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Have you ever wondered why some of your posts receive a huge number of interactions and some have a very low reach?
Why are some types of content that worked so well in the past now failing?
All of the above is controlled by the Facebook algorithm.
The Facebook algorithm might be described as a “nightmare” for both content creators and advertisers. It changes and is updated constantly.
Whether you like it or not, you need to know how it works to make your content effective.
Therefore, in this blog article, you’ll learn about the Facebook algorithm and how it changes in 2022. Let’s start!
What Is The Facebook Algorithm?
Not only does Google have its own complicated algorithm, but so does Facebook. It is a real headache for many fan page managers and advertisers.
The Facebook algorithm is a set of arithmetic operations involving a large number of variables. It decides which content will appear on top of a user’s news feed and which one will stay further down.
The Facebook Algorithm is not so easy to deal with
Every post is evaluated by the Facebook algorithm. It assigns a score to each user’s posts and then organizes them in decreasing, non-chronological order of interest.
In the announcing Facebook post, CEO of Facebook wrote,
“The first changes you’ll see will be in News Feed, where you can expect to see more from your friends, family, and groups.”
“As we roll this out, you’ll see less public content like posts from businesses, brands, and media.”
“I also expect the time you do spend on Facebook will be more valuable.”
Therefore, the goal of the Facebook algorithm is to give the best Facebook user experience possible. It allows Facebook to sell more ads by increasing their time on the platform.
How Have The Facebook Algorithm Developed Over Time?
The Facebook algorithm has been evolving over the years. Therefore, there will be constant new updates to improve Facebook as well as increase the user experience.
Let’s take a look at some of the milestones and changes that it has made since the early years!
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- 2006: Facebook’s newsfeed appears.
- 2009: Facebook introduces the sorting posts feature, which places the most liked posts at the top of the feed.
- 2015: Facebook downranks posts with too much promotional content. Moreover, the “See first” feature is put into action so that users can prioritize the pages or users they want to see at the top of the feed.
- 2016: Facebook measures the value of a post based on how long you spend on it (even if you didn’t interact with the post).
- 2017: In addition to Likes, Facebook also introduces new emojis.
- 2018: CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would begin to prioritize “posts that spark conversations and meaningful interactions”.
- 2019: Facebook starts bumping up posts from people engaged with the most, which is called “close friends.” The feature “Why am I seeing this post?” also debuted.
- 2020: Facebook begins assessing the credibility and quality of articles to promote factual news instead of promoting misinformation.
- 2021: The Feed Filter Bar is introduced to give users control over what they see in their feeds and to manage the audience of comments.
How Does The Facebook Algorithm Work In 2022?
So, what changes have been made to the Facebook algorithm in 2022? Let’s check this out!
1. No more “News Feed”!
Starting in 2022, News Feed will be officially known as Feed. In addition, Facebook looks at 3 main signals to evaluate a post’s relevance to users:
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- Who posted it: People with whom you have a lot of interaction will appear at the top of your feed.
- Type of content: Your feed will favor the videos, photos, or links that you interact with the most.
- Interactions with the post: Posts with a lot of interactions, especially those with whom you engage the most, will be prioritized by Facebook.
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Facebook will prioritize which posts or stories are appropriate for you to appear first and also where to appear based on these signals.
2. You Can Shape Your Feed
Facebook now gives you controls to customize your feed.
- Feed Preferences: The Feed Preferences option under Settings & Privacy allows you to add up to 30 friends and pages to the “Favorites” list.
You can add up to 30 friends and pages to the “Favorites” list
- In-feed options: You can directly improve your feed from any post. Hide, Unfollow or Hide ads are all features on Facebook that you can use to keep your feed “clean” and more meaningfully customized.
3. Publishers Should Follow Community Standards
Facebook announced it would remove certain kinds of sensitive content or limit the audience that sees it.
If they believe there is a direct threat to public safety, they will disable accounts. Spam, nudity, hate speech, and violent content will be removed as well.
Sensitive content will be removed
5 Tips To Outsmart The Facebook Algorithm
Here are five tips for making the Facebook algorithm work for you after you’ve understood the basics. Scroll down to see what’s next!
1. Know Your Audience
People have an expectation that the news in their feed will be relevant to them. To better engage with your audience we must first understand what they desire.
If you want your story to be interesting to the audience, you should develop meaningful and informative content.
It is wonderful to create content that makes users stop to read and then share it with their friends and family. Besides, the algorithm also looks at interactions within the posts.
In addition, creators should also create content that their audiences will find new, interesting, and informative.
It is important that we understand what our audience is interested in. We can, therefore, create meaningful and informative content that is suitable for each type of audience.
2. Make Sure Your Content Is Accurate And Authentic
Facebook always ranks high in accurate and authentic content. Any misleading or sensational content will be excluded by Facebook.
Therefore, creating content that contains “genuine” information will boost its visibility at the top of the feed.
There are a few tips that might assist you in your attempt. That is, instead of exaggerating, provide accurate information. It is also essential to write clear headlines and avoid spammy content.
3. Use High-Quality Images
It is undeniable that people will be more likely to engage if you include high-quality images in your stories.
Using high-quality pictures in your posts will make them more vibrant and professional, increasing the amount of interaction.
For how to create eye-catching social images, you can refer to the Top 7 Simple Ways to Create the Best Social Images.
4. Interact And Engage With Your Audience
Posts that have been interacted with by people who have interacted with them before are valued by the algorithm. This demonstrates that the information you convey is useful and has an impact.
Don’t be hesitant about responding if someone leaves a comment on your post. This will show them that you appreciate their opinions and eagerly await their suggestions.
Reply comments will improve your brand image. (Source: Starbucks)
People are more likely to relate to and continue to support your posts after that. The posts will then be evaluated and ranked highly by the Facebook Algorithm.
Besides, don’t forget to share engaging information to encourage people to interact with you. You’re on the right track if you can persuade people to discuss naturally.
5. Make Use Of Facebook Reels & Stories
Aside from Feed, Facebook Reels and Stories are also popular with the audience. The Facebook algorithm really appreciates your engagement in these two spaces.
Make use of Facebook Reels and Stories
If you want to develop your content in a different, newer way, you might want to try Reels. If your content satisfies the algorithm, Facebook will recommend Reels videos to a large number of people.
Currently, Reels has introduced some useful and interesting new features for both Facebook and Instagram Reels.
Conclusion
It is true that the Facebook algorithm is quite complex and sophisticated, but we should not “hate” or try to “manipulate” it.
Instead, think of it as a beneficial “tool” for making your content more engaging and increasing your chances of capturing the audience’s attention.
We hope that by reading this blog, you will have a better understanding of the Facebook algorithm, how it works, and how to use it effectively.
