It's been a while since I've talked about one of our "blog experiments," so I thought I would pop in and share some things I've been learning about Facebook recently. Whenever you mention Facebook to a group of bloggers, you'll most likely hear a collective groan. For me (and many others), Facebook has been one of the most difficult social media outlets to figure out, mostly because it feels like the game keeps changing!
When I first started blogging, I could share my new blog post on Facebook (to a very small audience) and immediately see an uptick in traffic from Facebook to my site. That just isn't the case anymore! I knew that some bloggers were still seeing big benefits from their Facebook pages though, (even without "paying to play") so I wanted to see if I could figure out how to use Facebook in a way that would benefit my own blog and business.
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How I Screwed Up My Blog's Facebook Page (And What I'm Doing to Fix It)
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
The Problem
When I really dug deep into my Google and Facebook analytics, I quickly realized that I had spent the last few years screwing up my Facebook page. I had studied what other bloggers had done, listened to podcasts about Facebook, watched YouTube videos about strategies, and read eBooks on the topic. Every time I would dig into one of these resources, I would try to do exactly what the other Facebook page owner was doing, but it would never work for me, and I couldn't understand why.
For a while, I was trying to share whatever popular or "viral" Facebook posts (read: cat videos 😂) I could find because if they were working for someone else, they would work for me, right? Even though my blog focuses on decorating and organization, on Facebook I shared funny memes, videos, and posts about a whole wide range of topics because they were doing well on other larger Facebook pages.
Every once in a while one of these posts would be a success, but for the most part, they flopped. I was frustrated and kind of resigned myself to the fact that my page was "broken" because the things that were supposed to be "viral" didn't do anything for me. (And the Facebook posts that linked to my blog posts weren't doing very well in the midst of these "random" posts either.)
One day I looked at my Facebook page and thought, "every post on my page seems gimmicky and kind of dumb." If I wasn't loving the stuff I was sharing on my page, why would the people who had chosen to follow ME love it? They wouldn't. So I changed directions.
Again, I looked at other Facebook pages, but this time I focused in on mostly home decor pages and what was successful for them. On these pages, I was seeing tons and tons of pretty pictures, and people were loving them! Great! I could do that! I love pretty pictures! So I started sharing some of the prettiest photos I could find on the web (giving credit to their proper sources, of course) on my Facebook page. And my reach dropped lower than ever.
What was going on?! I was doing the same things I had seen large, successful pages do, but it wasn't working for my page? Why wasn't it working?
And then I realized what you've probably figured out by now: I hadn't stopped to think about MY exact audience-- who they were, what they like, how they spend their time, and what would be helpful for them. I was trying things that were successful for audiences that were TOTALLY different than mine!
Knowing your audience is like Blogging 101. It's something I teach all the time! But for my own Facebook page, I had missed it... for years! But now that I knew what my biggest problem was, it was time to set things straight. So what was I going to do to fix this?
The Plan
Like with many areas my life, I started out by thinking about goals. What was the goal of my Facebook page? I ultimately decided that the goal of my page was to drive traffic to my site to create a loyal readership and encourage people to join my all-important email list.
With that goal in mind, I started to think backwards from there. Who are the ideal people that I would want on my email list and/or as loyal readers of my blog posts? I wrote down a long description of who my ideal readers would be-- who I write my blog posts for!-- and tried to think about what those exact people would be interested in. What would be helpful for them? What struggles do they have? What skills do I have that can help with those struggles? And when I had answered those questions, I had a much better idea of what type of content would do well on my Facebook page.
Since my sister/assistant helps me schedule Facebook posts, I wrote out a detailed description of the types of posts I thought we would be sharing, and we talked together to brainstorm ideas of what to post and where to find the best content for our page. We highlighted some awesome blogs that shared similar content that our audience seemed to resonate with. We listed criteria for posts we could look for on Pinterest. We realized that videos that were related to our niche/ideal readers did really well, so we identified some sources for those. We thought about questions we could ask our audience to encourage interaction and spark conversation on our page.
