Well, Facebook?
So you’ve liked both my author page and the book’s facebook page; you might expect to stay informed of my events and home-based adventures. Well Facebook launched their newest feature in May, promoted posts, which allows page holders with more than 400 likes to promote posts to reach more of their fan base (and prospective fans). This feature utilizes an algorithm that filters (read: blocks) page followers from page owners. Supposedly it categorizes feed content and assigns it to people’s interests and Facebook activities, and many page owners have noticed a drastic decrease in reach starting in September, when the whole shebang hit U.S. users accounts.
What this means for you and me, only a small percentage of people who want to see my page’s content (and clicked ‘Like’ in order to do so) will actually see my posts in their feed. There seems to be a bit of controversy and grey area on how the new algorithm actually works, but George Takei fires away at the new set up here in the WSJ. The feed options can go back to previously normal if I pay about $50/per post I make, which just isn’t realistic for me or any developing brands.
My weekly brag session posts are a good indicator to me that something is up for the Hip Girls Home community. These Sunday brags (“What have you done in or around the house over the week/weekend that makes you feel proud?”) have always been a popular draw, and consistently reach at least 2-4K followers (of my 8+K readership), my last two posts have garnered a reach of only 1K views, and a morning brunch table spread (which normally finds its way to more eyes) only garnered 600 views, crazy! I haven’t changed my tactics in the least, yet my reach has decreased drastically. (It’s also quite interesting that posts from even a month back no longer include reach information.)
What’s crazy, I now see every one of Martha Stewart’s posts, which I don’t even recall signing up for. I suppose it shouldn’t be such a shock seeing as her enterprise can dish out money to reach followers current and prospective.
This article sums it up with “While some users are excited about the opportunity to guarantee that they will be able to reach more people, others expressed skepticism that Facebook is forcing them to pay for what used to be free — the ability to share with friends — and that this will change the dynamic of the site.”
I don’t think this platform works for our scene any longer, so I’m going to shift away from my former ways of interacting there. I’ll still post photos and new blog posts and such, but it’s no fun to feel like I’m talking to myself (unless I dish out cash). My more personal interactions, things I find ironic, touching, cute pet pics, etc. will move to Twitter and Instagram. The blog will also shift to be more of a home for smaller posts that share and welcome you all into my fold (rather than leaving it up to Mark Zuckerberg’s stockholders’ playland.) I hope to see you all there.
Thanks for being a part of the vibrant movement that has built Facebook up and made us all closer and more connected, and thanks to those of you who come with me as we take back our ‘feeds’.
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Reader Comments (8)
Great post, well put! Having only just started to dip my toe in the water called social media its somehow, nice, reassuring even, to hear that my frustrations aren't just those of someone starting out. We're reaching fewer people, and feel like we're talking in a vacuum. It just hasn't been as much fun as when we started (just a few months ago!) thanks!
here, here, kate! i love the term 'taking back our feeds.' quite fitting acutally, isn't it? first we are took back our food, and now we are taking back our feeds.
i would really like to see a lot of the activity on facebook and other social networking platforms move to our individual blogs. i also think it's up to us to direct traffic to the social networking platforms that are more in line with our beliefs. after all, we know we are the change in our food system, why should the way we roar about it be any different.
thank you for this post.
Aha! I'll make a point to seek out your page there, as well, so I stay up to date.
Thank you Kate! I've been so frustrated by this as well. We come to blogging for a variety of reasons, community is built (often on ideals of sharing), and now relatively no one sees unless we pay up?
Sad.
I'll follow you wherever you go! xo
Well done Kate! Thanks for explaining the issue and linking to great articles on the topic.
Like you, Meg, Tigress, Rae and Heidi, I too am saddened by Facebook's new deal. FSC uses FB a lot for our community events and like you, what do I do now? I'm totally talking to myself on Facebook. 3000 likes and maybe "400 sees our posts"... maybe.
In Upstate NY , other media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram are simply not used as much. What to do.
Hi,
I agree with these observations. I am happy to read the blog, which I read often. Looking forward to your future writings, and many thanks--and accolades--to you for the work you do.
I feel bad that this is FB's newest "improvement". They really are out to bite the hands that feed them, it seems. (and has always seemed that way to me, that's why I'm not on it...) (I also loathe their privacy policies. Or complete lack thereof...)
I'm sorry that this has happened, and I'm sure you have many FB readers who are disappointed as well. I will state that I personally am quite glad you continue to blog, as that's how I see you! Oh, and thank you for explaining what's going on, as I'm sure there are plenty of folks wondering. It seems to me that Facebook is a lot like a casino- it's designed so that the house wins.
Never put your faith in a corporation.