Buying Facebook Shares?

[JerDoggMckoy]

Would it be considered buying links if you asked your Facebook fan base to share a specific product page, and by doing so they will be entered to win a drawing? How would Google look at this? And could we expect a significant increase in rankings as a result? Or would it just be a temporary "what's trending?" boost you think?

[PaulRogers]

If this did influence your rankings, it would only be short-term and it is ultimately still a tactic aimed at manipulating their algorithm.

I would say that your time and money would be better spent on a similar competition with industry bloggers - maybe you could send a few emails saying that the best press release, story, review or related blog post wins X.

Chances are these bloggers will link to you, providing more value than Facebook likes in both the short-term and the long-term.

You could also just get a blogger to review the prize you were looking at providing - quick, easy and natural.

[JerDoggMckoy]

Thanks Paul, good stuff!