---
title: Why Do People Friend and Follow Brands?
description: Two separate studies have been released over the past week that show why people friend and follow...
image: https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/thumbsup-Jan-23-2023-12-19-15-5842-AM-1-1-1.jpg
---

[Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi)

[![Website Magazine Logo](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png?width=586&height=145&name=gradient-regular@3x-1.png "Website Magazine Logo")](http://Website%20Services,%20Inc.)

- [About](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about) 
    - [FAQs](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/faq)
    - [Advertise](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/advertise)
    - [Editorial Staff](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/editorial-publishing-staff)
- [Resources](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com)
- [Newsletter](https://www.websitemagazine.com/newsletter-sign-up)
- More 
    - [Contact Us](https://www.websitemagazine.com/contact)

[Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi)

Search

- [Latest](https://www.websitemagazine.com)
- [Design](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design)
- [Development](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-development)
- [SEO](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo)
- [Ecommerce](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce)
- [Content](https://www.websitemagazine.com/content)
- [Marketing](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing)
- [Advertising](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising)
- [Email](https://www.websitemagazine.com/email)
- [Infographics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/infographics)
- [View All Topics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/channels)

# Why Do People Friend and Follow Brands?

![Michael Phillips](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Michael%20Phillips.jpeg)

[by Michael Phillips](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/author/michael-phillips) 17 Aug, 2010

- <https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/why-do-people-friend-and-follow-brands>
- <https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/why-do-people-friend-and-follow-brands>
- [mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/why-do-people-friend-and-follow-brands](mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/why-do-people-friend-and-follow-brands)
- Link Copied!

![Why Do People Friend and Follow Brands?](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/thumbsup-Jan-23-2023-12-19-15-5842-AM-1-1-1.jpg)

![](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/thumbsup-Jan-23-2023-12-16-50-5270-AM-1-1-1.jpg?width=75&height=75&name=thumbsup-Jan-23-2023-12-16-50-5270-AM-1-1-1.jpg)

Two separate studies have been released over the past week that show why people "friend" and "follow" brands on sites like Facebook and Twitter.

The first, from Google, looked at Facebook. The study found that 55 percent of Facebook users do not friend or "like" any brands on Facebook. Of those who do, 18 percent become a fan of one or two brands, 11 percent do so for three or four brands, 10 percent five to nine brands and just 6 percent ten or more brands. And why do they become fans?

**25 percent** to receive discounts and promotions  
**18 percent** to show others they support the brands  
**10 percent** because it's fun and entertaining  
**8 percent** to hear new info first

The second study comes from ExactTarget and surveyed Twitter users ages 15 and up. They found that:

**38 percent** of users follow brands to get updates on future products  
**31 percent** to receive discounts and promotions  
**30 percent** to get updates on upcoming sales  
**28 percent** to get a "freebie"

The writing is on the wall. Your top business social networking priorities should be to offer discounts and promotions, and to keep users informed about product releases and other company news that will benefit the user. This does not mean announcing a new CFO, but rather a new product line, an update to an exisiting product or news about how your products can help improve consumers' quality of life, for example.

Of course, discounts and promotions loom large. Build a value system with users by rewarding their loyalty with discounts and you are likely to see new fans and followers. And, don't stop at promoting this strategy solely on networks - make sure your website provides links to your network profiles and informing users that, by becoming a fan or follower, they can expect discounts and promotions. As always, set a strategy including well-defined limits. After all, you don't want to give away the store should a discount go viral.

![Michael Phillips](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Michael%20Phillips.jpeg)

[Michael Phillips](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/author/michael-phillips)

Masson specializes in helping brands articulate their purpose and communicate their value—through naming, campaigns, pitch decks, copy, video, and multi-platform, targeted content series.

