Facebook is continually updating its policies and conditions. Some changes are minor whilst others are likely to have a bigger impact on your business and its social media pages.
Yes, Facebook has its own blog that it updates regularly, but since not everybody has the time on their hands to search through its latest updates and guidelines, we’ve created this handy guide designed to clarify important changes going on at Facebook that every business needs to know about.
Read on to find out more…
1. You can no longer advertise on Facebook without paying
Facebook recently implemented stronger rules when it comes to advertising products or services. Traditionally, it was easy to upload a photo of your latest product or service and encourage people to buy it. Today, the social media giant has adjusted its algorithm to detect such activity and limit its reach.
Instead, although you can still post updates about upcoming promotions or sales, you cannot do so unless you do so through Facebook’s advertising platform.
Facebook ads are an effective advertising tool that enables you to reach out to the right audience with ease. Facebook ads also feature useful measuring tools so that you can gauge what’s working and what’s not.
2. You can no longer use promotional cover art
As with any Facebook page, the first thing that someone sees is the cover art. Countless businesses have used this section of their page to feature promotional cover art, but Facebook is cracking down on such activity. Your cover photo can no longer:
· Use calls-to-action such as ‘buy it now’ or ‘spread the word’
· Encourage users to ‘Like’ or ‘Share’
· Offer price or purchase information (i.e. 50% off)
· Include contact information such as email, web address or other information that should feature on your page’s About section
Facebook recently introduced its own set of call-to-action buttons, with a list of seven buttons to choose from designed to boost customer acquisition efforts. These include:
· Book Now
· Contact Us
· Use Apps
· Play Game
· Shop Now
· Sign up
· Watch Video
3. You can no longer persuade users to like your page
Last but not least, Facebook’s latest policy is that you can no longer run a contest or competition to increase the number of likes on your Facebook page. Yes, you can give visitors the option to like your page, but they are not obligated to like it in order to enter a competition. And although this rule is buried somewhere in the website’s terms and conditions, if you do break this rule you run the risk of getting your page shut down.
Thera are plenty of ways to improve your website’s Facebook page as mentioned in more detail here, here and here. Instead of resorting to measures designed to increase the number of likes and shares, why not focus more closely on creating unique, engaging content that your audience will love and enjoy?
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