Facebook has done it again. They've updated their News Feed algorithm.
This move is aligned with founder Mark Zuckerberg’s vision to bring Facebook back to its roots—more social network and less marketing platform. Users will begin seeing more content from family and friends and less from brands, news outlets, and businesses, which could mean bad news for Page admins, specifically those who have grown to rely on Facebook’s free tools to reach their target audience. With the new algorithm, your friends will get better post placement than business pages.
But, all hope is not lost. We've uncovered these 4 key ways to help retain the visibility of your page’s posts:
1. “See First” feature
Facebook has a feature called “See First” which allows users to see new posts at the top of their News Feed. To be given priority, don’t hesitate to ask your fans to switch on the feature for your Page. Do a little video and show them!
There is no guarantee that everyone will switch on the “See First” feature, but there’s a big chance your brand’s loyal fans will. They may just need to be reminded. After all, many people don’t know about “See First”.
2. Promote posts
Facebook has promised the change in the News Feed will not affect promoted posts. This is because businesses pay for the boost, so they will continue receiving the services they’re paying for. If you’ve not tried promoted posts before, it’s time you do.
You don’t have to go big right away – you can spend as little as $5 a week for starters. Of course, the more you spend, the wider your reach. But it still doesn’t change the fact that you can boost your content regardless of your budget.
3. Shareable content
Producing shareable content as a strategy to gain more visibility isn’t new, but its importance is magnified now more than ever. Facebook will give higher priority to content shared by family and friends, so logic says your content will get a wider reach if more people share it.
The key here is great, quality content that others would want to share. Get creative. It’s not about what you want to share, but about what can be of value that others would be motivated to share.
4. Conversation starters
Posts that evoke discussions will get higher distribution in the News Feed, so make sure to produce content that elicits comments and encourages interactions. You need to stay away from purely promotional posts and veer toward engaging ones. Videos are great examples of content that can raise a reaction, but be careful not to share click bait. The new Facebook algorithm wants substance.
The major changes to Facebook’s News Feed may not be welcomed by businesses. However, take it as a test of your own brand’s adaptability. If you can keep up with the ever-evolving rules of social media platforms, then you can be assured your business has what it takes to adjust to change, no matter how unexpected.
