Facebook Like Button Number Actually Counts More Than Just Clicks

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Facebook social buttons have become a staple among blogs and other websites. Almost any blog you visit contains a Facebook Like button allowing visitors to automatically share their approval of the content and share the content itself with their friends. At first glance it would seem that the number shown with most of these Like buttons would show how many visitors have clicked on the button but apparently there is more than meets the eye.

This simple little number that comes with many Facebook Like buttons on websites, actually shows much more than just clicks. It actually shows:

• Number of Likes for the URL
• Number of shares on Facebook (the link gets pasted into someone’s profile)
• Likes and comments on stories containing a link to the content
• Number of times shared as an attachment in inbox messages

This means that any time a link is actively used on Facebook, it is counted in that number. This also means that the number can be inflated (or deflated should Facebook make changes). Facebook is working hard at encouraging us to interact on their site and use their commenting system. Is this a win-win situation or does it just make the Like number less important?