I mean this in a tongue in cheek way somewhat.
The reason I say this is because of this question I got one time on a karate forum (More about THAT experience later)
“What are your thoughts on pushing information out to people on the web?”
This is a fair question but it details a common error when it comes to social networking. Social networks are not I repeat NOT TV, radio and press. What I mean by this is they are not to be used for “advertising.” Yes you can advertise on them as in buy the advertising but to use Facebook to push information is simply the wrong way to do it and to be honest constitutes spamming or flooding in some ways even if the person has “liked” your page. I see over and over people adding Facebook “friends” and subsequently sending page requests they are who we in the digital world call “Friend Whores.” These same people wonder why 4 people turned up to their gig or other event.
Why would you take anyone that says they “liked” you on Facebook seriously?!
This is something people have a lot of difficulty understanding. You have to allow for people on social networks telling you what they think it is best for you to hear and best for them to tell you; not their inner dialogue. So you have to take each “like” as at best a fading flicker of interest.
Some people will like you because they like you - they are genuinely fans. Some will do it to be nice; they don’t like to say no and they don’t like to be seen as rude. Some will like you because they want to be liked and they want you to like them or they want to reassurance that you won’t dislike them. Some people clicked the wrong button. Most people do it to be polite because they know you or they know a mutual friend and might meet you at some point and what if asked them why they don’t like your page - that would be awkward. It gets awfully complicated – because social networking is about human relations and not broadcast.
Just because you push the information out doesn’t mean you have your fans’ or friends’ attention in fact it is highly likely they are blind to it. Why? Because when you scan a newsfeed your mind filters out what isn’t important. The other thing you have to remember is that Facebook can filter stuff out for you. We tend to look for the people or topics we have the most connection with.
Social networks are a conversation medium not a place to shout about your wares – don’t do it you’ll ruin the integrity of the environment. It isn’t a numbers game.