Buzzfeed News reported this week on Facebook’s war against fake news. Fake news sites like National Report create false stories with clickbait headlines, and depend on Facebook to drive traffic to them. Facebook is doing their best to curtail the traffic they’re driving to these sites unintentionally. [Read more…] about Hey, Radio DJ! You Have a Responsibility to Fact-Check Facebook Posts
What’s To Love About Facebook Hashtags?
You’ve seen (and used, I hope!) hashtags on other social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr. The hashtag, a word or multiple words preceding the ‘#’ without spacing, is a method of categorizing online content and giving it context.
While using hashtags on Facebook used to be a faux pas, that is no longer true now that Facebook introduced hashtags in June. Facebook users have been able to make public status updates for some time, but what was missing was a way to find public posts on a specific topic. The hashtag is that missing piece for Facebook. Now you can click a hashtag to read all public posts (and posts from your friends).
Take “I love #KDWB,” for example. Clicking #KDWB within this post would return all posts with that hashtag, 
connecting fans of KDWB with one another. (Hint: it works just like Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr.) See my bulldog image at right for a general example.
So what’s to love about Facebook hashtags?
- Using them will extend the reach of your posts to non-fans. That’s right- people who haven’t liked your page can now find your posts and engage with them. Think of hashtags as a free alternative to page post ads. You can increase your reach on a post to non-fans without purchasing Facebook ads. (Hashtags likely won’t be as effective as ads on increasing page likes, but you should see an increase in reach as Facebook hashtags become more popular.)
- You can now create a cross-platform hashtag promotion, accepting entries from fans on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
- In addition to promotions and contests, radio can use Facebook hashtags as well as Twitter’s for on-air interaction, increasing the interaction and number of responses from listeners on show topics.
- Hashtags will supercharge Facebook ad campaigns. In addition to demographic data and interests (based on pages they like), you can now target people who are talking about a certain topic using hashtags. So, you might select females 18-49 who have been talking about #music #radio or #Kesha for a Top 40 ad campaign.
- When crafting social media posts, there is one less thing to change between your Facebook and Twitter copy.
- They will make Facebook a player for event marketing. Twitter has owned social media promotion for events, but now Facebook is in the game. You can create a hashtag for a conference, promotion or concert and use it on both platforms.
What are your thoughts on Facebook hashtags? Have you started using them yet?
Which Social Media Platforms Should Your Small Business Be Using?
No matter what the state of your social-media usage, there’s room to improve your strategy and expand your business. But where to focus your efforts? I offer a quick rundown on which social platforms might help you and how in an interview for the Verizon Wireless Small Business Guide.
Thumbnail photo credit: Verizon Wireless
Why Morning Shows Deserve Their Own Facebook Page
Three clients have approached me in the last few months, all worried because the station they work for is threatening to cancel their Morning Show Facebook page. Not because their behavior on Facebook is out of line with the station brand, or because it is distracting them from the on-air product, but because they view it as a threat to the growth of the station’s Facebook presence.
While I understand the need to streamline the on-air message regarding social media, I believe morning shows deserve their own
social media accounts. Here are five reasons why:
1. A radio station is only as strong as its shows, its music, and its promotions. A show that is using social media to engage P1s and attract new listeners is serving more than itself- but the station as a whole.
2. A smart radio station Facebook or Twitter account represents all aspects of the station brand. This includes new music, artist news, promotions and contests, and shows. Because there are only so many posts that should be made in one day, the morning show has limited opportunity to promote their show and its content on the station page (typically within the time the show airs).
Having their own Facebook and Twitter presence allows them to be a source of entertainment for listeners 24/7, creating brand loyalty and increasing tune-ins.
3. Fans “like” and “follow” radio stations for different reasons than they do shows or air talent. They expect the station to keep them updated with concerts, music news, contests and promotions. They like or follow a show or air talent accounts to find out more about what they’ve heard on the show, and to personally connect with the specific jock they love. Following a person and a brand are different, and they both have a place in social media.
4. Morning show talent almost always ensure their online presence is in line with the on-air brand. If they are growing a fan base online, it’s because they care about their brand and the show’s success. They want to give listeners what they expect, and would not post any content that doesn’t reflect the show’s branding.
It’s unlikely they will behave badly… Facebook isn’t Vegas, so they know what happens there will always make it back to Management.
5. Facebook is a great place to test on-air topics. Many shows use Facebook as a gauge by posting phone topics the night before. Often a topic they thought would be huge has “no legs,” evident by the lack of engagement on Facebook. And sometimes a small topic turns into a huge segment, as the show sees different angles in Facebook comments. Using Facebook to “test topics” makes the on-air product stronger, as it weeds out the topics that don’t resonate with listeners.
And why not let the show keep their page?
If you’re worried that the show’s on-air promotion of their Facebook page is hurting the growth of the station page, set parameters.
If your station Facebook page lacks morning show presence because they only post on their own, set guidelines for when they must post on the station page.
Just don’t cancel their account.
This is a controversial topic by nature. I welcome your opinions, as they may help guide compromise for Management and Morning Show talent.
Photo credit: Modified from a photo from clotho98 on Flickr via Creative Commons
Facebook’s Data Use Policy Changes and The Hoax Post
You didn’t know Facebook made a change to their data use policy? That’s probably because they sent the email to users the night before Thanksgiving, right when you decided to unplug and relax for a couple of days.
In fact, you may have seen other Facebook users posting a “copyright notice” to claim ownership of content before you even realized Facebook made a policy change.
The “copyright notice” post your Facebook friends are sharing is a hoax. Both Facebook and Snopes have released statements confirming that the post is useless. You “signed” a user agreement when you created your Facebook account, and must abide by Facebook’s policies- changes and all- if you continue to use the platform. No ridiculous post can override that fact.
So what provisions did Facebook change, exactly, to their Data Use Policy?
- Facebook users will no longer be able to vote on changes to the privacy policy. They will still be able to comment on the provisions, however.
- Facebook may obtain data about you “from our affiliates or our advertising partners” to “improve the quality of ads.”
But What About the Copyright Stuff?
And no changes were made regarding the rights to the content you post, as suggested by the hoax posts. Facebook’s terms of use still reads, “You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook, and you can control how it is shared through your privacy and application settings.”
However, the terms also say:
For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos (IP content), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook (IP License). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it.
So, copyright law protects your content, but your privacy and application settings dictate how Facebook is permitted to use that content. If you’re worried, check your settings to ensure you’re sharing what you want, with whom you want.
And if you’re a station or show using Facebook for marketing and listener engagement, make your content a strong representation of your brand, and make it public to increase reach.
Thanks to Don Anthony at The Morning Mouth/Jockline Daily who asked me to ponder this. Read the full Data Use Policy here.