Strategies to Combat Organic Reach Decline in 2024

Lo, behold the truth that most social platforms, in their grand design, doth operate on a pay-to-play model for brands. Yet fear not, for there doth exist myriad ways by which thou canst enhance thy organic reach.

The decline of organic reach hath been a topic of much discourse in the realm of social marketing for many a year. As of July 2023, the engagement rate of an organic Facebook post doth range betwixt 2.58% down to a mere 1.52%.

Verily, organic social media marketing doth not lie in its death throes. However, the minds of marketers must shift, must mold to a new perspective of organic reach. By harnessing the powers of AI and machine learning within the social algorithms, new vistas doth open to reach social users not within thy current audience. Some 15% of Facebook feed content is now recommended from accounts thou followeth not. This, my friends, is organic exposure to fresh audiences.

Organic reach is not confined solely to Facebook, nay. Yet this titanic social platform doth serve as a beacon of the industry’s current state. Brands that doth possess true creativity and allure can thrive in this novel social landscape – if only they grasp the rules of the game.

What dost thou mean by organic reach on social media?

On social media, organic reach is the count of people who doth lay eyes upon thy content through unpaid means – without the coinage spent to target a specific audience.

In days of yore, social content would grace the feeds of those who did follow thee. Alas, as the deluge of social content swelleth, this became an untenable notion. Facebook doth sayeth the average user hath 1,500 potential stories that might grace their Feed with each login. For some who dost followeth many, this number may reach as high as 15,000. It is a Sisyphean task to see all. Thus, each social platform hath its own algorithms to decree how organic content doth spread – and which eyes shall behold thy posts.

Why doth organic reach dwindle?

The Decline of Facebook Organic Reach

Facebook was where the first signs of decline in organic reach became apparent. Behold the words of Facebook on the matter:

“There are myriad factors that do influence reach, including how people dost engage with thy Page’s content, how similar content hath been engaged with in days of yore, the caliber of the content, and other factors like the hour of the day and whether users do access Facebook through their mobile or computer. ‘Tis common for reach to fluctuate based on these parameters.”

Methinks there be sage advice in these words on how to elevate thy content’s chances of organic viewership. We shall delve into them anon.

Instagram’s Organic Reach Descent

Let us now turn our gaze towards Instagram and its thoughts on organic reach decline:

“Whilst rumors swirl that payment for ads doth enhance reach, we do not suppress content to urge folks to purchase ads. ‘Tis wiser to enrich Instagram by growing reach for those who craft the most engaging content, and vend ads to others.”

By unveiling the enigmatic algorithms that discern the most engaging content, organic reach becomes a more comprehensible realm.

Eleven Ways to Combat the Eroding Organic Reach

1. Craft a coherent and tactical content plan: To attain organic reach, one must strategize one’s social media content meticulously, from the nature of the post to its frequency and the optimal times to engage with the majority of one’s audience.

2. Tailor thy content for each platform: One must never approach social media marketing with a blanket strategy, especially concerning organic content. To reach the widest array of eyes, organic posts must be honed to perfection. Understanding the nuances of the platform and its denizens is paramount.

3. Offer true value: Organic content must proffer followers something of substance. Provide them with a reason to follow thee, to continue following, and to disseminate thy posts. Value arrives in myriad guises – be it entertainment, erudition, inspiration, or the opportunity to bond with a community.

4. Fashion content for the audience thou desirest: The signals sent to the algorithm determine which individuals art shown thy content. Therefore, thy content must cater not solely to thy current audience but also to the audience thou dost wish to enthrall. Delve into the analytics to discern the themes that garner the most novel audience and weave them into thy content plan.

5. Embrace the power of video: In this era where video doth reign supreme on most social platforms, brands that conjure the most captivating video content art poised to garner the loftiest organic reach. Short videos, such as Reels, are a critical means to ensnare audiences yet to grace thy brand with their following.

6. Engage thy employees: Cultivating a vibrant community of brand advocates who do engage consistently with thy posts and champion thy content across social media can augment organic reach. And where better to unearth brand advocates than within thy own ranks?

7. Exalt thy brand values: In these times, consumers crave more from brands than mere exceptional products. Showcasing thy company’s talents, diversity, and values fosters a robust social media community. Be inclusive, be diverse, be representative. The more individuals who do spy themselves and their values mirrored in thy content, the more traction thou shalt gain with the algorithms to broaden thy organic reach.

8. Call upon engagement: Create social content that doth coax thy existing followers to engage, dispatching potent signals to the algorithm that thy content meriteth a wider audience. Encourage interaction and participation from thy followers, such as posing questions that beckon answers in the comments.

9. Collaborate and tag: Joining forces with another brand or creator affords a simple means by which to unfurl thy content before a larger organic audience. By leveraging Instagram’s Collabs feature, thou and another user can partake in a joint post that doth grace both of thy feeds, thereby expanding the reach of both collaborators.

10. Master social media SEO: Whereas hashtags once reigned supreme in the realm of discoverability, they hath now relinquished their former glory. Understanding the nuances of social media SEO and integrating relevant techniques into thy captions and alt tags is imperative to amplify thy organic reach.

11. Venture into the realm of paid promotion: If the descent of organic reach doth vex thee greatly, the surest path to introducing thy content to a wider viewership is to embrace social ads and promoted content in thy social media stratagem. Opt for awareness goals in thy paid ad campaign for optimal reach. Should thou seek a more organic feel, boost existing organic posts rather than crafting ads from scratch.

Lo, in conclusion, the terrain of organic reach may seem fraught with challenges, but with a strategic approach, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to providing value, organic reach is not merely a relic of days past but a realm ripe for exploration and conquest. May thou navigate this landscape with wisdom and aplomb, and may thy organic reach flourish and prosper in the ever-evolving world of social media.