Facebook Fear Factor

Looking more closely into the Link Shim that Facebook use on outbound links from posts I am developing a new theory. In that not only does the shim discourage Facebook users to click through to the link, as they are told that it may be to a suspicion or malicious website but it also deters those that maybe interested but not prepared to leave Facebook by that link to make an Internet search. The search then confirms that the link was to a website that was displayed in Facebook as being suspicious or malicious.

SERP text

This is, I theorise, why after making a search the Facebook user still is hesitant to click through to the site. The Search Engine Result (in the SERP) confirms the domain name that has been flagged as malicious, so why would the person making the search continue?

I seem to have little influence on what Google use for ERP text and the test searches have tempusfugit.me.uk in the link in the SERP listing.

An example of this fear:

The case of the Craft Fair. I have seen a mixture of Shim Linked Referrals in Google Analytics. I have also seen Performance results in Search Console that show impressions with limited clicks.

I would have thought that someone making a search for the Craft Fair is really interested in the Craft Fair and did not make the search unless they were - so why no click?

I think that there are a couple of reasons for this. The first is the "fear factor" that the link is suspicious and the second is that the item in the SERP that comes to the top of the list is one to a Facebook page for the village. The Facebook link will take the person making the search to the Facebook page that informed them of the malicious nature of my page.

How to mitigate this problem

Actually, I am not sure that there is a solution. The use of a domain name that relates in some way to the village may well help to build the confidence of the Facebook user, but Facebook will still have flagged the site as malicious.

Fear of missing out

Patrick James McGinnis

Wikipedia says:

Smartphones enable people to remain in contact with their social and professional network continuously. This may result in compulsive checking for status updates and messages, for fear of missing an opportunity.