Facebook has once again changed their EdgeRank algorithm. The result has been an increasingly limited reach for Pages. While the average drop appears to be about 6.5%, some Pages have experienced up to a 45% loss in how many followers are seeing their posts. Ouch!
The type of update seeing the biggest hit is, of course, links. Sharing your latest blog post on Facebook isn’t as effective as it used to be. As with any detrimental change, we find clever ways to adapt. Below are a few suggestions I have read and experimented with the past few weeks.
1. Start a conversation and link to your post in the first comment. This needs to be done immediately or followers may miss your follow-up link. I can’t say I’m a fan of this method as your followers will need to perform an additional click if there are multiple comments. Therefore, you can’t be entirely sure if they saw the follow-up link or just the original update.
2. I have witnessed numerous Pages sharing their links within an uploaded photo.
3. I have seen a jump in my views after experimenting with the timing of my posts. I have been receiving far more views and interaction from evening updates than my usual early morning posts. With Facebook’s scheduling feature, there is no reason not to try different time frames.
4. Speaking of scheduling, ditch the third-party apps. Services like Buffer and NetworkedBlogs have been penalized by EdgeRank for quite some time. Spend the few seconds to create an update manually. You can schedule them for future posting within Facebook if needed.
5. If you want interaction, ask for it. A strong call to action goes a long way. End your update with a request such as:
- Like this post if you agree
- Share this photo
- Would you try this method? Yes or No?
6. My strongest suggestion would be to continuously encourage your readers to join your email list. Do not assume they aren’t interested. Maybe they weren’t at first. But after following you for awhile, now they are. If you are using AWeber, they have an app available that will easily create a Tab and opt-in box on your Page. And, you own this list. If AWeber goes out of business, I can pack up my email subscribers and find a new service without any interruption to my readers. If Facebook would decide to make Pages a paid service or Facebook marketing would become less effective, you cannot simply download your followers and head over to another social networking platform.
Free services may work short-term but you should not build your business around them. You do not own your Page, therefore you should always focus on and build up those things you control – your self-hosted website and your email list. (If you do not yet have a premium newsletter service, you can get started with AWeber for only $1.)
Read More About List Building Here:
How to Get People to Sign Up for Emails
What to Include in Email Newsletters
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Angie Nelson
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I’m glad you posted this … I have been noticing over the past several days that most of my points are getting seen by just a fraction of my followers on Facebook. I just tried the “share a picture” method so we will see how that goes.
I have also noticed that I do see more interaction in the evening than in the morning, so I need to try to remember to share again later in the day. Thanks Angie!
Let me know if you see a difference, Anna. I would almost bet you do.
I am going to put one of these to the test today (commenting). I have tried the image on one of my sites’s pages and it also helps with gaining followers. It gets more ‘viral’ exposure that way. But we notice less click-through. Could be our niche audience.
I’m so glad I came back to your blog. It’s been a while. I had noticed a problem with Facebook views. I had posts typically getting 36 views every time I posted. This was usually over a 48 hour period. Now, it’s down to about 12. I only have 79 fans, but when I had only 50, my views were much higher.
I hate this. Thanks for your post, because I now know it’s not just me. What in the world is wrong with facebook anyway. I don’t think this is a way to get their stock price back up : (
It’s a constant state of evolution around here, Brian. We’ll adapt, it just stinks having to do it so often.
I found your link on SITS. I’m pretty new to the whole networking my blog thing. I would say I have enough problems with networking— not very many likes, hardly any comments. Anyway, I have very few “likers” and yet Facebook insights tell me that i.e. 200 people saw my post (organic), and I don’t have nearly that many Facebook “fans”.
I’m curious if I take your tips if it will make a difference in my communications with fans— I hope.
I signed up for network blogs but haven’t really seen a benefit, maybe I’ll ditch it, or at least try to change the settings.
Yes, Lyza. Things like asking questions and experimenting with different types of updates and timing should help with your engagement as a whole. And when your followers interact with your Page’s posts those things are then shared in their Friends’ newsfeeds.
This is such a helpful article Angie!
Thank you for these tips! We have definitely felt the sting from FB’s changes. I will definitely try some of these things for sure!
Angie,
I like your first tip. I am going to start doing that.
I did notice when I share a link or update from another page other than mine and mention them also in the message I get more views. I know it is someone else’s page and blog I may be linking to but I assume I get some of their audience to notice me too. ??? Or at the least the fanpage owner to notice me.
~Allie
If only we had analytics for Facebook, Allie! I thought mentions used to show up on a page’s wall, but I don’t see that now. The owner should still be notified however.
I started doing the first tip last week and have noticed a jump in reach as well. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before Facebook changes again so that jump is taken away as well. Gotta keep rollin’ with the punches right?
For sure, Renae. Thanks for stopping by!
These are all great tips. I’ve notice FB engagement going down lately and have been experimenting with some of these ideas. I may try more evening posts after reading this. Thanks!
And thanks for visiting my blog on my SITS Day.