(That conversation part is key! We're trying to up interaction and engagement, so we want to get people talking! And I'm trying to respond to each and every comment as quickly as possible so we can keep the conversation going too!)
It took some trial and error (and it still is!), but the longer we employ our new strategy, the more we figure out what OUR audience likes and can choose posts appropriately. Since we have started employing our new method, the average reach of our Facebook posts has about tripled. It's still not anywhere as high as I would like it to be, but I think if we keep honing in on our audience, we will get there!
[And just because I know people will be interested in the nitty gritty details, we post to our page 5 times a day at 7 am, 1 pm, 5 pm, 9 pm, and 12 am EST (using Facebook's own scheduler). Usually 1-2 of those posts link to my blog and 3-4 do not link to my blog-- they link to others' sites or are a question, video, etc. This schedule seems to work well for OUR audience, but yours may be totally different!]
Lessons Learned
Obviously the biggest thing I've learned about growing an effective Facebook page is to clearly identify my audience and share posts that are specifically catered to them. That sounds easy enough, but it can take a lot of tries to figure it out. Even the slightest difference in wording or types of posts can make a big difference.
For example, I have tried to share a type of post that I see many other bloggers in the home decor niche have success with. They'll share a photo of a space and say, "What do you like about this room?" or "What would you change about this space?" and they get tons of responses. When I try that type of post though, I usually don't get many answers. "My people" don't really seem to give an opinion just to give one.
But "my people" ARE fixers (which makes sense, because I am a self-proclaimed fixer 😉 ). If I present a home-related problem and ask them what the solution should be, I get tons of responses! Donnie and I have been in the midst of trying to decide whether to put a patio or a deck behind our house, for example, so I showed the picture of the space and asked my Facebook followers what they thought I should do. I got TONS of advice, opinions, and information! Not only did this boost my Facebook reach, but I learned a lot from my readers' knowledge and experience, and Donnie and I were able to make a more informed decision about our space!
As another example, I have learned that on my page, a post does not do well if I simply show a pretty space and say "Look how beautiful this is!" If I show an example of a clever organizing hack or a really practical, helpful DIY project though, people LOVE it. On someone else's page, the clever hack may flop and the pretty picture might go crazy. It is all about figuring out what my EXACT audience likes and giving them more of that. (And it has been/will still be quite the process to figure that out!)
genius toy organization idea from Chelsea at Two Twenty One
I still don't feel like I have it all together when it comes to Facebook. In fact, when I looked at my Google Analytics, my referral traffic from Facebook is actually down compared to the same period over the past two years. (I partially attribute this to Facebook tightening up their algorithm and showing less and less unpaid posts, but not completely.) I also can't say that I've seen massive or speedy growth of my follower numbers, even since my Facebook "aha moment," so I definitely still have some work to do with improving my page.
The Upsides
Even though I can't say I have magically "fixed" all of my Facebook problems, what I find encouraging is that I am now building the exact kind of page that my audience will love, and my page will now attract more members of my ideal audience because I am curating the content specifically for them.
At this point, my Facebook experiment only tackled organic methods of growth. I haven't even begun to dig into paid Facebook reach and boosting posts yet, and I know that is a potential untapped area of growth. There are definitely more possibilities out there!
In Conclusion
Facebook is still a complicated beast to try to tame and I'm attempting to learn more all the time! I hope my realizations will be helpful for you as you try to grow your Facebook page as well! I have read two eBooks about growing a Facebook page that were really helpful to me, so if you're looking for more information on the topic, these would be great resources:
Strategies Worth Sharing by Brittany Ann from Equipping Godly Women
How to Create an Amazing Facebook Page by Mique from 30 Handmade Days
If you'd like to continue to see how our strategy works, I'd love it if you'd follow along with my Facebook page (#shamelessplug)!
