Should you like your own Facebook posts?

Posted by Daniel Johnson, Jr.
December 2, 2009

We like it and we say so

If you’re active on Facebook, you probably have noticed that when you or others post something, other people can “like” what you’ve posted, and Facebook gives it a “thumbs up”. It keeps track of how many “likes” a post gets, and you’ll typically see verbiage that reads, “John Smith likes this”. This feature of Facebook becomes something of a promotion engine.

You can also “like” what you yourself have posted. If you opt to like something you’ve posted, you’ll see text that reads, “You like this.”

Self-aggrandizing and pretentious?

Earlier this evening I saw an update on Twitter from Steve Phillips, the President and owner of one of the best search engine optimization companies in Cincinnati:

purpletrout: Tacky: Consultants who give themselves “thumbs up” on their Facebook posts. Really? You need to give yourself approval?

I saw this amplified, or “retweeted” a few times by others, and then I chimed in:

danieljohnsonjr:@purpletrout Is it wrong to Like something you’ve posted on Facebook? That’s why I “give myself thumbs up”. I like what I’ve written.

The ensuing conversation, which included some direct messages, mentioned how I should let others praise my work, and not me myself.

Statements like this come across as though I’m not allowed to like what I’ve posted.

Some remark that it should be understood that you like your own work and that to “like” it on Facebook comes across as “pretentious and self-aggrandizing” (UPDATE: Julie Niesen @winemedineme wanted me to make sure I attributed her for that phrase, so there it is. FWIW). And yet Facebook lets us “like” our own posts anyway.

Be proud of your work

thumbs-up
I see it differently.  I like my work, and I’m proud of it. I think we’re supposed to like it. I think there’s something divine about appreciating something we’ve created, whether it’s a blog post or a status update or a video we’ve shared. We like it, so there shouldn’t be a problem if we choose also to note it as such via Facebook. Sure, I’d love if as many people liked what I do as much as I do, but even if they didn’t, I still would.

Since Facebook builds this functionality, this ability for content creators to “like” or “thumbs up” their own work, it should not be inferred as pretentious or self-aggrandizing. I disagree with you if you see it differently.

I’m still waiting for someone to explain the metaphysical consequences of “poking” oneself on Facebook, however.

What say you? Help me see it differently.

Facebook, featured, social media strategy

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  • I'm not sure how this is any different from someone posting a link to their stuff on Twitter or retweeting when someone gives you praise. It is all in the same bucket in my mind.

    I don't personally "like" my stuff on Facebook that often. But, every so often if I'm really proud of it, or the comment stream I think is something that people would find value or entertainment in I will do it. That is my motivator.

    As with all things in social media, there is not a clear cut right or wrong. Each person should figure out what works for them and move forward.
  • Thanks for your comments, C.C.! I appreciate it.
  • Here's something from the comments on this same note over at Facebook, from a friend named Jennifer Mitchell. She echoes the intent I typically have when I've approached content posted on Facebook, so I'm including it here. Some of you in the conversation here cannot participate or are not involved in the conversation over there. Jennifer says:

    "I do wonder if it could be that those who feel it's 'pretentious and self-aggrandizing' might be taking it a little too seriously. This is FaceBook, after all, where we post funny videos, links, play farming and mafia games, and share things with 'friends'. Just because we sprinkle some work in doesn't mean it's not entertainment!

    "It's fun to come across something you posted earlier that day and click like because you liked how you felt when you sent that message or you are proud of something.

    "You keep liking your stuff Daniel, those who know you will not think you are being pretentious- you're too humble for that. :)"
  • Whack A Mole
    Two thoughts.

    First, do you then hit the like button on everything you post? If not, how should a "reader" view your other thoughts? As inferior? As garbage? I think this differentiating of your own work could confuse the intent. And if you do flag everything with the like status, then doesn't it make it somewhat pointless? As a previous poster noted, shouldn't we expect that if you post it, you like it? Or are you just offering the SM world mindless dripping mixed with the occasional ah-ha moment?

    Second, i wonder if you are being really real about your reasons for "liking" your own posts? Is it as simple as wanting to give yourself a pat on the back or more so to draw extra attention from others? I've seen some of your dialogue on Twitter, here, and so forth, and I got the impression early on that you are a big self-promoter.

    And while I am on it, it was sort of inflammatory to use THIS post as your tester for Screenr.com. Why not something less controversial? You know, it makes it seem like you actually enjoy the conflict. No one likes a pot stirrer

    If you are really trying to learn, I hope you will actually consider some of these negative comments. You have obviously rubbed certain people the wrong way, and I imagine that isn't how you hoped your SM ventures would work out.
  • Twitter Bug
    I find it interesting anyone would complain about someone spamming on Twitter...no one forces anyone to follow particular people. Those that tweet to much for my taste (follow Ocho Cinco sometime) I just stop following. One's Twitter is their own to tweet all they like, follower beware. Too funny.

    Also love those that find it necessary to name call and insult to make a point. That is when one's opinion/point loses credibility.
  • Patrick Cox-Mahoney
    One's opinion also loses credibility when posting under faux-cutesy name instead of your real name. Own up to your opinion, "Twitter Bug".
  • It's been interesting to watch the comments over here at the blog, versus those at Facebook. Most who have commented over here disagree, and yet we're probably not connected over there, so you haven't seen what I've posted. Almost a third over on Facebook agree with me. I wonder what that says.

