To Like, Share or Send on Facebook, That is the Question

Jason Falls (of Social Media Explorer) started an interesting discussion yesterday on the new Facebook "Send" button vs "Like" or "Share" buttons. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this new sharing option? You can view the video here.

The gist of the conversation is the apparent SEO advantage of using the new Send button. In theory, if you share content with an individual or small group of people you know well via a Send, that's a strong recommendation for that content, and Google will give that content more SEO "juice" than either a Share or a Like that are posted to your Wall. The Send button is brand new, so time will tell if the early data continues to support this relationship. Let's think about what may happen if Send buttons do prove to be more powerful for SEO.

• Marketers, especially SEO-minded ones, will undoubtedly jump on the bandwagon and put Send buttons on all of their content, in many cases replacing their Like or Share buttons.
• Facebook users will probably push back, feeling that the Send button is an open invitation to an increase in spam.
• Google may change the game again at any time. They may change the algorithm to either favor or discount Facebook Send's. You never know.

In any case, this new social sharing tactic (is it a strategy?) will generate considerable controversy in the next few weeks. For me, I see the dark side. I really don't want more recommendations directed at my Facebook profile. I get enough already. If my Facebook friends were really my close friends and trusted allies, I might feel differently. I'll admit, quite a few of my "friends" are complete strangers, and a lot of them are constantly promoting themselves. Do I want to hear about their blogs and offerings more frequently? I don't think so.

Let's have a conversation about this.

What do you think about the new Facebook Send button?