I would also love to hear what has worked for YOUR Facebook page-- let's help each other and discuss in the comments!
For more tips on growing your blog and online business, see these posts:
How to Start a Blog: The Definitive Guide for 2019
How to Plan a Viral Blog Post + a Free Blog Post Planning Printable
My Top 5 Interior Photo Tips for Bloggers
My Favorite Photography and Videography Equipment for Bloggers
How to Be More Intentional About Your Blog Content (And Save Your Sanity!)
My Instagram Experiment: The Biggest Benefits for Bloggers
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Thank you for following along, friends! Have a wonderful week!
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.
HI Abby,
Thanks for sharing your Facebook experiment. Like you, I can't seem to figure out how to get more people to like and visit my Facebook page. In fact, this whole social media game is still new to me.
I am taking this month to learn how to get a better grasp of how to use Facebook more efficiently. Great tips on sitting down and writing down who your ideal visitor is. Like you, my main goal with my blog is to get email subscribers.
It's growing, but extremely slow. I am happy that it's growing at least 🙂
I actually looked at the Strategies Worth Sharing eBook because I hate spending a lot of time trying to find free information. There's always so much to do online, sometimes it's just a lot easier to learn from someone who's tried and tested what actually works.
Thanks for sharing your experiment with us. Glad to see your page getting more popular.
Have a great day 🙂
Susan
So glad it was helpful, Susan! Facebook can certainly be tricky! We're all in this together! 🙂
~Abby =)
Great info! Facebook is such a mystery to me, but I keep plugging away as best I can. Thanks for sharing! I love your new office nook pics!
Glad it's not just me! 🙂 haha Thank you, Sarah! I am definitely enjoying my new nook! Have a great evening! <3
~Abby =)
Very interesting article Abby..appreciate the info. I'm still working on my blog but I always like to read about the next phases coming up while i work on the blog. I have not looked at your facebook page(apologies) I have a hard enough time keeping up with reading blogs,checking emails and checking instagram but i will definitely check yours out this week. As for the deck or patio we are also having the debate and i think we are leaning towards deck now.. Have a wonderful week ...Thanks Again
Glad it was helpful, Carrie! We are leaning towards deck as well (maybe adding a patio in the future)! Hope you're having an awesome week!
~Abby =)
I just started a blog. This post reminds me that I need to be patient when it comes to finding my ideal reader. It's a process, and although I have an ideal, I'll have to see who actually starts reading.
Have any other tips for me when it comes to my readers, though? I don't really have any yet...:-P
It definitely feels slow at the beginning! I wish there was a magic solution for quickly gaining a ton of followers as soon as you launch your site, but it truly is just about showing up every day, working hard, and creating content that will be super helpful for people. If you keep doing that, your site will begin to grow and then it's like a snowball effect, gaining momentum and growing faster and faster! Best of luck with your blog!
~Abby =)
Thanks, Abby! This is a great post, and I think you're spot on in your analysis. I follow your Facebook page, and I saw a post the other day from you that really intrigued me. It was all-text post and asked a question about preferring digital or hand-written to-do lists.
After you posed the question, I started thinking about it and for some reason that post just stuck with me. I think it's because I can completely relate. I am a paper and pencil gal all the way! Additionally, I was just scrolling through your FB feed and I realized that not many of your other posts showed up on my feed. Maybe all-text posts show more frequently to your followers? Just thought you'd like some feedback.
On a side note, I started a blog a couple months ago and haven't yet gained too many followers on my Facebook page. I'm wondering if you have considered writing a post about gaining Facebook followers and tactics you used to do so?
As always, thanks for your great post!
-Marly
Thanks so much for sharing your insight and ideas, Marly! I so hear you-- growing a Facebook page now is a lot harder than it was when I first started! If I start making headway and figuring out ways to grow my follower numbers more quickly, I will be sure to share. Hope you're having a great week!
