Yet again Facebook has tinkered under the bonnet of how its
algorithm works, and if you believe all the hype, it is bad news for businesses
using the platform to reach their customers. But for those already creating quality content, it might just be business as usual.
According to Mark Zuckerberg, “The first
changes you'll see will be in News Feed, where you can expect to see more from
your friends, family and groups.
As we roll this out, you'll see less public content like posts
from businesses, brands and media.”
What do the Facebook changes mean for small business?
- Your organic reach is likely to decline (again!). Reach has been on the slide since 2014 when Facebook first introduced advertising and later adjusted its algorithm to prioritise content from family and friends.
- Video, if already King, is now an omnipresent
ogliarchical King. We all know that
Facebook loves video in all its forms.
The good news is, video doesn’t have to be hard.
There’s plenty of apps available these days that can make even the dodgiest video skills look super pro. My favourites include:
o
Lapse It for fantastic time lapse videos
o
Filmora that works equally well with video or photos stitched
together to create a video.
o
Ripl for making images into video with awesome effects and
transitions.
…. And let’s not forget Facebook live.
Be engaging!
Under the new Facebook paradigm quality, engaging and
informative comment will be a must. Want
to know how to create engagement? Be engaging!
Remember it’s called “social media” and no one wants to be talked at
constantly. Ask questions of your
audience and answer their questions.
Simple stuff really!
Encourage people to follow your page
Having people liking your page may not be enough anymore. Encourage
people to follow your page. Checking “see first” under the follow tab (see
video below) will ensure people won’t miss a post from you.
Marketing with Facebook Groups
Facebook Groups will become ever more important for those
looking to market their business on Facebook as they are communities of people
united by a specific topic. Do you sell
a pet related product? Sell within a geographic area? Sell to parents? Car
lovers? Gardeners? There’s a group (or two or three or more) for you.
Groups are great way to connect with potential
customers and give you the opportunity to help people whilst at the same time
showing off your expertise and positioning yourself as an expert withing your
industry.You might even consider starting your own group to stay in touch
with your existing customer base and fans.
In short....
Engaging, informative content and plenty of video will
see you on the right track in 2018.
At Alfalfa we know keeping up with the world of social media can be tough - that's where we come in. If you'd like help with your small business social media marketing,we can help. From short, tailored social media training at your workplace to ongoing social media management, we offer a wide range of affordable, customisable options.
At Alfalfa we know keeping up with the world of social media can be tough - that's where we come in. If you'd like help with your small business social media marketing,we can help. From short, tailored social media training at your workplace to ongoing social media management, we offer a wide range of affordable, customisable options.
