains in place for cross-media activity.

Branding Domin

Examples Of Our Convert Work

Websites Chargebase

Powerful Presence

It’s always exciting working on a new venture. Chargebase has developed a direct-to-market proposition for car chargers, as well as a turnkey approach to home electrical work.

From developing their branding, building two distinct websites with two different online lead generation strategies, we have worked with the management team to launch a one of the South East’s leading EV specialists.

Making Connections

We have moved HCL from an expensive exercise in bug-fixing of two frustrating shopping sites to a rapidly growing successful online enterprise.

There are two brand new shops, generating four times the revenues of the previous incarnations, as well as a lead generation website covering their offshore and seawater protection systems for wind turbines, electric cables and offshore constructions.

Websites HCL Fasteners

Examples Of Our Social Work

Social Gardenatics

Quality Posts

Tree houses and climbing frames are really easy to share, every family loves some active play. However, for Gardenatics we needed to make sure that we selected the right strategies for the right platforms.

In particular, the Pinterest channel we created for them gave great scope and leverage for the brand, as photos of builds were pinned far and wide and, given the bespoke nature of the constructions – future customers knew the best brand to help them with their garden was, of course, our client.

Raising the Standard

With Nautilus the content is amazing, with videos and photos of the most amazing destinations. The temptation is just to use the eye-candy and forget the reason.

The secret to our work is selling the ‘why’ first. The dream of adventure, of being your own skipper, of choosing your trips, of seeing that first dawn on an ocean where it’s just you, the GPS and a destination over the horizon. That’s why they sail.

Social Nautilus Sailing

Examples Of Our Ecommerce Work

E-Commerce Nautilus Sailing

Another Class

Whilst Nautilus is setting the standard for real-life skippering courses, they recognise there is a substantial audience for online learning.

Having established their new website, we integrated their online courses and set up several routes into registering or trying their online masterclasses as well as tracking paid enquiries into the system to measure relative performance.

Manning the Pumps

If you’re challenging an established industry where cost, supply chain and value is a mystery, then what better way to differentiate than do the opposite.

We created transparent pricing, clear discounts, delivery expectations and global dispatch. Each product had about a thousand combinations, so clients could order exactly what they wanted.

E-Commerce Domin

Examples Of Our Customer Success Work

Customer Success Flexspace

Prefilling Space

Offering short leases and contracts to small and startup businesses leads to challenges for Flexspace. Every unit is up for renewal every year. Furthermore, with standard attrition within small enterprises, there is always space coming available.

Yet, with a building database and a ready list of prospective, as well as existing clients, we have advised them on systems and strategies to convert more of their database and to see problems for fill rate before it becomes a critical problem.

Making Sales Buoyant

With a growing reputation, but skippering being seen as a one-hit sale, it seemed that repeat business would be a challenge. However, Nautilus had two strategies we were able to support with very effective marketing campaigns.

Firstly, they now have an Alumni network called ‘The Tribe’ who regularly go on flotillas with each other, coordinated by Nautilus. Secondly, they have catamaran deliveries where different teams are assembled to take their boats point to point, often across oceans – another level of experience!

Customer Success Nautilus Sailing

Examples Of Our Systems Work

IT Systems Unloq

Positively Paperless

Our client had already adopted some systems, and whilst using cloud-based technologies, it was still mainly mail, calendar, documents and spreadsheets.

We worked closely with them first putting in place a CRM, then a no-code platform to run their projects and have continued to make them more efficient, paperless and collaborative than ever before.

Navigating Technology

When we initially worked with Nautilus, they had grown successfully on an inbox and a spreadsheet. For a small business, that makes sense and keeps it simple, but it becomes harder the more conversations, quotes and bookings are managed.
It became clear that they needed to collaborate and track more.

With an envious Tripadvisor rating, their customers expect the perfect experience. Having scoped out their requirements, we helped them choose the right CRM and then helped scope it out to fit their needs perfectly. Now their office team of four can work together, using a range of communication channels to get the job done.

IT Systems Nautilus Sailing

Examples Of Our Analytics Work

Analytics Flexspace

Unit Measurements

One extensive website with an enormous range of pages and content, where offers adapt every month to the demands of the clients, and capacity changes meaning that conversions never stay the same.

So, we report and analyse every month, understand how the different areas of the website are performing, receive briefings from our client and adapt for the month ahead.

On the Right Track

Two websites offering a wide range of services, where quality leads are of high value, but there are large volumes of time-wasters, it is vital to ensure that every lead is accounted for.

Our ‘secret source’ for them tracks from Ads, Organic, Google Analytics 4 and in their CRM to make sure that we know exactly the cost of every good opportunity. In that way, we can flex accordingly.

Analytics Unloq

Examples Of Our Graphics Work

Graphics Unloq

An Acquired Taste

Mergers and acquisitions marketing imagery rife with stock photos of business meetings, office blocks and cityscapes. But Unloq is different. The name is the focus: to unlock opportunities, unpick information and open up value for clients.

So the imagery is simple, clean and relates to the process of unlocking rather than the environment. We recommended striking black and white imagery that nails the brief, engages the viewer and turns attention to messaging and actions, whilst complementing the brand palette.

Creatively Constructed

Structural engineering is a challenging sector to visually attract as well as get a message across. The process is dry, technical … and when being installed is just plain muddy.

However, the end result showcases the hard work that has gone before. Beautiful outcomes are the result of painstaking planning and meticulous production. We use imagery of the future to create that desire today.

Graphics Toynbee Associates

Examples Of Our Close Work

CRM Toynbee Associates

Building Business

The practice had just recruited a manager and was looking to bring together all their enquiries and proposals into one place. We recommended, configured and launched a CRM for them that gave them visibility over all their leads.

As they developed their services, and added to their team, we let them adapt and shape the process to remain ahead of the pack.

Good Prospects

With a growing sales team, and a range of clients and business partners with differing demands, we needed to not only store records, but also to drive the business forward.

We set up the various Opportunities, Tasks, Tracks and Tags to match the way in which the business went about the value chain and to segment their prospects and customers. We imported all the data from their previous CRM to track and store everything. We helped with adoption, and now no lead or opportunity goes to waste.

CRM Unloq

Examples Of Our Email Work

Email Unloq

Delivering Value

High-value, low-volume email marketing requires a specialised approach. One that speaks the right language to partners, clients and prospects, whilst underpinning the values that make Unloq’s services unique.

With split lists, containing some shared and some unique content, we have created variety without the overhead of coming up with three completely new emails every time. Precise, targeted and confident – just like our client.

Inboxing Adventure

With a large list of past customers and prospects, all with a passion for sailing, we need to ensure that the emails are engaging and entertaining but also focus on growth opportunities.

Coming up with creative angles is our speciality. Whether promoting new catamarans, new locations or even online courses, we change tack frequently to ensure that we never hit the doldrums.

Email Nautilus sailing

Examples Of Our Uncategorized Work

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