The New Facebook Algorithm

The elusive and constantly evolving Facebook algorithm is always changing. For better or for worse the end goal is to ensure that it's users will be provided with a better experience. So how will this change affect you.

I happy to say that the strategies in our group seem to be effective strategies for riding the wave of the new Facebook algorithm. Have a read of the three posts below. They are very interesting and do a great job of teaching the basics of the new algorithm. If you have a Facebook page for your blog, you pretty much need to know this... 

The New Facebook Algorithm: Secrets Behind How It Works and What You Can Do To Succeed

• This post by Buffer discusses how the Facebook algorithm and News Feed works. They discuss the four key algorithm factors and explain how brands (or us bloggers) should be using this information to ensure our Page's posts are seen.
• The post also goes over how posts are ranked on the News Feed and the importance of having active interactions (i.e. sharing, commenting, and reacting) on your posts. This is highlights the importance of our Facebook threads. The more members we have engaging on the posts the more our Page posts will be seen!
• Read the post.

What the Big Facebook News Feed Changes Mean for Brands

• This post by Hootsuite reiterates the importance of posting engaging quality content that elicits comments. Again, our daily Facebook threads theoretically should help to improve our Page's post rankings. Should we also start sharing each other's posts? Let me know in the comments below. We can simply share them onto our own Pages. Seeing as all of our posts are travel related it shouldn't be too much of a problem, should it?
• Like the post from Buffer, this one also highlights the importance of not falling into the “engagement-bait” trap. In other words they advise Page owners not to use phrases like "COMMENT your favourite travel destination" or "TAG your travel buddy". Apparently Facebook will recognise these kind of attempts of goading people to comment and demote your post on the News Feed rankings.
• Read the post.

Facebook News Feed Algorithm History

• This post from WALLARO is quite interesting as well because it provides a comprehensive timeline of how the Facebook News Feed algorithm has evolved over time. It gives us all the changes that have occurred from 2006 all the way to 2018. Pretty amazing stuff!
• Importantly the post emphasises the importance of us bloggers needing to create posts that will generate back-and-forth discussion among Facebook users. How are you going to do this? I'd be interested to hear what ideas you have for this in the comments below! (No, this isn't "engagement-bait", I genuinely would for us to share some ideas). 
• Read the post.

So here we are. We've got all the facts, so now we need to act on them. What do you think about the new Facebook algorithm and what's one thing you're going to start doing differently to make sure that your Facebook Page and it's content is not lost in all of the noise of the Facebook News Feed? Let me know in the comments below.