Optimizing Facebook Newsfeed Posts
Download as PPTX, PDF5 likes2,140 views
The document provides tips for optimizing posts on Facebook brand pages to maximize impressions via newsfeeds. It notes that over 90% of fans do not revisit pages, so posts are important for driving impressions. It recommends using compelling photo or video posts; understanding and optimizing for the EdgeRank algorithm which considers user affinity, engagement weight, and post freshness; posting at optimal times; and creating a content calendar. The high-level goal is to generate engaging content that increases user interactions and drives higher reach and impressions for brand pages on Facebook.
Optimizing Facebook Newsfeed Posts
- 1. Optimizing Newsfeed Posts for Brand Pages Confidential to IT Agility LLC
- 2. 90%+ of Facebook fans do not revisit fan pages which makes fan page posts critical to driving impressions. 1. The average Facebook person “likes” a multitude of pages and interests. 2. Over 90% of fans do not revisit the fan page. 3. Most fan page posts are consumed via the broadcast out to fan newsfeeds. 4. 99% of comments and likes come from fan interaction via their newsfeed. 5. Newsfeed impressions measure how many fans see your fan page posts. 6. Many fans “like” the Facebook ad without visiting the brand page. It is critical for brands to make high quality fan page posts and optimize impressions via newsfeeds. Source: IT Agility experience across our 11 managed pages with over 2.5 Million fans and Buddy Media Study 1
- 3. Companies should adopt several leading practices for their Facebook brand pages. 1. Understand the Facebook EdgeRank algorithm and how to maximize impressions. 2. Make high quality fan page posts. • Write compelling and optimal fan page posts using photo or video types of posts. • Be responsive to fan posts/comments. • Monitor and understand Fan Page engagement rates. (time to post, post characteristics, etc.) 3. Optimize your page configuration relevant to your industry and situation. • Select the best page category relevant to your brand page. • Make page settings relevant to your brand. • Make a compelling landing page as a custom tab for Facebook ads to maximize fan conversion rates. 2
- 4. Understanding the Facebook EdgeRank Algorithm is critical for brands to maximize newsfeed impressions. Facebook’s EdgeRank Algorithm • The EdgeRank Algorithm has 3 components: 1. u - Edge rank is an affinity score between the viewing user and the item‟s creator (if a person engages with your brands newsfeed posts then you will have a higher edge score with this person and your brand page) 2. w - There‟s a weight given to each type of Edge (a comment has more importance than a Like). Each brand page posts earns an edge score based on how engaging each post is. When a user likes, comments, shares, or interacts with a post the W score is improved. 3. d -Time is a factor….the older an Edge is, the less important it becomes. Most posts have a 2-3 hour life on Facebook before the time decay factor renders the post obsolete. • Multiply these factors for each Edge then add the Edge scores up and you have an Object‟s EdgeRank. The higher the edge rank is, the more likely your Object is to appear in the user‟s feed. • The act of creating an Object is also considered an Edge, which is what allows objects to show up in your friends‟ feeds before anyone has interacted with them. 3
- 5. Our content tab provides a proprietary “social rank” score identifying the most engaging content for each subject area. Wisdom of crowds identifies the best content for each subject area. 4
- 6. The “social rank” score identifies which content is getting the most engagement across social media platforms. SocialRank Score SocialRank considers content engagement across major social media platforms. 5
- 7. Engaging content generates buzz and improves brand impressions across destinations. Trending • Increase likes, • Increase • Attract more • Increase open Content comments, and retweets members to rates shares per post • Gain more your group • Improve click • Improve fan followers • Improve thru rates affinity with your • Increase engagement per • Grow viral brand engagement post sharing of • Gain more with followers • Increase content newsletter impressions shares attached across • Increase fan to your brand colleagues, conversion rates family, and friends Brand Mobile Devices 6
- 8. Posting engaging content generates “social clicks” and attracts viral fans by reaching friends of fans. 5 Six of his top friends also comment or like the 4 article creating a new wave of viral sharing to 20% of Joe‟s close their friends. friends (28 people) discover the article via 1 his newsfeed post. “Joe user” clicks on a photo post and link to an article shared via a brand page post. 2 Joe user likes the brand post sharing the article. 3 The post that Joe likes the article broadcasts to the News Feeds of his 139 friends*. *139 is the average size of Facebook users‟ networks (Source: Facebook‟s S-1) 7
- 9. The trending view of content helps page managers identify the most engaging content for brand page posts. Engaging Content Increases Brand impressions 2) CelebBistro posts the trending item to our wall 1) Article hits trending content view with a 112 social rank 3) As expected, post receives high levels of fan engagement: 3,585 likes, 472 shares, 206 comments Facebook’s EdgeRank Algorithm 4) High engagement optimizes post impressions and reach via 103,472 people reached Facebook’s EdgeRank Algorithm 8
- 10. Picking engaging content is a key factor for driving impressions via Facebook’s EdgeRank algorithm. Facebook EdgeRank Brand Page Optimization 1. Fan that engage with your content creates a higher affinity score between fans and your brand page (u score) 2. High volume of likes, shares, and comments drives a higher EdgeRank as engaging posts are shown to more newsfeeds (w score) 3. Time - the older an Edge is, the less Facebook shows the post (d score). An average brand page newsfeed post stops gaining impressions within ~3 hours. Facebook’s EdgeRank Algorithm 9