    Let's keep the conversation going.
  • laurenjohnson
    If you knew anything about professionalism in the industry you claim to be part of, you might be successful.
  • I guess it depends on how you define success, Lauren. It's obvious to me that this is a subject that has many people emotionally charged up. I've never claimed to be an expert or guru; I'm still learning about this as I go. I haven't made my comments derogatory or made personal attacks on individuals.
  • Patrick Cox-Mahoney
    I don't think it's getting people emotionally charged up at all. What I don't understand is your need to validate yourself, period. I'm talking about beyond a Facebook thumbs up. Why post this repeatedly in your twitter stream to get a "conversation" going? I feel that essentially spamming twitter with the same link phrased differently speaks more volumes than whether you decide to thumbs up yourself.
  • I'm just trying to learn here, about myself and those who follow what I'm saying. You say I'm spamming my Twitterstream; I posted it maybe three times yesterday at different times, because I wanted to get others' opinions. If you think what I'm putting out is spam, you can always click unfollow. I'd rather not be a harassment to you, Patrick.
  • Patrick Cox-Mahoney
    That's assuming I actually follow you, and I don't. I've just been observing the conversation from other local people in the social media scene. I thought you had a valid question so I decided to weigh in and join in the conversation. I'm merely saying, from my point of view, if someone was in my toot stream tooting the same link more than once, it would seem to me that the person was forcing the issue.
    Here's a little anecdote. I was on an email list a while back and some guy posted a plea for someone to read his screenplay. Now, in a whole judging a book by it's cover moment, I could tell that the screenplay was going to be awful based purely on the character names. They were damn ridiculous. And the plot didn't help much. I was curious who this cat was so I googled him. Turned out he had posted this same plea in about 20 different message boards. Now I could have gone through the process of reading this guy's script, help a fellow man out and all, but the multiple posting all over the internet just reeked of desperation and really put me off from it.
    Now that I've typed all that, I have no idea how it ties in.
  • I can see what you're saying, Patrick. It's important to be careful about how much and often the same bit of information is shared. I think the desire is to make sure information hits as many touchpoints as possible for people who may potentially be interested in it.

    I've heard it said that people need to hear or see a message about 7 times before they act upon it. Content creators passionate about their content want to use social networking to share it with as many as possible who are interested across multiple channels.

    We saw this happening months ago with folks aggregating all their content through Friendfeed. The same message was being crossposted from Utterz, now Utterli, to Twitter, to Facebook, and to a blog, and it all was aggregated into a Friendfeed. It became too much.

    I used to crosspost all my tweets to Facebook and, after getting some complaints from my Facebook friends on how often I'd been posting, I shut that connection off.

    This discussion here on the blog, as well as in the corresponding note on Facebook, has made me feel more reluctant to say that I, too, like what I've posted, even though I don't see it so much personally as a promotion engine.

    Thanks again for stopping by, Patrick, and for helping out.
  • laurenjohnson
    Wow. Way to look like an even bigger asshat. If you had any cred to begin with, you just lost it.
  • I'm sorry you felt you had to use an insult to get your point across, Lauren.
  • MOMA JOHNSON
    He is "DANIEL JOHNSON JR" not "Dan Johnson." That should tell us plenty about what a pretentious jackass this guy already is. Oh and he has a DANIELJOHNSONJR.COM web site complete with paypal buttons because his words are just so incredibly valuable.

    Danny continue to worship yourself you idolizing prick.
  • "Moma," I'm sorry you felt like you had to use language like that to get
    your point across. I've often thought that if people don't find value in
    what I have to say, they won't visit.

    As far as this particular post, I'm keeping in mind that we are talking
    about Facebook, the home of Farmville, Mafia Wars, and Snowball Fights. I
    would venture to say we're not already connected over there, "Moma".

    Again, I'm sorry you feel the way you do, and I wish you well in your
    pursuits.
  • Suz
    It would seem to me that if you post something you obviously like it, so actually clicking the "like" button is overkill. I agree with Bryan, just because you can doesn't mean you should.
  • "Since Facebook builds this functionality, this ability for content creators to “like” or “thumbs up” their own work, it should not be inferred as pretentious or self-aggrandizing. I disagree with you if you see it differently."

    Another important lesson from Grandma :-)
    Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.

    It's not THAT big of a deal to me, but a definite negative.
  • I guess I was always taught to not "blow my own horn". If I post it, does "liking it" provide any additional information for the reader. I don't think so. I see people do it, I assume they are full of hot air unless I know differently.
  • Patrick Cox-Mahoney
    Slightly pretentious. A dash of narcissism. But in this day and age of (anti)social media (i.e., look at me, look at meeee!), who isn't slightly narcissistic?
    I know this dude who likes his stuff. I never thought of it as "self-aggrandizing", but rather chalked it up to his personality in general. Even so, I tend to agree with purpletrout on its lack of necessity. It's like using a turn signal on a merging ramp. Where the hell else are you going to go?
  • I am with you on this one! I don't post something if I don't like it so why not give myself a thumbs up if I should desire? Besides, I like myself as much as I like what I post, and if others don't like that they can remove themselves from my Facebook and Twitter any time they feel like it!
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