Beginning with a new design, Facebook has redesigned their product and created a more all-encompassing News Feed, with an emphasis on user control. No longer will the News Feed be determined strictly by Facebook’s Edgerank algorithm, but rather be put out there for the user to sort on their own. Tabs to see your friends, events, who you are following, etc, will be available for users to flip through to get the content they want. A big emphasis was clearly put on making images front and center with the new look. Be prepared for a major shift even further into image based marketing in the coming year.
The redesign and focus on user control is wonderful news for businesses and brands. While you may not be able to force users to see your updates, no longer are you necessarily at the mercy of what Facebook decides. Rather than creating content that you think may have the most reach, brands can simply make good content. If the audience wants to hear your message, they at least have that choice again.
One of the struggles that many businesses have faced with their social media strategy, particularly in the last six months, is the guessing game of just what kind of post Facebook is sending to the most people. There are days where a short status update gets more reach than an image, and days where an image gets several times the traffic as a text-only status update. The guessing game led to a decrease in content value and an increase in trying to figure out the game. When a premium is placed on good content, everyone wins.
What matters when you are marketing online and trying to implement a strategy, is knowing what message you are sending to your customers. Not knowing if they are hearing all you are saying can have big effect on the success of your campaign. If this new News Feed allows all of your brands posts to be seen if the customer so chooses, that is a big step in the right direction.
Additionally, Facebook has revamped the design to cross over to all devices. Your browser on your computer will look and act the same as your phone and your tablet.
Facebook is allowing users to sign up to be switched to the new version as they begin rolling the new Newsfeed out to everyone. I for one am on the waiting list and will promptly offer my thoughts when I get a chance to drive this new ride.