Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook Founder and CEO, announced on January 11th that Facebook will be changing their news feed algorithm which will affect brands and business pages (that means us!).
This means that on your news feed you will see more posts from family and friends and less public content from pages and companies you follow. Facebook's goal is to encourage more meaningful interactions between people and eventually better our communities and well-being overall because of it. This will be good for people personally, but not initially great for businesses trying to utilize Facebook to gain an audience and customer base.
Below are a few steps to start taking on your social media to make sure you stay present and continue reaching your audience, both current and potential followers.
1. Utilize other social platforms
There are so many options for reaching your audience through social media and you need to find the right platform for your audience. Facebook isn't the only way to share content and engage with potential customers, you can post photos on Instagram, tweet up-to-date information on Twitter, and share news on LinkedIn. Managing a few different platforms will increase your reach and become a fun way for your followers to interact with your brand. If your team is too small to take on the task, don't worry, we can help!
2. Increase post engagement and interactions
This is HUGE. Facebook's goal is to increase conversations. A comment is worth more than a like and more posts with longer comments will boost your post so that it reaches more eyes. This has always been a goal for social media pages but will become a trending tactic for 2018. Posing questions, asking for opinions, and really engaging with your audience will be the best way to continue growing your brands reach not only on Facebook but across all social media platforms.
3. Focus on your website's SEO
Your website is probably still your biggest point of referral for current and potential customers. Working on your site's SEO (Search Engine Optimization) will increase the likelihood of someone finding your business when they're searching for the services you offer. If you need help in this area, Hired Hand can get you and your website on the right path. With our custom websites, you can control and increase your SEO at the click of a button. Email info@hiredhandsoftware.com if you'd like to learn more.
As another tip, if you really want to make sure your current followers continue to see your posts, you can tell them how! By following a few simple steps, your content will always be provided at the top of their news feed.
Overall, Facebook is trying to create a more personal experience and better communities through social media which in the long run can only better our businesses. If you practice the three tips above you'll have nothing to worry about. Just remember, it's called social media for a reason, engage with your audience!
If you have any more tips, we'd love to hear them in the comments below!