Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg made a big announcement in January.
“We built Facebook to help people stay connected and bring us closer together with the people that matter to us. That’s why we’ve always put friends and family at the core of the experience. Research shows that strengthening our relationships improves our well-being and happiness.
But recently we’ve gotten feedback from our community that public content — posts from businesses, brands and media — is crowding out the personal moments that lead us to connect more with each other. It’s easy to understand how we got here.”
___
Yep. Facebook is changing it’s algorithm again. And this time it’s not good for bands and musicians. Starting very soon, the Newsfeed will have more post from your friends and less from band or business Pages. We believe, in part, this is a way to make more room for Facebook Ads in the Newsfeed.
What this means is that if you have a Facebook Fan or Band Page, your post are going to be further reduced in the Newsfeed... unless you pay them. Facebook Ads are cheap and you can choose who sees them. So that’s not all bad news.
But there are some organic practices you can use maximize your exposure. Here are some tips.
5 Tips To SUCCESS On Facebook
1- Most people view Facebook on their phone. So make sure your content looks good on your mobile device.
This includes your Page Cover Photo or Banner. This is a HUGE part of your Page. It’s your Billboard. When you put up new a new banner, make sure you can read all the text on it when viewing on a mobile device.
2- Make sure your Fans are engaging with your post. Comments are what you need the most, then Shares then Likes.
If people are not commenting on your post, Facebook will stop showing them to your Fans. A few “Likes” are not going to help much.
So make sure your post are getting comments, shares and likes. But especially COMMENTS. Try to engage your Fans by asking them to comment. Ask questions, ask for feedback. You have to get engagement or your post simply won’t be seen.
3-Video content is King. It’s has the heaviest weight of any Facebook Post now, so it will show up more than a post with text and a photo.
And Facebook Live has the heaviest weight of any post. Use it to interview band members, play acoustic sets, show behind the scenes at shows, etc.
4-Don't be afraid to use Facebook Ads. You can run $3 campaigns to get the feel of it. Just make sure you have a plan.
Sometimes it’s good just to get video views. To build your BRAND. You can get video views for 1-3 cents a view. To be clear, this doesn’t mean posting YouTube links. Facebook competes with YT and will reduce your reach when you post their link. Download your videos directly to your Facebook Page.
Also you need to use ads to build your mailing list. So you need a Landing Page with an email form and a lead magnet to get people to give you their email address.
The days of offering a free download are over. Get creative and give people a little more value in exchange for their email address. Email list are your distribution channel to sell music and merch and your promotion channel to promote your shows. Build your list!
5- Use your personal Page. You can have up to 5,000 Friends on your personal Page. If you are serious about your music, use your Personal Page in tandem with your Band Page.
Focus on engagement and not always on your music. This will put more of your post in the Newsfeed. Remember, personal Pages are getting a boost by Facebook. Band Pages are being reduced.
But work your music in your personal post. And make sure your A out section has links to your Band Page. You can also use your Personal Page to use a Cover Photo to promote your Band Page.