If you’ve got Facebook “Like” and “Share” buttons installed on your website, you may have noticed something a bit different about them lately. Facebook has redesigned the iconic buttons for the first time since “Like” was introduced back in 2010.
Gone is the well-known thumbs up on the button itself. It’s replaced by a lower case “f” (though a thumbs up silhouette remains visible in counters above some of the buttons.)
You’ll also be able to display the “Like” and “Share” buttons in a variety of ways on your site, including placing the two buttons side by side or the “Share” button all by itself.
A Way to Bring You Even More Engagement
The reason for the change is straightforward. Facebook believes the new buttons will generate more social sharing. And so far it seems to be working.
On the official Facebook Developers blog, Facebook software engineer Ray C. He wrote:
We’re already seeing a favorable increase in Likes and Shares with the new design and will be rolling these buttons out to everyone in the coming weeks.
If you still have the old ones installed on your site, don’t worry, he says. Facebook will replace them with the new buttons as the roll out progresses.
Facebook made some pretty bold predictions when introducing the first “Like” button back in 2010, as this TechCrunch story from the time notes.
Bottom line: If Facebook manages to increase the number of “Likes” and “Shares” over the next few weeks, it’s good news for everybody.
It should increase the amount of your content visitors share in their Facebook feeds. And that should mean more visitors on your website and more revenue for your business.
Image: Facebook
I actually didn’t notice the re-design. Considering Facebook’s in the habit of changing things frequently (even for things that don’t necessarily need changing, in my opinion), I’m surprised it took them this long to re-design the like buttons. 2010 is like a century when it comes to FB and changing stuff.
Shawn Hessinger
Hi ebele,
We thought the time they’ve taken to make this change was pretty surprising too. It’s also interesting that, according to Facebook, it’s had such a noticeable impact on use of the buttons already. It makes one wonder if this means the new design really is superior to the old as far as users are concerned, or if the newness of the buttons itself has simply made users notice them again.
I wonder why it took them that long to get round to it? Perhaps it wasn’t high on their priority list?
I don’t know, maybe the noticeable impact is because of the newness. I’m also thinking: were the new buttons announced before they were released? If so, then it would make sense that lots of people would want to try it, hence the increase.
I Shawn,
Thanks for the news….
I really don’t think the change is going to matter all that much.
The color and look is very close.
The Franchise King®
Anita Campbell
I agree, Joel — it’s not much of a change. But I guess when Twitter is grabbing the headlines with its IPO, you push out whatever possible “news” you can! 🙂
– Anita
Anita,
And are they ever grabbing the news!
The Franchise King®
Shawn Hessinger
Hi Anita,
I have to admit I thought the same thing, and I wonder whether the roll out of this particular update wasn’t timed intentionally. Then again, on the most basic level, I suspect these two stories interest very different readers.
Shawn Hessinger
Hi Joel,
Thanks for the comment. It’s interesting how many people insist they haven’t noticed the change or don’t see that much difference now. At the same time, Facebook says they’ve already seen an increase in button use. Clearly someone’s noticed something. 🙂
Shawn,
I’m always amazed of how small change matters – often a lot. In digital world, UX is king, indeed.
FB is not the only one who adopt the trendy new design; +1 has done so, too.