For a marketer, optimizing their Facebook newsfeed is still the primary goal - even if it has been recently updated and radically changed. You could even say that now, it's more important than ever! The newsfeed is where your new fan will see all of your updates. They very rarely go back to your Facebook page. Here's how to get your updates noticed.
Post Delivery: Making It Count
There's been a sudden surge in content, since the news ticker made its first appearance. Whatever you do, don't fall into the icy grip of this current trend. Businesses are excited that each thing they post will show up there, so they are posting more and more - hoping to get some interaction from their fans. You should focus on the top stories and recent stories list. These are where you'll get some great interaction. The ticker is an added bonus.
The very large, very engaging businesses on Facebook only post about 10 or 20 pieces of content per day. They space it out, and make sure every post is relevant and engaging. Your Facebook page however, is not a big brand. More than 5 pieces of content a day, and you'll end up irritating your fans. Enough for them to eventually get fed up, unlike you - or report you as a spammer. Time and space count!
Short, Action Based Posts
We still have the Edgerank algorithm to think about, which means your posts need to prompt interaction. Media is inherently more interactive than text, so your mantra should be 'If you can say it with a pic/video - do it!' Keep your text short. Facebook is not Google+, where updates tend to be longer. People appreciate nuggets of information, links to more information or fun information (i.e. media).
If you want your fans to interact, then you need to tell them what to do. Posting some random text and hoping for great comments is not going to help you. Instead, Keep your message direct, and afterwards - tell your fans exactly what you want from them. A please and thank you here and there is also effective. In every post, aim for comments. They'll increase your Edgerank score and will make you appear more relevant to your fans.
Grounding Your Posts in Relevance
News and time sensitive posts have been brilliant in optimizing your newsfeed in the past, and they still are. If there is a holiday or a news story in your niche that has hit the internet, use them in your posts. Then, use these posts to ground your own information in a relevant event. Add a link to it for extra impact. Applications allow for customization on Facebook, which is valued by their algorithm and by your fans.
If you really want to show up in your fan's newsfeeds often, investing in a unique application that will keep them engaged is the best thing you can do. It could be something as simple as a quiz app, or something as complex as a niche related social game. What you put in, is what you'll get out!
Are you having trouble getting your fans to interact with your page? Leave your problem below, and let's find the solution!
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