~Abby =)
What a great post Abby! I feel that I've been relatively successful on Facebook, in a short time, but it does drive me crazy trying to figure out why some posts work and some don't! FB has been my most successful platform for blog traffic. I was just talking about it with Ryan last night after I posted something that got amazing reach, and I didn't expect it to! I think it 100% has to do with the wording of my post and giving my audience something that helps them! For my FB page, my cooking videos seem to drive the most followers! Now I just have to get them into my email list somehow!! Thanks for sharing! I'll be waiting to hear about Pinterest! That's the beast that I can't seem to tame no matter what I try! 😉
Glad it was helpful, Valerie! That is awesome that you've done so well on Facebook! I totally agree that wording can make a big difference! Thanks for sharing! <3
~Abby =)
I am definitely having a love/hate relationship with FB right now. I have finally felt like I have a pretty good handle on Pinterest, so now I've started to focus on FB. Thanks so much for your insight and it looks like I also have some work to do.
So glad it was helpful! Facebook can be tricky for sure! 😉
~Abby =)
I love your blog
Thank you, Ashley! <3 Glad you stopped by!
~Abby =)
Thank you for sharing! I'm currently trying to navigate all of this social media stuff in the most effective and most genuine way possible. Your post is very helpful! 🙂
So glad it was helpful for you, Eliza! Social media can certainly be tricky sometimes! Hope you're having a wonderful week! <3
~Abby =)
Very interesting to read Abby!
I have by far the most traffic coming from Facebook. And about 80% of it is coming from my own group. I have a closed group about my topic, that I started in November of last year. By now I have over 3000 members. When I started I posted almost everything but by now at least 50% is coming from others. People ask questions and give advice to each other. And when I post a link I see an immediate spike.
Maybe this works for others as well?
Thanks so much for sharing with us! Love these ideas!
~Abby =)
I actually really love Facebook for blog traffic! I'm part of a few Facebook groups, where the support is wonderful. I need to set up a schedule in regards to post times, but I've always loved Facebook, even before my blogging days. So it's easy to stick to it! I love this post. You share so much helpful information, so thank you! I hope you continue to grow your Facebook reach. I've commented on a few posts, and will continue to do so! 😀
So glad you enjoyed the post, Rhiannon! Sounds like Facebook has worked well for you... that's great! Hope you're having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
Hey girl! Love your advice, especially about nailing down (in detail!) what your ideal reader is looking for! Curious if you push your instagram posts to FB or just keep instagram all to itself? My instagram posts do well on my Facebook page so I like to share them but not sure how to incorporate that into my overall strategy. Thanks!
Hi, Kate! I don't typically push my IG posts to Facebook, mostly because I like to stick to my 5x/day Facebook schedule, but I know a lot of bloggers have had success with that. Facebook owns Instagram, so it tends to like the sharing between its own platforms. I say if it's doing well for you, keep doing it! 🙂 Hope you're having a wonderful week!
~Abby =)
I struggle with Facebook too. Part of me thinks that people don't go on fb to search for blog posts, or to sign up for email lists... they're on there to snoop on their friends and find out what their friends like. I have had a bit of success with posting on certain fb groups, or sharing my blog posts on my own personal page (then my friends share them and it takes off from there), but my blog page doesn't get much reach and I swear that only the same 2 ppl actually see what I post because they're the only ones who engage with my posts. I also don't have much of a following which is probably most of my problem.
But I'll keep plugging away at it, and do a bit more research into what my audience wants to see.
Thanks for the tips!
So glad it was helpful, Amy! Facebook can certainly be tricky... it has been for me! We'll keep plugging along! 🙂 Have a great week!
~Abby =)
Very helpful post, Abby. Thank you! As I'm working through Building a Framework, this added info and advice REALLY helps! I'm a planner, and I like to get everything 'together' before I begin... may be a disadvantage, at times. Hoping to launch my blog soon! (My fears get the best of me sometimes... shoot an arrow of prayer for me, if you have a sec!) So thankful for you and your hubby!