- 11. Successful Posting 101 1) Always include a visual element (picture or video). If you want to share a link, do a photo post and include the link in the comment text. 2) Don‟t be afraid to cue fans into action, use words such as: watch, check out, look at, like, etc. 3) Keep posts short and sweet, stick to 3 sentences or less. 4) Tack on a question at the end of a post to encourage a response. Remember that comments increase the W score in EdgeRank. 5) Keep an eye on your Facebook wall and insights. Learn when your audience is the most active and post during times of high activity. 6) Respond quickly to fan questions and comments. If it‟s a large issue, give the person relevant company contact info and help move the conversation off of the wall. 10
- 12. A photo post is the top performing type of post and should always be utilized versus sharing a link. Link included in text. 1) Start with a photo post. 2) Upload the full size photo image. 3) You can always share an article link in the text with the photo post. Large and engaging photos. 11
- 13. Avoid Link Type posts! When you share a link, Facebook auto sizes a small photo image which is much less engaging in fan newsfeeds. The link type post image is way less attention-grabbing versus a photo post No link posts! Note: A link post is created when you paste a link into the “Status” posting window on your wall. Link posts achieve way less fan interaction than normal. Facebook EdgeRank deems this post as less engaging and the post is given way less space in a fan‟s newsfeed. 12
- 14. Utilizing Facebook insights will show you that photo posts outperform other types of posts. Facebook Insights for CelebBistro Fan Page: Click the “Virality” column to sort on the most engaging posts. Filter by Type of Post to easily discover which post types perform the best. 13
- 15. Uploading 3-5 photos to your page photo album generates an engaging post to fan Newsfeeds. Photo Album Upload featuring Adele Visit Page Insights often to identify which posts generated the most engagement, then post more of this type of content. 14
- 16. Facebook has optimal times to post fan page content. • Facebook engagement has three engagement peaks: early morning (7 a.m. EST), after work (5 p.m. EST) and late at night (11 p.m. EST). • Non-work hours have the highest engagement rate peaks • Thursday, Friday and Sunday posts have the highest engagement rates • Each brand needs to consider the behavior and peak engagement rates for their audience Source: Buddy Media Study 15
- 17. Take advantage of Facebook’s built in post scheduling and post targeting features. Schedule a post. Target a post based on fan demographics 16
- 18. Promoting a post works well for some types of post that you want most of your fan base to see. Promoted Posts Work for: • Product announcements Promoted posts typically deliver lower • Promoting contests, giveaways, fan conversion rates than landing tab sweepstakes, etc.. • You will be charged for promoted posts ads. So, avoid promoted posts if your just like running a Facebook ad goal is to grow new fans. 17
- 19. Post characteristics drive engagement rates. • Using action words increases fan interactions wit h your posts • “Like us” if you ……works • Asking for comments works • Posts with 80 characters or less gain 27% more engagement than posts that were more than 80 characters. • Only 19% of posts in the study were shorter than 80 characters • Posts with a full-length URL had three times the engagement of their shortened bit.ly, ow.ly and tinyurl counterparts (the likely reason is readers want to know the link destination) Source: Buddy Media Study 18
- 20. Optimal frequency of posts varies by type of business fan page. • Optimal Post Frequency is relative to the type of brand page site • 1 – 2 posts per day for a typical company brand page • 3 – 4 posts if you have interesting and compelling content • 6 – 12 posts per day for global media sites • Post at least 2 hours apart • Don‟t repost the same content • Write an optimal status update with the content • > 4 lines will yield …”more” link to see full post • Photo and video posts increase engagement quality and ultimate Facebook impressions • Ending with a question increases comments 19
- 21. Preparing a content calendar helps ensure that all involved are on the same page (Travel Industry Examples). • A weekly or monthly content calendar keeps posting topics organized and helps combat monotony. • Be sure to switch up the calendar, exchange „Monday‟ content with „Thursday‟ content to keep posts fresh. • Example Content Calendar for Mondays: 9 AM: Quick Getaways- Guide fans to deals on excursions within the US, focus on region (West Coast, Midwest, etc.) 1 PM: Travel-Ticker Favorites- Destinations, Activities, Travel Accessories, Restaurants, Clubs, Cultural Experiences, etc. 5 PM: Fan Question (ex. Which tropical destination would you like to escape to this winter? Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Hawaii, etc.) 20
- 22. Photo and video posts drive the most Facebook impressions and links can be shared within the comment section of the post. Want to sail away into the sunset? Check out our Facebook app for amazing deals on cruises! http://www.facebook.com/travelticker?sk=app_128003390638092 Beginning January 26th, new guidelines are in place for airline carriers. If a flight is delayed, cancelled or bumped the airline must notify passengers within 30 minutes. Do you think this change will improve your air travel experience? Summer is fast approaching! Whether your family is interested in Disney, snorkeling, road trips, or Broadway… We have deals on hotels, car rentals, flights, and vacation packages! Where would you like to take the family this year?! http://www.facebook.com/travelticker?sk=app_137638279672984 21
- 23. In Summary, Business Fan Pages have several EdgeRank considerations. EdgeRank Brand Page Optimization • U Score - An active user that engages (likes, comments, clicks links, etc.) with your brand‟s newsfeed posts creates a higher affinity score with that fan • W score - High volume of likes, shares, and comments drives a higher EdgeRank for each respective post • D Score - Time remains a factor….the older an Edge is, the less important it becomes. • Attached content (photo and video posts) drive a higher edgerank and photo posts have the highest edge score • Several other factors appear to drive relative Facebook impressions across fan page posts • Competition against other fan page posts • Weighting of factors driven by Facebook (e.g. promoting places feature) • Time and day of posts (peak usage times of Facebook users) • Volume of fans on your page helps (critical mass helps to drive more likes and comments) 22