If you’ve been on Facebook lately – I’m sure you’ve seen posts about Facebook’s algorithm changes. First off, what is an algorithm? An algorithm is “a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.” (Wikipedia)
Facebook algorithm begins with understanding the values that Facebook uses to guide their thinking and work – basically giving you an idea of what content will do well on news feeds, and which will not.
FRIENDS & FAMILY FIRST – Facebook’s main objective is to be able to connect people with their friends and family. These posts and updates are prioritized first on your newsfeed. After that, Facebook gives its users what they really want – to be informed and entertained. The more you engage with a friend or business, the more likely you’ll see their content.
Make sure you don’t “like” stuff that you don’t really like – because then you’ll
start seeing it all the time in your newsfeed.
PLATFORM OF IDEAS – Facebook’s main goals are to make sure that everyone feels safe. They want to deliver information and stories that their audience wants, based on their feedback and actions online.
AUTHENTIC COMMUNICATIONS – Facebook has recently decided to prioritize genuine and organic stories, rather than misleading, sensational and spammy posts.
CONTROLLING EXPERIENCES – Facebook has allowed individuals to customize what they want to see – such as if they want to simply “follow” someone, also who’s posts and stories they’d like to see first.
CONSTANT ITERATION – Part of Facebook’s overall job is to make sure that your experience with the site is being constantly improved. They get this through your feedback.
Now that you understand the basics of the algorithms, how can this affect you if you use Facebook for your business? With the above factors in place, Facebook is making it harder for businesses to reach individuals organically.
I’m sure you’ve recently seen or heard that businesses across all industries are seeing their organic reach on Facebook decline. This is because Facebook’s algorithm is getting stricter and more sensitive about cutting down on promotions happening on the site.
Your main focus on Facebook is NOT to sell – it’s to build a relationship with your customers. You should be providing value to your fans. Posts and content that are about selling, promotions, etc. will start to get smaller and smaller reach. So how can you change this?
You want to be able to create content with emotion: happy, sad, funny – it should also be engaging and entertaining. It should be relevant to what your fans want. Besides, this type of content gets more engagement, which will mean your posts will show up in more people’s newsfeeds.
There are ways that you can use algorithm for your business success:
VIDEOS – People are visual! Videos are prioritized right now in the newsfeed. If you want to get more organic reach, start making video content. It’s the best way to get your business’ message out there.
SWITCH IT UP – Try playing around with different times of day, and different days of the week. Mix up the types of content that you post. Once you see what resonates the most with your fans, repeat what works and ditch what doesn’t.
EMOJIS – Emoji’s have been known to increase engagement on Facebook. It’s also a great way to humanize your brand and message.
ENGAGE – Engagement is vital when it comes to Facebook, because it fuels algorithm. Be sure to always engage with people when they leave comments on posts of your page. Being an active part of your Facebook community will make your audience feel valued, and increase their desire to continue to engage with you.
If you follow these tips and information, you will start to see more benefits to your Facebook business page!
Need some more help understanding Facebook algorithms and how to make them work for your business please call (203) 429-9671 or email us at: info@saltyreddogmarketing.com.
Salty Red Dog Marketing, LLC is a marketing agency in Darien, CT & NYC. We service businesses with marketing strategies, social media and consultations.
Contact: info@saltyreddogmarketing.com