If you’re the owner of a small business with your own personal Facebook page, you might have noticed some new recent changes. Facebook is allowing fewer organic page views to your posts.
When you post to your Facebook business page, the goal is to engage your current followers, reach new potential followers, and thus increase your client base. If you’ve spent the last 7 years trying to build your Facebook fan base, you will be disappointed to learn that less and less people will be able to see what you post. Unless, of course, you’re willing to make regular payments for advertising.
This change will affect every type of business page –Bigger corporate companies, small businesses and even non-profit organizations.
Initially, the company denied claims that this was done to increase Facebook ad sales, and instead claimed they were trying to get rid of spam-like content on user news feeds. They say that there are too many things being posted and users are being bombarded.
Ironically enough, it looks like they now are subtly admitting that the best way to offset the drop in organic reach is to consider paid advertising. This statement was part of a document released by Facebook called “Generating Business Results on Facebook”.
What does this mean to you? It means that the average 16-20% organic reach you normally had will be reduced to a mere 1-2%. It seems that small businesses were unknowingly using a “Free Trial” of their page. Sure, you can still keep the page, but for your current followers to see what you post, you’re going to have to fork over some cash.
The truth is, Facebook’s organic reach could continue shrinking to zero. And while that may scare some, there is a good side to the story: Their advertising can be targeted, and it is significantly cheaper than many other marketing platforms. And we can’t forget one important fact – They have every right to charge businesses for advertising. After all – we mustn’t forget that Facebook is a business as well.
Is Facebook a big part of your marketing strategy? Do you plan on going with the flow and purchasing ads, or will you move your efforts elsewhere? Do you think we were spoiled by the free marketing?
