How the Facebook algorithm works and how to beat it (with a bit of work)

How can I increase my followers on Facebook? Every business that wants to drive a successful social media campaign has the same question.

While you are wondering about gaining followers and likes. Keep in mind that Facebook wants users to spend the most time possible on Facebook.

It is quite a challenge to keep people engaged on Facebook, especially with Facebook’s algorithm.

Here we will show you six major hacks that will get Facebook to reward you and show your posts to a wider audience.

What is the Facebook algorithm?

The Facebook algorithm is a set of complex rules that decide the order and frequency of the appearance of posts and ads on each person’s newsfeed based on what’s most engaging for that person.

In general, the Facebook algorithm will rank your posts higher if they target the interest of a specific audience, or personality type in a way that pushes them to engage with your posts, by liking, sharing, and commenting.

You can also get your Facebook page to rank better if you constantly post relevant content that keeps users on Facebook. And, second people are engaging with your posts.

Let me explain how it works…

How the Facebook algorithm works?

The Facebook algorithm works by aggregating information regarding what a given Facebook user likes and dislikes and giving it a score using AI. The algorithm rewards high user engagement, which could come from the enjoyment of your post or from outrage.

The only way to beat the algorithm is to closely monitor your specific audience and learn from what they respond strongly to, then compound on it.

To beat the Facebook algorithm you have to know your audience well; what they enjoy seeing, or really dislike seeing (but simply must give their opinion on), the words they use, and the sources they like to get their info from (like individuals, celebrities, or news outlets). To constantly optimize for the Facebook algorithm and get better engagement tests and adapt aspects of your content.

How to make more engaging posts on Facebook (what to test):

• Post topic (what are they really interested in now?)
• What image do they react too? (men vs women, people vs animals, love vs violence, etc.)
• What tone of voice they react to? (personal vs formal, enthusiastic vs layed back, positive vs negative, etc.)
• What media type they react to? (video, images, text, a mix)
• Posting time (when are your audience most engaged? is it before work, during, or after? is it on the weekend?)
• Post length, in terms of time spent (30 seconds, 2 minutes, 15 minutes?)

If you find the sweet spot in any of these aspects of your post, then you will be able to post content, pictures, videos, and stories that are truly relevant, meaningful, and important to YOUR audience.

What users engage with ultimately drives the Facebook algorithm “decision” to give your posts and stories high visibility or to bury them under the endless flood of social media cacophony.

Facebook gathers an insane amount of data on their users to feed their AI, so it could make predictions as to what content each user would like in the future based on what they liked in the past. Facebook even conducts surveys to gathers more qualitative information directly from their users say.

How the Facebook newsfeed algorithm works:

To be successful with your Facebook marketing, you can leverage Facebook’s immensely powerful predictive engine to send different versions of your content out into the “Facebook wilderness” and see which of them performs better.

To get more people to engage with your posts you have to try different approaches and do more of what works. This post will give you the arsenal you need to create the best possible posts and make the Facebook algorithm work for you.

Below are 5 battle-tested ways to feed the Facebook algorithm what it wants so it rewards you with more views, more followers, and more leads.

How to use the Facebook algorithm to your advantage

Apply our tips below to get better visibility for your posts on Facebook’s newsfeed and build more followers. But remember that Facebook is a highly competitive arena; to get the reward you’ll have to put in the work. Nothing in marketing hardly ever comes easy, but with our help, it will come easier.

1. Start a rigorous posting calendar

This is a busy world where everyone is busy. You need to publish your posts when your audience is most likely to see them, and more importantly free to engage (or better yet, board and actively looking to engage). Finding when those times are for your audience is the key, the sticking to them.

A posting schedule, or a calendar that will give you the certainty that someone is listening on the other side. But more than that it will actually habituate your audience to your posting times, meaning that they will become accustomed to expecting your posts on certain days and hours and may actively seek them out.

Your posting times can be weekly, monthly, or half-yearly. It depends on your audience’s habits, and on the nature of the post as well as how much attention it requires to enjoy fully.

For example, if you post your B2C content during the night, it may get lost in the feeds until morning. Noon is an ideal time when the audience can engage with your posts when they are taking a break from their busy working schedule.

To easily get this done, you can use a simple spreadsheet or use tools like Buffer to help you plan your calendar and schedule your updates.

2. Always strive to establish a connection

While you want more like, comment, and share to your page, liking other pages can also help you get more followers. How? If the Facebook algorithm sees that you are engaging not only one your page but also on other pages, you will be warming up the chances of more views.

All you have to do is drive other relevant profiles to engage in a good conversation on Facebook.

This is a simple way to reach out to more people. In turn, when they like your posts, it increases your engagement. Their followers can see the pages they follow and it helps them reach out to you.

As your engagement increases, Facebook ranks you higher and you get exposure by helping others.

3. Avoid posting links directly

Your Facebook Page is a business page, you want to sell your product/ service is quite obvious.

But the purpose is not only to promote yourself but to engage with your posts as well and make people stay. To show the algorithm that you are not leading people off Facebook instead you are creating conversations. This will increase your chances of getting more people to see your page/posts.

When you post a link, it becomes a clickable post. It directs your followers to your website directly. So, avoid posting links directly as the aim is to make them engage in your post so that they like, comment and share. There are several other ways in which you can post a link. You can post it in the comment section. People are using anchor text as well, to guide their users to the website after checking out their post.

5. Grasp any opportunity for Facebook Live (in your niche)

Do you know Facebook Live Videos have 222% more reach than pre-recorded videos? Yes. It is true. There is a reason why people go live with Snapchat, Instagram, and now even Facebook. Even if you believe that Facebook Live is not for businesses, there are several reasons that can prove you wrong.

The best thing is that you do not need to spend money on a high-quality video while you can go live and offer your followers transparency in terms of your unique content. It is cost-effective and offers what followers desire- transparency.

4. Organize Facebook watch parties

Now, this is something that Facebook Algorithm loves. If you have no idea about it, don’t worry. Facebook Watch Parties are like hosting a movie night with your friends on your phone.

This is a feature that allows you to share a live or recorded video on your profile for group viewing where your followers watching it can like it, comment on it, and talk about it. You can use a creative of your own or another engaging video about a customer talking about your product or anything that engages your followers.

It is different from Facebook Live as you don’t need to think of things right at the moment. Instead, you plan, share, and let your friends hop on to enjoy viewing some amazing videos. The engagement rate of these Facebook Watch Parties is beyond the ease and comfort of hosting them. You get numerous likes, comments, and share with this simple activity.

Apart from going live on Facebook, watch parties are a great way to make people engage. Simply posting a video on your profile does not get as much attention as a watch party does. Inform your followers of your future parties and generate leads.

You can also launch your new products via Facebook Live. Creating a buzz around the launch can make people excited about them. It is a very personal approach to your followers that helps you establish a personal connection with your users. The benefits of using Facebook Live are numerous and you need to count on them.

Conclusion

The more followers, the better it is for your business. While you use many strategies to increase your followers, it is also important to engage your existing followers with relevant content. The use of social media is changing the way people market their products and services. Use it for your benefit by understanding it.

Facebook algorithm is constantly changing. Figuring out the ways to work around it makes you engage your followers while generating leads by offering them what they desire. Transparency, consistency, quality, and reliability help you stand apart from the crowd of businesses.

How I can increase my followers on Facebook- the answer to this question is hidden in the hacks explained above. Understand Facebook Algorithm, understand your users, and generate more leads through Facebook.

Note: There are multiple social media platforms that each have their own unique algorithm. If you are interested in learning about the Instagram algorithm, click here.