What is a Like Button For? Is it Overrated or Does it Have a Real Purpose?

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What is a Like Button for? I think nearly everyone knows what it is and what it is used for. Just in case you don't know, it is a quick way to express your appreciation for something you find interesting online. It only takes a few milliseconds with the click of a mouse to tell someone you like the content they have created or the information and images (videos) they have shared.

Like buttons are everywhere. All social media networks have them and you find them here at Wealthy Affiliate as well.


Who are Your Clickers Here at WA?

People click the like button on your posts, training and questions here at WA for different reasons. Did you know that?

  1. The Mass Clicker: It is convenient and quick so I will just "like" everything I come across. I did not read your post, because I need to move on, but please note I did come across it.
  2. The Headliner: This headline seems interesting, but I have no time to read it. CLICK. At least you can see I was here.
  3. .The Did-Not-Like Liker: This seems interesting. Let me have a look. Oops, not really what I was expecting. Let me just hit that Like button and move on.
  4. The Scanner: Let me see what this is about. Let's make it quick. Read headline. Scroll up. Headline, read a sentence or two, Scroll up. Headline read a bit. Nice pictures. Yeah. I have an idea what this is about. CLICK.
  5. The Sponge: I better make myself a cup of coffee. This is going to be a long day. I am going to read every single post from beginning to end I get in my notifications. Hope I don't forget to hit the like button everytime!
  6. The True Liker: I really liked it. Read it all, liked it all. CLICK. Didn't Like, no Click.

How My Clicker Status Evolved


I was The Sponge when I started out at WA. Everything was interesting and I read everything and pressing the like button for everything. This automatically made me a True Liker as well.

As my followers grew and my notifications starting to get out of hand, I was a True Liker and a Did-Not-Like Liker. I became more selective with the posts I wanted to read. It all depended on the headline I saw in my email notifications. If I really liked a post I would click the like button. If I opened a post and found it not to be that interesting, I would still click the like button, because it was there. Why not?

For a short period I also became The Headliner. I liked the headline but was not really going to read the post. This normally happened when I was on my way to bed. I just wanted to get a few more likes in.

I left my Sponge, Did-Not-Like Liker and Headliner life behind and became the Scanner and the True Liker. I was reading posts from beginning to end less and less, especially the long ones. I was starting to scan the headlines and the first sentence or two. Scrolling down at a steady pace. Don't get me wrong. I did read a lot of posts from beginning to end, but they were less than the scanned ones. My inbox was flooded and I did not want to miss out on the interesting ones. Everytime clicking the like button.

Today I am only a True Liker. I feel I have evolved.

The Only Time You Should Click the Like Button

Click the like button only if the content stirred some kind of emotion in you. If you don't feel any emotion at all, don't hit the like button.

Any content should do at least one of the following:

  • It puts a smile on your face even if it is just a small tuck in the corner of your mouth
  • You feel surprised
  • Makes you happy / sad / angry
  • Teaches you something
  • Help you with a problem
  • You can relate to it

Remember to also click the like button when you reply with a comment on a post. It makes no sense if you tell someone you like their post and thank them for the info, but you don't hit the like button.

The only exception is when you disagree with what someone says. For example bad advice, incorrect information, spam posts, etc.

I am sure there are a few other emotions I can list here. You are welcome to add to the list.

How Important are the Likes I Receive Here at WA?

I love the Likes I get here at WA if pressed for the right reasons. It comes second to the comments I receive on my posts and training. It gives me a good idea what people think of my posts or training. I am not a natural writer and English is not my first language. That makes it sometimes difficult to find the right words in the right context. I use WA as my practice ground.

My request. Please only press the like button if you like what I have to say. I am not a sensitive person and don't take it personal when my posts only get a few likes. It just makes me more determined to try to make the next one more interesting and better:))

Training, Likes, Comments and Money

The only place in WA where Likes and Comments also have monetary value is when someone creates training. You receive a few dollars when you reach the first level and then a few more for the next levels. This is determined by how many likes and comments someone receives with their training.

