Practical Sales Training™ > How To Get Attention > The Like and Share Effect
The Like and Share Effect
What Is It?
Incentivise your followers to like and share a post. So a small prize turns a passive scroll into free advertising.
It works especially well on Facebook. Because the platform still rewards shares with extra reach.
Why Does It Work?
Liking and sharing takes seconds. So with a prize attached, it becomes an easy yes for almost anyone.
Once someone shares, new people see the post. Some of them share too. So reach grows on its own, without you paying for a single ad.
This is momentum, not magic. Each share just opens the door to a few more people who never knew you existed.
How Can You Use It?
Pick A Real Prize
Choose something people actually want. So it should connect to what you sell, not just be generic cash or vouchers with no link to your brand.
Set A Clear Deadline
Give people a real cut off point. “By Friday at 5pm” works far better than “soon.” So a specific deadline creates urgency that a vague one never will.
Make The Ask Simple
Ask for exactly one action. Like and share. Nothing more complicated than that. Because every extra step you add loses more people along the way.
When It Works Best
This works best for local or community based businesses. So bakeries, gyms and shops all fit naturally here.
It also works well when you’re launching something new. Since brand awareness is the goal, reach matters more than an instant sale.
When It Becomes Dangerous
The risk is running this too often. So the offer starts to feel like spam instead of a genuine event.
A weak or irrelevant prize also falls flat. Because nobody shares a post for a prize they don’t actually want.
Used occasionally, this builds real reach. Used constantly, it just trains people to ignore you.
Common Mistakes
Choosing A Weak Prize
A prize nobody wants gets ignored fast. So pick something that actually excites your specific audience.
Leaving The Deadline Vague
“Enter soon” creates no urgency at all. So give a specific date and time instead.
Overcomplicating The Entry
Asking for too many steps kills participation. So keep the ask down to one simple action.
The Like and Share Effect – An Example
The Bakery Giveaway
A local bakery posts: “Win a box of our best-selling brownies! Like this post and share it to your timeline by Friday at 5pm for your chance to win. One lucky winner will be announced Saturday morning!”
Liking and sharing takes seconds. So the barrier to entry is almost nothing. The prize is relevant too, since brownies connect directly to what the bakery actually sells.
The deadline adds real urgency. Because Friday at 5pm is specific, not vague. Each share also introduces the bakery to new local people who may never have found it otherwise.
Even people who don’t win still learn the brand exists. So many of them go on to follow the page or visit the shop anyway.
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