I heard about this on a podcast (can’t remember which one) and wondered if anyone had any experience with this.

The podcast mentioned using this trick  at trade shows, where you have a device (laptop, tablet) available for someone to log in to their Facebook page and like your page. Once they do, they get some sort of promotional item at the show.

As an example of what I mean, I promote an event and I will be setting up at another event in my city to promote it. I would like to put a laptop out there and we have a couple of exclusives that would be interesting to the attendees, and they will get one when they “Like” our page right on the spot.

Any else ever try this?

I love this idea! Thanks for sharing!

Hey Eric,

     My company did this for the world police and fire game expo in NYC and unfortunately it didn’t work so well.  We also didn’t have ideal conditions (hurricane Irene was visiting that weekend).  We did, however, hit a home run with the facebook ads at about $.10 a fan.  I don’t know how big your company is, but for every 500 fans at $.10 a piece would cover potentially 1 person placing an order.  We jumped 1900 fans in 1 month.  If you need help with key words or setting one up let me know.  Just make sure you have a budget for it!

Great idea!  Setting up a poster with a QR code to your Facebook page might be a fun addition as well. Give them more than one way to like your page at the show.  Just in case there is a long line for that laptop! 

I think the link that Abigail was trying to share was:  http://www.facebook.com/help/search/?q=like+a+page+by+text

For some reason, it added another web address at the beginning of it in her post.  Anyway, it seems like a great idea, so thanks @abigailgorton!

@dedimason Thanks Dedi, That is the one I wanted!

@jonathanlass What, specifically, would you say didn’t work when you tried it?

@kristinakonen  I put a QR code on our posters last year, with a specific landing page so that I could track it. I only had one hit in the 3 months the posters were circulated. I’m not saying I won’t use them again, but it just didn’t catch on here, yet, I guess.

@abigailgorton & @dedimason thanks for the suggestion and link! I wasn’t aware you could do that. I will probably incorporate that as well. I had wondered if people would shy away from doing it on my laptop or tablet for fear that I would be able to snag their log-in info. This would eliminate that concern. One (possibly silly) question: does the person have to have Facebook tied to their phone in some way (mobile app, et al) for it to work?
@alexandrapotora  I’d love to hear more about what they did that worked! Did they offer any incentives for signing up?

@jonathanlass I sensed no negativity in your post, so no worries there! Thanks for sharing your experience.

On your point of using ads, I use very targeted ads now. Admittedly, I have a low budget, but I’ve been very happy with the results I’ve gotten as far as the quality vs quantity of likes (because you are absolutely 100% correct on that and that is something I drill into my team and why I don’t do those “have a friend like us!” contests).  I think it goes back to the differences in the business. Everyone can use some custom clothing, but not everyone is interested in coming to a comic book convention.

You are competing in a much larger space than I am. The event I promote is a comic book convention (Derby City Comic Con) in Louisville, Ky. I have essentially one year to convert anyone who comes to the Facebook page into a buying customer.

In this particular example, I will be setting up at an Arcade show with an overlapping fan base. I will already know (or at least assume) that the people coming by the table are 1) into “geeky” things and 2) attend events celebrating/showcasing said things. If they aren’t interested in liking our Facebook page to follow our guest announcements and other info, they, more than likely, won’t be interested in a the button or promotional swag we have to offer. It is really, unlike many businesses, an all or nothing proposition. Where as you can, over time, perhaps, convince someone why they should be wearing your clothes, I can’t convince someone who has zero interest in comics to come to the show.

Again, I appreciate the information (I didn’t see it as so much of a rant ) and discussions like this help me home in on what works and what doesn’t within the space I’m in. I hope you’ll continue the discussion and that others will jump in!

This is something my past company thought about doing. With shows that we were a part of there were legal issues with doing this-it was the education market. I can see it working well other times as long as leads were qualified.

This is something my past company thought about doing. With shows that we were a part of there were legal issues with doing this-it was the education market. I can see it working well other times as long as leads were qualified.

@annfurnivall – I guess that goes back to the nature of your business. Since mine is an annual event I don’t have anything at the booth that can take away like buying a piece of custom clothing, et al. At my booth I have nothing to buy, but getting a customer to sign up to follow our announcements as we get guests is the goal.

If done right you can be successful!

We manufacture and lease social media kiosks, so of course any promotional event, trade show, grand opening or anywhere we can rent a booth I bring a few. Instructions are three steps and if you leave a comment on our page you can spin the wheel to reveal your prize.
It’s not about the wheel, kiosk or the prize it is about having people talk about you. Or talk to you, It gives people a reason to come up to the booth and interact with your brand, via facebook, newsletter sign up or just talking to the representative.
One thing you DO NEED to be concerned about is how secure your laptop is, any standard laptop can be compromised and the last thing you want is your potential customers information to be stolen. For the right computer geek the whole laptop is not even necessary. 75% of Americans use the same password on FB as they do for their online banking.
Our Kiosks are designed 100% safe everything is done in a sandbox so when you log out all of the information is deleted instantly!
See the Kiosks here if you like Facebook !