Facebook Stole My Cheese!
By now you’ve read multiple articles and heard countless complaints about the changes in Facebook’s algorithm. In fact, maybe by now you’re sick and tired of hearing about how Facebook lied, how they should’ve kept things the way they were, etc. You know that you can’t get the same reach any more, and on a personal level, you can’t see the stuff your friends post, either. And you’re thinking about jumping ship, but where would you go? You’ve invested so much time into Facebook, how can you possibly leave now?
Facebook Won’t Go Away Any Time Soon
Maybe you’ve read my previous post asking if it’s time to leave Facebook. But maybe you haven’t taken the leap yet. With 1.19 billion users (see the Next Web article), Facebook is the behemoth that won’t go away. People love Facebook, and it’s a great way to share content, post embarrassing family pictures, and find videos of goats climbing in trees set to hip-hop music. Oh, wait. That’s my life.
Let’s Say You’re a Mouse…
So let’s pretend for a minute that you’re a mouse–because in a way you are a mouse. And Facebook? They have the cheese. So how do you get some of that precious cheese that keeps disappearing because there are too many mice and they’re all squealing at once for more cheese but there just isn’t as much anymore? Well, maybe this metaphor has run its course through that maze (did you see what I did there?).
How Do You Make Your Posts More Visible?
How to Get Back Some of the Cheese
Here are a few ways to make your posts more visible. And get some more of that precious cheese.
Create Unique Content
Your own content, preferably in the form of blog posts, can benefit by being adorned with your own images. Bigger images are always better on Facebook. You can also use video or a simple picture, one that you took yourself.
Post More Often
Post a little more often. Most business owners don’t have time to post multiple times a day, but the posts don’t have to be big deal posts. You could ask a question, thank your new fans for following you, or pick a small quote from a blog post. Yes or no questions are often very successful. Don’t ask people to recite a poem or do an interpretive dance because it’s not gonna happen.
Post At Different Times
The analytics on your business page might say that your fans are online at noon. But probably so are everyone else’s fans, too. Why not experiment with posting at a few different times? And remember that scheduling your posts ahead of time is really easy on Facebook.
Look for Surprises
One thing I like to do is search for the surprises within my posted content. By that, I mean to scroll back through the posts and see what kind of content got shared, liked, commented on, etc. What time did you post? What day of the week? Then rinse and repeat: use the same types of posts, and the times you posted, too. How have you readjusted to the change in Facebook’s reach? Or did you quit?
Those are good tips. I need to post more often. I’m going to think about this.
Thank you, Bridget. I’m going to share more from other pages! And that solves more than one problem. :D
Oh. That’s a good idea.
You already do that so much. You’re a good role model, Bridget!
Carol
Oh man that means a lot to me.
You’re the one to emulate, Bridget! :D
You are always commenting on, sharing, and having conversations with so many people, and providing an example of what to do. Yes you are!
Hi Carol
I was so disappointed in facebook , that I stopped posting and going to it . While followers are nice , I really crave interaction, talking. On Facebook , I don’t know how to make that happen.. I am going to try these tips , there plausible , and trying is better than quitting ! Thank you Carol , you are appreciated!
These are great tips and what it boils down to, if you’re bothered by it either delete your account or use Google Plus which I love! In a nutshell, if you’re plugging a business, keep it business related and we don’t want to see pictures of your kids on the potty. Keep your content real and a little edgy. Boring “Design” posts are the worst! Thanks Carol :-)
Hi Donna,
Yes, many people are choosing not to post on Facebook, or else paying to engage their audiences. Many of my social manager friends are posting elsewhere for their clients because of the low reach.
Thanks for the comment!
Sincerely,
Carol