Please like and comment on training you have watched and find interesting. The creator loses out if you do not.

Conclusion

The like button is more than just something to press automatically. Press it with your heart. It makes a difference to the person on the receiving end. The like button does have a real purpose.

It is overrated if not used for the right reasons.

I normally wait in anticipation for the like button counter to click over to number 2.

I would like to know how you feel after posting here at WA. Do you wait in anticipation to see who responds or do you go on with your life returning to your post a few times to see if there is any action?

Only Like What Your Really Like!!

Thanks for reading my post!

Your WA friend

Rika

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Recent Comments

25

Totally agree, Rika!

Thanks Suzi. Have a great weekend!

Thank you! Same to you:)

That was great Rika. I like that one. LOL

I am glad you enjoyed it Glenys:)

This was a truly interesting post. I had never really thought about the different kinds of clickers. In addition, especially for being a non native English speaker, I really think that you write well.

Best of luck to you in your online journey!

Thank you Bryan. I appreciate the compliment:))

Hi Rika...Loved your list identifying the types of clickers. I especially like the concept that we evolve through our journey in WA....from clicking everything to clicking only the posts that really impact us. It seems your are posting more these days and I really benefit from all of them...very thoughtful and helpful information.
Debbie

Thank you Debbie. I am glad it is helpful. Yes, I want to be a bit more active in WA:)

Good afternoon Rika,

If I could I would have pressed the like button 3 times as you hit the nail squarely on its head

Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske.

Thanks Taetske. Much appreciated:)

Awesome post Rika, I liked it from A to Z, even made me smile, I clicked the like button with my heart.
Very recognizable, the way you discribe the like types:) I do see myself in most of them.
Eg. A like for the effort, when I come to a post, what really should have been a novel...

Thanks Loes. I am glad you like it. I always appreciate your feedback:)

I like that one Rika, I guess we all go thorough similar phases as we evolve in our online journey. The big like is that WA is such a nurturing environment. That like button can be an integral part of that process.
Some folks are top of the pops and are in like paradise, for many it is a struggle to get some or any engagement , a like can mean so much in those early days they can make the difference in the should I stay or should I go stakes.
One of the things about a like is, if it is on a post, question or a training, without a comment, the content creater doesn't know who liked it only that someone actually liked it, a real confidence booster at times.
WA is such a subtle teaching and learning platform.

Thanks Alex. I agree. Some people do struggle to get engagement but there could be many reasons why. The important thing is to never give up. WA is such a great place to practice and improve your writing skills.

This discussion was started dome time back and I was looking for some positive results. I also click as a courtesy to show That I read the post .I will not click a post I did not read. My suggestion was to add a tick for having read and use like if you appreciated or least something from the post.

That is a great idea Courtney. What do you think of a star rating system for posts? Instead of like you give a star rating. I think that would also be great. WA is a training platform and it would help us improve our writing skills:)

Great post I have to say I always comment on something I like as well as pushing the button, I do refine which posts I am going to read and set time aside in my schedule just to read posts, I like the way you have broken down the like button feature I fit into the category "I really like your post". I agree it is easy just to push the like button.

Thank you Katie. To be a True Clicker is the ultimate goal for me. I am trying to steer clear of the others:)

I have learned the importance of the like button and reviews

Rik, this is a great post, I can relate to a lot of it, especialy the bit about good content. That said I like everything, there is no reason not too.

For newbies starting out here, just as we were, its important to start giving encouragement to them, so they begin to realise that this is the place to be

Like you, there are certain writers here within the community, whose posts I enjoy more than some, simply because they have more experience and produce some very exceptional content

Everyone here, as long as they follow the certification couse and Bootcamp will ulitmately proiduce far better quality content, becoming elite marketers in the process and have money in the bank.

Thank you very much for the great compliment Dave. Much appreciated:)

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