When you first read it, that headline sounds like a pretty bad business idea. However, with the obsession / misconception over social media being free, how many businesses feel the need to incentivize every little aspect of their online customer connection? How many are baiting their fan pages or Twitter accounts thinking the more followers or fans the better? (Related: Is Your Brand Listening?) Suddenly business owners are finding themselves in a situation of constantly upping the ante just to keep their connections. How can this escalating cost be effective? It’s not and it’s a sure fire way to snuff out the real value behind social media—relationships.

