Sales Tip - Think Radio Ratings Are Inaccurate?

If an advertiser or agency is uncomfortable with the accuracy of radio ratings, they'll hate Facebook. Ads are cheap on Facebook...unless you want to target a specific type of consumer. We've all heard that with the Internet you can target specific consumers in a city, a neighborhood, right down to an individual. But what if the metrics include inaccurate data?

Brands can buy Facebook "Likes" to look more popular than they are. Causes can buy "Likes" to appear to be a movement. Publishers who sell advertisers' mentions on their Facebook pages can buy "Likes" to increase the amount they charge.

A Google search for "buy likes on Facebook" resulted in page after page of links with headlines like these:

-- Buy Facebook Fans/Likes -- Get 200 Likes for $12.99 or Your Money...
-- Buy Facebook Fans, Facebook Likes and we build your Fan Page...
-- Buy Facebook Fans & Likes | Lowest Prices, Best Service
-- Buy Facebook Fans | 250 Guaranteed Facebook Likes for only $17
-- 10 Sites to Buy Facebook Fans, Friends, Likes
-- Buy Facebook Fans, Buy Facebook Likes, Buy Twitter Followers
-- Get Like on Facebook, Buy Fans, #1 Facebook Fans Service

If Facebook "Likes" were purchased, advertisers targeting these consumers are wasting their money.

And really, even if a consumer legitimately "Likes" a Facebook page, do you think they initially entered an accurate description of themselves? Ever ask a woman her age?

Source: John Potter, VP/Training, RAB