- <https://twitter.com/TheMikePhillips>
- <https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-phillips-18a31a7/>
- <https://www.massoncreative.com/>
- [mailto:michael.phillips@websitemagazine.com](mailto:michael.phillips@websitemagazine.com)

#### Popular Post

### [31 Back-to-School Keyword Targets ![31 Back-to-School Keyword Targets](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/schoolbus-1-1-1-1.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/31-back-to-school-keyword-targets)

### [GoDaddy Goes .XXX ![GoDaddy Goes .XXX](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-12-15-39-1451-AM-Apr-10-2023-01-36-09-0977-PM-3-1.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/godaddy-goes-xxx)

### [23 Cool Tech Facts ![23 Cool Tech Facts](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/fact_100x100-2-1-1-1.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/23-cool-tech-facts)

#### Subscribe to Our Newsletter!

[![](https://a.impactradius-go.com/display-ad/13053-1438301)](https://semrush.sjv.io/c/3976891/1438301/13053)![](https://imp.pxf.io/i/3976891/1438301/13053)

#### Latest in Marketing

[![3 Tips to Make Your Website More User-Friendly in 2023](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pexels-photo-2284350-1-1.jpg) 3 Tips to Make Your Website More User-Friendly in 2023](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/3-tips-to-make-your-website-more-user-friendly) [![Web.com Launches New Professional QuickStart Website Service](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pexels-photo-4348404-1.jpg) Web.com Launches New Professional QuickStart Website Service](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/web-com-launches-new-professional-quickstart-website-service) [![6 Ways to Stretch Your Marketing Budget](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Feb-07-2023-03-32-33-0828-PM-Apr-25-2023-03-10-37-2214-AM-1.png) 6 Ways to Stretch Your Marketing Budget](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/6-ways-to-stretch-your-marketing-budget) [![5 Reasons Visitors Leave Your Website and Website Tracking Tools to Track Website Visitors](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/pexels-photo-1008155.jpg) 5 Reasons Visitors Leave Your Website and Website Tracking Tools to Track Website Visitors](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/5-reasons-visitors-leave-your-website) [![5 Lessons About Workplace Energy](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/distress-1-1-1-1.png) 5 Lessons About Workplace Energy](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/5-lessons-about-workplace-energy) [![Y Combinator Startups to #WebTechWatch](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/startup-funding-4-1-1-1.jpg) Y Combinator Startups to #WebTechWatch](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/y-combinator-startups-to-webtechwatch)

[![gradient-regular@3x](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x.png?width=128&height=128&name=gradient-regular@3x.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/)

999 E Touhy Ave,

Des Plaines, IL 60018

 

[info@websitemagazine.com](mailto:info@websitemagazine.com)

[(888) 7WEBMAG](tel:18887932624)

[(312) 313-6576](tel:13123136576)

About

- [Advertise](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/advertise)
- [Editorial](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/editorial-publishing-staff)
- [Contact Us](https://www.websitemagazine.com/contact)

Resources

Membership

- Login
- Subscribe

Signup for our newsletter

<https://www.linkedin.com/company/website-magazine/> <https://twitter.com/websitemagazine> <https://www.facebook.com/WebsiteMagazine> <https://www.instagram.com/websitemagazine/> <https://www.pinterest.com/websitemagazine/>

 © 2026 Website Magazine. All Rights Reserved

- [Privacy Policy](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/privacy)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Michael Phillips",
    "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/author/michael-phillips"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2023-05-01T21:22:22.864Z",
  "datePublished" : "2010-08-17T05:00:00.000Z",
  "headline" : "Why Do People Friend and Follow Brands?",
  "image" : [ "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/thumbsup-Jan-23-2023-12-19-15-5842-AM-1-1-1.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing/why-do-people-friend-and-follow-brands",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png"
    },
    "name" : "Website Services, Inc."
  }
}
```

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "NewsArticle",
  "author" : [ {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Michael Phillips"
  } ],
  "headline" : "Why Do People Friend and Follow Brands?",
  "publisher" : {
    "name" : "Website Magazine",
    "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/"
  }
}
```