Contrary to popular assumption, the Facebook algorithm isn’t the only factor in determining how successful a post will be at reaching a wider audience. The following are some of the most important Facebook best practices and suggestions you can follow to make sure your content is getting the attention it deserves.
- Formatting and captioning your content for Facebook
This is crucial in light of the rising prevalence of simultaneous Instagram and Twitter posts.
Put another way, Facebook shouldn’t be used as a dumping ground for content created for other channels. Pay special attention to:
Write one-of-a-kind captions (no repeats, no extra hashtags).
Don’t just link to other sites; use forms that will keep people engaged on Facebook (videos, infographics and so on)
Include a question or call to action (“comment below”) to spark conversation.
These suggestions are essential for increasing your organic reach on Facebook and gaining favor with the platform’s algorithm.
- Plan ahead and schedule your posts.
It’s no secret that the most popular Facebook pages update their content frequently throughout the day. For the sake of expanding your presence and signaling your activity to the algorithm, consistency is crucial. You can schedule posts in advance with apps like Sprout Social or use Facebook’s built-in capabilities like Facebook Studio.
- Post at the optimal times
Our research into peak social media posting periods has given us firsthand experience with the correlation between post timing and interaction. Timing your material for maximum impact isn’t everything, but it does raise the likelihood that your followers will see your most recent updates in the near future. With so much content vying for limited organic reach, every strategy that might boost awareness of your work is welcome.
- Make use of video content and Facebook Live to boost participation
In recent years, Facebook has been very clear about how good performing videos are.
Whether you’re worried about Facebook reach or not, adding video to your content strategy—be it a Live session or bite-sized promotion—is a good idea. You should know that videos are commonly the type of content that goes viral thanks to “Likes” and shares.
- Use Facebook ads to expose your brand to new fans
As organic reach has decreased, paid promotion on Facebook has increased. Ads are a direct route to your target audience, albeit their effectiveness depends on your bidding strategy and targeting. In fact, many well-known brands find the cost to be well justified.
- Increase your profile’s exposure by interacting with others and making use of Groups
You can increase your page’s viral reach by inviting other Facebook users such as workers or business partners to participate in its activities. The audience for every given post on any specific account or Page is strictly regulated. However, interactions from strangers might cause a snowball effect, in which the content is repeatedly recommended to those who aren’t already followers.