Aw, so glad it has been helpful for you! Maybe if you go back and look at my first posts it will ease your fears! 🙂 We all start somewhere! Enjoy your blogging journey! <3
~Abby =)
Abby, your posts are always so upbeat, encourage and helpful. These are great tips! While I'm just getting started with my blog, and have been trying to get more traffic to the Facebook page. I had to giggle at the first pic of your "poor" facebook traffic, I'd love to have those stats right now. 🙂 I've read a number of articles on how to get more traffic, more subscribers, more like etc. and the one thing they have in common is "Hustle". I need to push my perfectionist out of the way and hustle to get more engaging content on my Facebook page. Thanks for providing the stats on frequency of posts. I was surprised that you're posting 5 times a day, just reminded me that I need to hustle! 🙂
So glad it was helpful for you, Andi! Facebook (well, social media in general) can certainly be tricky! Especially when you're just getting started. Keep hustlin' and enjoy your weekend! 🙂
~Abby =)
I really enjoyed this article, Abby. Great post! Thanks for sharing your struggle and solution. 🙂
So glad it was helpful, Emily! Have a great week! <3
~Abby =)
So interesting, Abby, thanks a lot! I see that there is no such thing as a magic wand with FB for bloggers... I especially appreciate how you explained the whole process of coming back to what your exact audience wants and needs. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the solutions you're trying to implement. It's precious for a newbie like me 😇
So glad it was helpful for you, Elise! FB can be tricky for sure! 🙂 Have a great week!
~Abby =)
Just started a blog and feeling completely overwhelmed with Pinterest right now. Got any great tips for being added to group boards? I'm lost!
If you search on Facebook for "Pinterest Group Boards," there are a bunch of Facebook groups designed to connect bloggers with group boards in their niche!
~Abby =)
Hi Abby,
Again, new to this blogging thing.. But should I create a Facebook page or group strictly for my blog? I haven't done that but I joined a couple of FB groups for bloggers. They seem more to help with driving traffic to your site and things like "post on mine and i'll post on yours" kind of groups. How did you connect with bloggers strictly for what you are blogging about?
Thanks for all the tips and blog posts!
Hi there! You'll definitely want to have a Facebook page because that's something brands will be looking for. But if you want to start a Facebook group as well, you can definitely do that. As far as connecting with other bloggers in my niche, a great way to find similar bloggers is to check out their Instagram. I would start with a blogger I know, go to their IG and see what other bloggers in your niche they're following. Then I would follow those people and interact with them too. Then I would keep going down the "rabbit hole," finding more and more people in my niche to follow. As I interacted more and more, relationships began to form and I found the group that is now my "tribe," and we have a FB group where we help each other and share posts, etc. I hope this helps!
~Abby =)
Hi Abby,
I just stumbled onto your blog while looking for organizational and design inspiration. And then I noticed this section on blogging. I'm a beginner travel blogger (www.wattwherehow.com) and found this a really helpful read to guide me in the right direction.
Also, your tips and DIYs are fantastic. Definitely a great resource 🙂
Many thanks for sharing! And I'll definitely be keeping up with this your blog!
Yay! So glad it has been helpful for you, Jessica! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!
~Abby =)
I've been so scared to share my blog on Facebook. I cringe at the idea of people in the "real world" knowing about it. BUT your book and posts like this really have helped me be informed. Just starting the Facebook page tonight. Maybe I'll tell the world tomorrow 😉
YES! You can do it! I was exactly the same way but am so glad I went for it! 🙂 Happy blogging!!
~Abby =)
I stick to max of 3x a day FB page posting schedule. I've noticed that question-type of posts get the most comments and photos+quotes-type of posts get the most likes/reactions/shares.
I will check out the ebooks that you mentioned, thanks!