Facebook Like or Share button, which is best for your blog?

July 27th, 2010 / Blogging Tips, General Blogging, Social Media

Soon after one starts blogging, the fact that just posting the entries and waiting for an indefinite “them” to come is not really working well hits you. Posts need exposure, especially for new blogs that don’t have an established readership. Even when we’re talking about a well known blog, the audience has its preferences when it comes to where they like to receive the latest updates. And Facebook is one of those places where you can reach a lot of new or returning visitors.

As it happens with any other social media channel, the blog author’s connections are limited. But their readers come with their own friends that might be interested in what the blogger has to say. So making it easy for them to share your fresh stories on Facebook is important. You’re faced with two options – going for the Facebook Share button or choosing the Facebook Like or Recommend button that’s so popular right now.

Most times, Share buttons are placed at the beginning of the post. They’re easy to spot and a visitor shares the story with a few clicks. Recommend or Like buttons are usually smaller and harder to spot, especially when there are no prior recommendations. Yet when a few people have already clicked the like button, you’ll see how many of them have done so and if they are people in your network, their photos will also appear.

The names of those who have already recommended the story add credibility. If your friends, the people whose updates you follow, think this story is worth reading and sharing, it probably is. The one seeing the recommendations will more likely read and share it.

It’s also important to note that a single click on the Facebook Like button is a lot easier than a Share. People find it fast and painless and don’t think of it as a big effort. They just push the button and continue to read the story or its comments.

If you’re inclined to choose the Like button, you now need to consider Facebook visibility! A simple like comes with a quick update on the Facebook feeds saying X likes the Z story. A share comes with a link to the story, an excerpt and eventually a photo. If the person sharing it adds their comments, they will also show up on their wall and in their friends news streams.

The trick is the Facebook Like button also allows visitors to add their comments and share the story. But people sometimes overlook this feature. The option to add your comments and post them to your Facebook page shows up after liking the story. So a second action is required, which some would choose to say no to.

Best solution to decide which to use? Trial and error! Add each button to your website and see how people react. Add them both for further testing and see what the outcome is. Then decide which button suits you better!

Have you added Facebook Like and/or Facebook Share buttons to your blog? Which worked better in your case?

Tags: buttons, Facebook, plugins, readers, social bookmarking, social media

This article has 10 comments

Alina Popescu
July 27th, 2010

I’ve used both on different websites. I find the Like button usually works better for me. Probably because of the credibility it adds. I also post my blog post to facebook so those who follow me there notice my new entries.
Alex, Blogsessive
July 27th, 2010

Indeed Alina, my personal favorite is the Facebook Like too, simply because it generates more on-site credibility and stimulates the interaction once people know their friends (visible) liked the articles.
Derek Jensen
July 27th, 2010

Alex,

I find the Facebook Like button to be more useful. When you share something you a pop-up comes up and then you have to post to profile and really just the word “share” turns off some people using Facebook. Instead the developers in Facebook were genius to turn everything into “liking” something. This simple word change is not having to “post something to your profile” makes it easier for people to actually share what you have without them really knowing that they are sharing it the same way (almost) that if they shared it via the FB share button.

Best,
Derek
Alex, Blogsessive
July 27th, 2010

Derek my friend you are spot on!

The genius that tried the “Like” approach had a brilliant idea. Simply because people react better to something that touches their emotional side (Hey, I like this!) versus a button that makes them “do” something (Hey, look, more work to ‘share’ this post… yey). Great observation!
João
July 27th, 2010

Hi…

I use both but I prefer the Facebook Like Bottom, because I think it’s more user friend.

Regards…
Andrew
July 28th, 2010

Facebook like button works best because you can just do it with a single click on the mouse and at the same time it displays on the fb profile the you liked that item, thus, also sharing it with your friends.
Toni Kuzmić
August 9th, 2010

I have just placed the “like”-button on the sidebar of my blog and it already shows that 35 people like my blog. How is that possible?
Nobody has visited my blog since I’ve installed the button.
David
November 23rd, 2010

I utilize both for my website. They both spread the word about my website. The one-click action of the Like button makes it very easy for people to use; the fact they either overlook the add comment option or choose not to use it, is secondary – the Like has been posted to their account already.
Mike Behnken
March 23rd, 2011

I’m having trouble deciding whether to put it at the top or the bottom of the post, what about the right side bar?
tuxedoknight
May 5th, 2011

Hello,

I was trying to add either one to my website, the “like” button don’t seem to work on my website…

I am not sure what I am doing wrong…

But The “tweet” this is working \o/

hehehe, if you like to play chess, pass by my web (I got some traps, puzzles and other stuff)