Where Have All the (Facebook) Fans Gone, & What To Do About it

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

TWEET THIS: Where have all the #Facebook fans gone & what to do about it - @EdieMelson

Many of you may have heard the term EdgeRank in regard to Facebook’s policy for Fan (Professional) pages. It’s still a new term, but its purpose should sound familiar. EdgeRank compiles information Facebook believes will be valuable for each individual user. This is done through complicated equations, not unlike those search engine algorithms use to rank sites when a topic is searched.

Facebook has stated a lot of different reasons for this change, but knowing why isn't as important as learning how to play within these new rules. Whether we like it or not, things on FB have changes and to survive on this network, we've got to play within this new paradigm. 

Before we start though, we need to have reasonable expectations. So let’s look at what we know. At almost any time during a given twenty-four hour period, only between 16-20% of your fans will see a specific post. This is due to a lot of different variables.

• First, the fact that all of your fans are never on Facebook at the same time.
• Second, only a certain percentage interact with your page. Think about it, haven’t you liked a page and then never visited again?

In the new world of Facebook:

Engagement (interaction) is key to reaching more fans on Facebook.

Easy to say, but so hard to do. But there are things we can do to help reach more people on Facebook.

10 Ways to Help Your Fans Find You on Facebook Again:

1. Utilize a three-pronged approach to social media. Use your blog, Twitter and Facebook to reinforce each other. Share the same information across all three and keep the conversation going. 

Get on a schedule.

2. Get on a schedule. Set a goal for how often you want to post updates—then stick to it. 

3. Give us the inside scoop. Let your fans see you as a person—not just a business. (Warning: Don’t go overboard with this. Just an occasional post about grandchildren or exercise goes a long way!)

4. Promote others on YOUR Fan Page. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but trust me, it works.

5. Visit the Facebook pages of your fans and friends. You want people to comment on your page, so comment on theirs.

6. Put a Facebook button on your blog.

7. Tweet about your Facebook page and USE the appropriate hashtags.

Don't treat your FB page like a bulletin board

8. Decide what value you want to offer to your audience (fans). Then deliver content related to that. Don’t treat your Facebook Page like a bulletin board.

9. Make sure your page is a fun place to hang out. Have parties, giveaways, quizzes. Interactive posts are key and need to make up a regular part of your strategy. 

10. Finally, stay up to date with your niche. For example, if you write romance, give us an occasional scoop into the romance genre. Has a new publisher come on the market, an old one shut down? Inquiring minds want to know.

What about you? Do you have a Facebook page? If so, share the name in the comments section so we can LIKE it. Second, what are some things you’re doing to promote conversation on your page?

Edie Melson is the author of numerous books, as well as a freelance writer and editor. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and the Social Media Mentor at My Book Therapy. She’s also the Military Family Blogger at Guideposts. Com, Social Media Director for Southern Writers Magazine and the Senior Editor for NovelRocket.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. Look for her newest book, While My Soldier Serves (Worthy Inspired), available at bookstores and online.