How to Get More Facebook Interaction…and Be Seen

As small business owners, I see plenty of wedding professionals (specifically photographers) asking random groups of people to Like their Facebook page. Sure, it's easy to think that the more fans you have, the greater your reach will be, but that's entirely untrue. This is based on Facebook's EdgeRank algorithm. The algorithm basically ensures that Facebook is showing people what they want to see…and this is only demonstrated through engagement. The more engagement a post gets (comments, likes, and shares), the more likely it'll end up in Home feeds. As a business owner, this is exactly what you want!

The problem with amassing disingenuous Likes is that these people will most likely not engage on a regular basis, making it appear that the content you are providing isn't relevant. And if it doesn't appear relevant (as demonstrated by way of interaction), it's buried. In Facebook terms, it's less about how many people Like a page…it's how many people are engaging with a page. The more engagement, the farther your reach.

But this begs the question: How To Get More Interaction on Facebook? There are tons of ways to make this happen, but let's chat about a few that consistently prove themselves…
1. Keep It Simple
Occasionally it's fine to post multiple pictures on a single post, but if that's a consistent pattern, it'll likely yield people Liking a picture, but not engaging with it. Simple, straight-forward posts are more likely to get people chatting (which is what you want to expand the post's reach), but once you get them chatting, you need to engage.
2. Engage By Way of Commenting
The very nature of Facebook is to be social…so if you're, say, asking a question, be sure to reply when someone gives an answer. A simple “thank you” or funny response to their comment is a great way to connect with people who truly want to get to know you. When others see you regularly engaging with commenters, they are more likely to engage as well.

3. Tag to be Seen
Whenever a photo or status is posted to a Facebook page, don't hesitate to tag people involved with it. For example, if I photograph a wedding, it's important for me to tag fan pages of the creative team I worked with (coordinator, makeup artist, etc.). Or if I want to highlight another company, I tag their page as well. This ensures they see it and can share it to their page if they'd like. This is a simple and effective way to expand reach.

4. Promptness and Spam
When someone writes on your page, be sure to respond in a timely manner. Sure, it's great to engage in the status updates, but interactivity on a Fan Page wall affects the algorithm in your favor as well. Conversely, if spam sits on a Fan Page wall for too long, it shows new/prospective followers that you're not paying attention to those who want to engage…be sure to delete spam as soon as possible.
5. Show Your Personal Side
It's easy to hide behind the mask of professionalism, but just think about how you like to interact on Facebook…yes, pretty photos are nice to look at, but seeing a silly photo, reading a funny update, or watching an embedded video from Instagram on a page can be equally as beneficial for your page. The idea is simply to start, engage, and maintain conversations as much as possible. Don't be afraid to show what makes you, you…people will like you for it. {And if they don't, they can mosey on elsewhere}

Engage and Grow,
j*