It’s hard to believe that Facebook wasn’t around 15 years ago and how much it has become such an integral part of our lives now. The one thing we know is anything good, will change. And Facebook is no exception. Facebook is always changing its algorithm, mobile app, functionality or appearance. They know so much about our social media habits. What we read, what we click on, what we comment on and what we share with our friends. If you really think about what they know it can become a little scary. But this knowledge for better or for worse makes Facebook changes pretty smart when it comes to how we use social media tools. Facebook has changed and will continue to evolve or it will die. Don’t Panic!

How Is Facebook Changing?

According to Mark Zuckerberg, “Video and other public content have exploded on Facebook in the past couple of years. Since there’s more public content than posts from your friends and family, the balance of what’s in News Feed has shifted away from the most important thing Facebook can do — help us connect with each other.”

From the Facebook Newsroom Announcement, “Facebook was built to bring people closer together and build relationships. One of the ways we do this is by connecting people to meaningful posts from their friends and family in News Feed. Over the next few months, we’ll be making updates to ranking so people have more opportunities to interact with the people they care about.”

Social media has always been about being social and creating, maintaining and developing relationships in the online space. As we have become more geographically separated and busier than ever, these tools have helped to connect us to people, brands, and organizations we love. Facebook wants to get back to making it more about these personal relationships.

How Does This Facebook Change Affect My Small Business?

Well, if we work with you, this probably won’t affect your business much. Why? Because we have always encouraged our clients to create authentic, genuine and real online relationships with their customers. We have encouraged the sharing of personal family photos, team accomplishments and behind the scenes sneak peaks. All ways to keep social media more personal. We certainly sprinkle in business but we know that social media followers want the bloopers and the funny moments in our days too.

10 Facebook Tips To Ensure Engagement

1. Update your cover and profile photos to be more human. Use photos of you, your team and your business.
2. Use cover photos to share video and slideshows. Movement is eye-catching.
3. Create a Facebook group for customers that you want to have an ongoing conversation with and that other customers can benefit from everyone’s experiences.
4. Share behind the scenes, funny, cute, real moments of your what a workday is like for you and your team.
5. Ask Questions to get feedback from your followers to get new products/services, feedback on current products, and services.
6. Have meaningful interactions, like/love etc and respond to all comments and messages your fans leave you.
7. Let your customers know what is happening. Like our post here: https://www.facebook.com/beverlycornellmarketing/posts/1780427145593669. Most of your customers won’t even know that Facebook is changing. Let them know how to raise their hand to see your content. This communication can be in a flyer and your email newsletter. Don’t be afraid to tell people and ask them to follow you.
8. You should always be reviewing your analytics for each tool you use. Be sure to review your Facebook insights to see what types of posts get the most engagement and when. Measure, and review often.
9. Facebook engagement with ads and boosts are always an option, but that can get super expensive fast. And to be honest these connections are usually very shortlived. Ads don’t build loyalty. Experiences do. We always suggest organic is better.
10. Ask what your fans want they want to see more of from you! And do that!

Social media tools and marketing for that matter changes often. There are constantly new updates to algorithyms and features. Expect change. As always, don’t put all your marketing in one basket. Diversification is important for any business. Having a solid marketing strategy with many channels will always serve you well.

Sources:

https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2018/01/news-feed-fyi-bringing-people-closer-together/

https://www.facebook.com/zuck/posts/10104413015393571