I think we can all agree that it’s getting harder and harder to get quality engagement on Facebook. Just when you think you have a handle on it, algorithms change and you have to rethink your strategy again. This year I want to focus on turning my Facebook fan page into a more engaging space, and I hope to share what I’ve learned so you can do the same!
I think one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made in the past with my Facebook page is using it too much to promote my own blog posts. I’m sure I’m not alone in this, but I want to return it to a more engaging space where there’s dialogue. Below you will find some of the things that I’ve been trying out…
Using Different Types of Facebook Posts
Mixing up the types of posts. Switching up between images, questions, links, and videos helps to keep your content varied and appealing to different members of your page’s followers.
1) Get More Comfortable Using Video
Can you believe that over 100 million hours of video were watched on Facebook last year?! Videos usually do really well on Facebook when it comes to getting engagement. Try to upload your own videos to Facebook, rather than using external links to YouTube or Vimeo. Facebook loves Facebook, so give your video the best shot by uploading to Facebook or doing a live video.
2) Ask Your Fans a Question
Most of us enjoy sharing our opinions on any given subject– especially if it’s a controversial topic! Questions can be great at getting comments on your posts, which in turn help its affinity score so that it’s shown to more Facebook users.
Questions are also great for finding out about what your fan base really likes to read/see. You might be surprised at the answers you get, and it can help you plan out future content for your page. It can also help you get feedback about different topics for your blog!
3)Take Care When Linking to External Articles
It’s fine to link to other articles outside of Facebook, but you want to make sure that they are going to be engaging. As I mentioned above, Facebook loves Facebook, so you want to make sure that the article you share will get a decent amount of engagement!
4)Memes or Funny Cartoons
Viral content can be great for getting likes, shares, and comments. The key is to make sure that it relates to the content you usually share on your fan page. For example, if you regularly post content about parenting, a meme that focuses on staying out all night partying probably wouldn’t get the same reception as a funny parenting cartoon from the Crappy Pictures blog!
5) Check Facebook Insights Regularly
One of the best tools you can use on Facebook is the Insights, which you can find on the top navigation bar next to Notifications. Your insights will tell you everything you always wanted to know about your fan base. You can find out what country your fans are from, whether you have more women than men that follow you, what age they are, etc.
Just as demographics help you when creating your media kit, they are tremendously helpful when planning content for your page. Use the information to create an imaginary fan and imagine you are speaking to them through your page. Share things you think they would love in an easy, informal manner!
Insights also tell you a lot about what types of posts do well on your page and when most of your fans are on Facebook. By clicking on the Overview tab at the top of the lefthand side of the Insights menu, you can see you last five posts and how many people they reached, how many people clicked on links, and the types of engagement each post got (likes/shares).
This information is SO HELPFUL when planning future content. It helps decipher what your audience liked and what they would like to see more of in your feed. Use the insights as a benchmark for how your page is doing, so you can adjust as needed.
Where to Learn More About Growing Your Facebook Fan Page
I mentioned above that this year I am going to spend more time on my Facebook page and trying to build a community there. I recently purchased Strategies Worth Sharing (affiliate link), an e-book written by a fellow blogger and I’m excited about the results I’ve seen so far after implementing her suggestions! I would definitely recommend checking it out if you are struggling with your reach and engagement.
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Great post! Thanks for the help!
You’re welcome, Samantha! Glad you found it helpful! 🙂