Eight and Sixteen are the marketing numbers for Facebook – do you know them?

 

Yoda would say rules of 8 and 16 must you know. Since I’m here to be your sage on everything social media marketing I’ll just say – know them and understand them, especially if you are providing social media consulting for brands.  I was chilling at Facebook’s Social Media Week presentation in Washington, DC yesterday (not the most social media savvy place in the world, but I’ve got a ton of friends there, so it’s worth the trip) and these two numbers jumped out all day like the cards from some Gypsy in New Orleans reading my social media fortune. Who are you reaching and are you reaching them in the right way? That is what these numbers spoke to me.

The Rule of 16

Hit this ball first!

On average, 16% of your Facebook brand page fans see branded posts. This means that on average, 84% of fans who Liked your brand page don’t see your stunning content. If they don’t see it, they can’t be aware and they can’t engage. Based on the Facebook content distribution algorithm that is designed to maximize user experience, you are stuck with this fact for now. If you want to reach the other 84%, Facebook’s recommendation is to advertise.

The Rule of 8

Hit this one and you’re done!

 

 

If you are going to advertise, you should focus on the News Feed. Facebook statistics show that ads in the News Feed are 8 times more effective in terms of driving “attributable” actions than the original sidebar ads. The most common News Feed ad unit is sponsored stories, but market place page posts are another option.

The important takeaway is the power of the News Feed. It is where Facebook users spend their time as they ignore the other Facebook real estate. It is also the only place for users to see ad units on mobile. More than half of all Facebook usage is now on mobile so getting into the News Feed is critical to spreading your message.

The Facebook News Feed Beyond Ads

For many promotions, brand marketers should leverage News Feed ads to reach the missing 84% of your audience. However, you can also augment your News Feed brand promotion through user-generated content. When users create posts they go to friends’ News Feeds. If those user-generated posts include your brand identifiers and messaging, you just received a free News Feed ad unit.

At dwinQ we help brand marketers leverage sponsored events to get into the News Feed, by facilitating consumer posts that include branded content. Photos, games, onsite actions are all popular onsite engagements that drive Facebook posts and impressions.

The Facebook News Feed Beyond 84

The final point worth noting is that even if you buy an ad and reach all of the missing 84% of your current Facebook fans you are not creating broader awareness. With user generated content you are leveraging consumers to broadcast your brand message to their friends, many of whom are not your current fans. That is an extended reach that will multiply your impact. And it comes as a recommendation from a friend. We know that has a value of 92.

“16 Ball” image credit: EyesOpenDesign.com

More on Facebook Photo Marketing.

 

Optimizing Facebook Sponosred Stories

Facebook’s most effective advertising is in the stream. No one is looking on the sidelines, and I’ve said it a million times, no one goes to Facebook to shop. However FB is tremendously influential. Sponsored stories so far have the best success for marketing a brand on Facebook, but how can you really amp up the Facebook marketing success?

The problem arises from the typical misconception that advertisers do not have any creative control over sponsored stories ad types because they are generated from an organic user action. At most advertisers wrongly believe, these ads might include a page or current profile photo. If you are not familiar with the make-up of a sponsored story it usually is when someone likes a page or brand, or item. This is relatively lackluster content, although it comes in the form of a trusted source (a friend’s user stream), or appears on a mobile device so you will see it and the brand gets an earned impression. The way to take sponosred stories to the next level is to show actual interaction with your brand.

If you are a car dealer and you capture a person jumping in the air the moment they take delivery of a new car – that will drive engagement. It is dramatically different than someone liking the Ford page.

Take a look at this first sponsored story – no interaction, a quick glance because it is in the user’s stream:

A typical Facebook sponsored story

That is a typical Facebook sponsored story. It is much more effective than the ads on the right side, no doubt. Rosetta Stone is getting good take-up rate for a medium that is not focused on buying.

But check out the engagement of this user-generated content that can then be further amplified by creating a sponsored story:

User Generated Content on dwinQ’s Product Placement Platform

 

 

 

 

 

 

850% more people clicked on this picture from the user’s timeline! There was real-world engagement and very positive brand association.

Capture people interacting with your brand. Let users generate amazing and genuine real world content and you will have Facebook advertising on steroids!