The short version
- Your followers don't all see every post. That's true for every Page, so don't take it personally.
- The fixable causes are posting rarely, link-only posts, no photos, no replies and a small following.
- Start with real photos, a post every week, and a reply to every comment.
- Ask your customers to follow your Page. A Page can't reach people who don't follow it.
You post, you wait, and nobody reacts. Maybe your mom liked it. Your Page has 400 followers and it feels like 4 saw it.
Facebook doesn't publish the exact rules for who sees what, so beware of anyone who claims they know. But there are plain reasons local Pages get little attention, and most are fixable this week.
Why your Facebook posts reach so few people
Facebook chooses what shows up in each person's feed. Your post competes with friends, family, groups and ads. Not every follower sees every post, and that's normal. You can check your numbers in Facebook Page Insights explained.
So the goal isn't to reach everyone. It's to give the people who do see a post a reason to stop, react or message you. Here are the most common reasons it doesn't happen.
The reasons we see most on local Pages
| What's happening | Why it hurts | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| You post in bursts, then go quiet | People forget your Page, and a quiet Page gives them nothing to react to. | Pick a weekly rhythm you can keep. See how often to post. |
| Posts are only links | People stay in their feed. A link asks them to leave it. | Write the useful part in the post. Put the link after, or in a comment. |
| No photo, or a stock photo | Nothing makes people stop scrolling or feel it's local. | Use a real phone photo of your work, crew or shop. |
| Nobody replies to comments | People see a Page that isn't listening. | Reply to every comment, ideally the same day. |
| Only a few people follow the Page | A Page can't reach people who don't follow it. | Ask customers to follow. More on that below. |
| Every post is a sales pitch | People tune out ads from friends and neighbors. | Mix tips, people and jobs with the offers. |
Fix the post itself: photos, words and links
Start with the post, because that's the part you control. A good post is short, specific and has a real photo. Step by step: how to write a Facebook post for your business.
- Use a real photo with one clear subject. Here's how to take good photos for your business page with a phone.
- Lead with the point in the first line, because long posts get cut off.
- Ask one simple question people can answer in a word.
- Keep the length reasonable. See the ideal Facebook post length.
- Skip stuffing the post with hashtags. Here's what to know about hashtags on Facebook.
A simple post that asks for a reply
[Photo of your work or your shop] We finished [job] in [town] today. [One sentence on what made it a good one.] Have you ever had [the problem]? Tell us in the comments and we'll answer.
Reply to people and ask customers to follow
Replies teach people that someone is home. A neighbor who gets an answer is more likely to comment again. Here's how to reply to Facebook comments as a business without losing your evening.
Then grow the audience that can see you. Ask every happy customer to follow your Page, put the link on your invoices, van and counter, and tag people you've worked with, with their OK. How to get more local followers on Facebook goes through the full list.
Should you pay to be seen?
Paying to boost a post can get it in front of more people. But a boost on a weak post just spends money to show a weak post. Fix the basics first, then read whether boosting a Facebook post is worth it.
What not to do when posts get no response
Do
- Keep posting every week, even when it feels quiet.
- Try one change at a time, like adding a photo.
- Look at your best post and do more like it.
- Ask a few customers to comment on your next post.
Don't
- Buy followers or likes. They'll never call you.
- Post 5 times in a day to make up for a quiet week.
- Beg people to share your post.
- Give up after 2 weeks.