If your business is on Facebook, you probably know about (or have at least heard of) the cryptic algorithm that decides whether your posts show up in someone’s news feed. Well, they call it Edgerank, and as mysterious and elusive as it may be, there are a few ways to make it work in your favor.
Use Photos
Photos, when used correctly, can help with both Engagement and Reach, and work with the increasingly visual nature of social networks. What can really help businesses is the fact that Facebook wants to promote what they see as “high quality” content. So, grab your camera (or smartphone) and start taking some shots! Use photos to bring your audience into the culture of your business, whether that means showing the steps in making a sandwich, or actually showing off the person doing it. Photos in posts are a great way to make your audience feel like they’re involved.
Timing
Facebook’s Page Insights can be a huge help when thinking about when to post your content. They actually go so far as to show off the time frames when your Fans are online. Looking to incite the dinner crowd and see there’s a spike in Fans online at 4:30? Schedule your post to go out around that time. Be mindful of when your Fans are online as well as the crowd you want to attract with your post.
Engage Fans
If your posts are engaging, judging by Likes, Comments, and Shares, then Facebook will reward you with further Reach. This also means it’s important to remember that if you burden your page with excessive posts that no one is Liking or Commenting on, your Reach will swiftly decline. Try to get involved with your audience! Ask them questions, use photos to invite them into your business’ community, and respond to all of their Comments. The more quality Engagement, the better! Offer relevant and attractive content to get this social media snowball effect started.
Break Down and Open Your Wallet
Curious to know the easiest – and, to some, the most terrifying – way to get your business noticed on Facebook? The most straightforward solution is to delve into the world of Promoted Posts or Facebook Ads. Basically, put some money behind your quality content, and let Facebook do the work. Facebook has spent a lot of time simplifying advertising for paying customers, making it the most solid way to get guaranteed Reach for your business.
The bottom line on making the Edgerank voodoo work for you? Spend time creating quality and engaging content, timing it right, and further engaging with your Fans through your Page. Add all of these together, and you’ll easily cast a spell over your business’ social media.