As reported today by Mashable, Facebook has started weeding out and deleting “bogus Likes caused by compromised accounts, deceived users, malware or purchased bulk Likes..”

I’ve written countless times about why buying Likes is not only useless but bad practice. There are companies whose entire social media strategy is a numbers game. The more Likes you have, the more likelihood that you’ll reach people who could do business with you. Well, that house of cards just crumbled.

I wrote an article in July 2010, an article in June 2011, and an article in June 2012 (must be a summer thing. Go figure.) detailing why I think this is bad practice and why social media companies that utilize this strategy offer nothing of value to their clients.

Just like buying fake reviews, buying Likes is bad practice. The only way to have effective, lasting, meaningful social media marketing that will engage your clients and bring you business is to build your social media networks organically. It may be slower, but you shouldn’t ever have to worry about it vanishing into thin air.

Rarely is the easiest way the right one.

[Disclaimer: As many readers know, I work for a company that offers a managed social media solution and work in a position in which I craft social media strategies for our clients. All my posts are my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of my company.)