I had a couple of interesting interactions over the last week.
First, I’ve heard from a couple of RCS Instagram followers asking if I was OK, in that they haven’t seen any content from me in the last couple of weeks. (I post almost daily). Then, I talked to a couple of brands that are friends, and they all mentioned that their online engagement (specifically Instagram) is down significantly over the last month. I went back and checked, and I saw the same thing. Number of followers is up, but engagement is down. Weird, right?
Now, to level-set, I’m not a numbers guy. I write what I want to on the blog, and post what I want to on Social Media. I have a relatively focused plan with RCS and I stick to it. I don’t count, nor do I have expectations on ‘likes’. Also, every single follower I have is organic. Every one of you has chosen to follow me, which I am grateful for. I’ve never nor will ever pay for followers or clicks. I’ve also never paid to ‘promote’ a post on any social platform.
What I am interested in are trends. I typically know the success rate of posts, stories, pictures, and fun that I post on the blog or social media. I keep an eye on it, only to see that my assumptions and expectations are close. They usually are. Back to the issue…
I recently saw a drop in engagement that coincides with the questions from my followers and my conversations with brands. It seems to be coordinated. The logical guess is that Instagram is ‘messing with their algorithm again’ in an attempt to get brands/blogs to pay for more exposure. I will post a story on Instagram, and see the views shoot up to a certain number, and literally stop at that number for hours. Then I’ll see it go up a bit more and literally stop at a cap again. While frustrating, it proves my logical theory.
So let’s talk about engagement. I have a few questions for you readers:
- Are any of you seeing (or not seeing) content that you normally would?
- How do you engage with the brands and pages that you like? Do you depend on social media? On your own time?
- Anyone with inside knowledge of what’s going on with the Social Media algorithms? Feel free to shoot me an email or DM should you want it to remain private.
I don’t ask for much, but if it’s not any trouble, engage with the brands and pages that you like. Don’t forget to ‘like’ or ‘comment’ on posts and stories. If social media engagement is dependent on an algorithm, it will take into account the direct customer engagement, which would make it less likely to ‘hide’ the content from the consumer.
Looking forward to hearing what you folks have to say…
The new Instagram algorithm introduced in past weeks had made checking in far less interesting. Seems like it used to be a chronological feed of everyone I follow. Now it puts those I engage with the most at the top followed by suggestions based on what I like, comment on or look at the most. I like land rover and fly fishing, but the accounts I was following were enough.
Likewise, I run a little Instagram for my business. (Dentistry) it had a lot of value in my community when Instagram was organic- it has seemed like a waste of time to post on it since the new year.
Anyhow- love RCS and I’m engaged enough that you shoot to the top.
Would love to see more posts on Big Haint Blue in 2021!
I’m seeing about the same content.
I am heavily dependent on SM for all contact, venders,
customers, affinity groups….
No idea what is going on, but some consistency is good for business and expectations.
Cheers,
BSR
I feel like the amount of content I’m seeing on social media has been fairly consistent recently. With that said, I’ve been getting into the habit of not relying on social media algorithims for engagement with my favorite brands. I try to carve out a little time each week (usually Saturday afternoon) to check in on this blog as well as my favorite brands (OSBM, Rancourt, Filson, Col. Littleton) etc.
Personally, I’m feeling a little social media bloat coming out of 2020 and am trying to winnow down the brands, blogs, etc. that I truly care about and interact with them on my terms.
Keep up the great work, RCS.
Cheers.
You’re still coming through 5×5 on my feed. I’ve noticed a lot more ads and brands popping up in my Instagram feed lately, but the accounts like yours which I engage with regularly are still getting through.
Keep up the great work!
There is a Netflix docu-flic that purports to detail FB’s algorithm for SM marketing/targeting. Having watched the film, and having interacted on IG to varying degrees for several years now, have definitely noticed a trend away from the linear/organic interaction that was original to the platform, and more toward the algorithmic nature pioneered by FB. It has been frustrating, and in my opinion, renders the platform more cumbersome and inefficient. I use it to follow brands (RCS among them) that I trust. It is becoming less useful in that direction – but few alternatives exist, unfortunately.
I think I see everything you post and don’t notice anything slipping through the cracks. However, I catch your blog posts through my Feedly account that I use to aggregate several blogs and I don’t think they use any kind of algorithm. I definitely feel like I’m spending too much time recently on social media and need to take a step back. The Instagram ads are getting out of control. My wife showed me something that she saw yesterday on Instagram and it showed up as an ad on my stories today. It’s creeped me out.
I have been off FB, IM, and Twitter for nearly 3 years and honestly I am better off for it.
Cannot speak to the algorithm question, but I have noticed a substantial decrease to your posts in my feed. I seem to miss 3-4 posts in a row and then once I play catch up and ‘like’ the photos your next few posts populate as normal. No issue with stories as I am likely considered an ‘engaged follower’ and often view through the entire story (especially Q&A).
Hope this helps.
I don’t do social media. I post 2-5 times a year on Instagram or Facebook and never read replies. I’ve got you bookmarked in my Safari favorites. Anyone I follow I do the same.
I do all my business via word of mouth.
I am not present on any social media. I never have been. I stumbled on to your blog a year or so ago and have it bookmarked on my iPad. I enjoy reading your posts as it gives me ideas for gifts for my 25 year old son. And also talking points when he is visiting. I am not interested in other people’s opinions being forced on me. I am really enjoying RCS!