The "Like" Button turns one year old

It was pointed out to me through this article on mashable.com that the Facebook "Like" button is one year old today. Of course before the Like button a consumer could show support for a brand by becoming a fan.

But the Like button is so much more than a way for consumers to connect with brands. The Like button is quite possibly one of the best things that has happened to social marketing. It has made it less obtrusive for a consumer to follow a brand, allowed consumers to interact both with brands and other consumers without actually saying anything, and allowed brands to more easily use their sites to encourage social interactions.

For a consumer it is much more of a commitment to say that they are a fan of something than it is to say that they like something. By changing the term to like Facebook has made it much easier for brands to gather followers and interact with them through Facebook.

Of course the Like button extends to the consumer-to-consumer level as well. Many consumers will now interact with each other and show their support for each others posts without having to directly interact with each other. Facebook understands something that other social networks have missed: most people do not want to actually talk to many of their connections. Instead, by providing the Like button Facebook provided the solution, now consumers can give a kudos without having to directly interact. They can now feel connected without having to break into actual conversation.

Finally, the Like button has enabled brands to have simple terminology and one recognizable button that allows brands to remind consumers about their brand (encouraging return visits) through social interaction.

The most important point of this is that through what seems so simple, and by understanding the needs of both consumers and brands, Facebook was able to become more relevant in the everyday life of both brands and consumers. For consumers because they can now interact without breaking social barriers, and brands because easier interaction with consumers makes Facebook a more effective marketing tool.

So here is a big "Like" to Facebook for paving the way for better social interaction!