How to Get Algorithms on Facebook

Trying to understand the Facebook algorithm can feel like you're just guessing what a secret machine wants. One day your reach is great, a week later your posts get almost no views. This guide will show you exactly what the algorithm prioritizes in 2024 and give you actionable strategies to make it work for you, not against you.

What Does the Facebook Algorithm *Actually* Want?

First, it's not a single all-powerful algorithm. Facebook uses a collection of machine learning models to rank content across different surfaces like the News Feed, Reels, Stories, and Groups. While the specifics for each are a bit different, they all share the same overarching goal: show people content they're most likely to find valuable and interact with.

To do this, the algorithm looks at four main components for every piece of content:

• Inventory: This is the total sum of all content available to show you from your friends, family, and the Pages and Groups you follow.
• Signals: These are the thousands of data points that help the algorithm understand a particular post. Signals include who posted it, when it was posted, what format it is (video, photo, text), and how people are already interacting with it. Passive signals like viewing time matter, but active signals like comments, shares, and reactions are far more powerful.
• Predictions: Based on your past behavior, the algorithm makes educated guesses about how likely you are to engage with a piece of content. Will you share it? Will you comment on it? Will you hide it? Or will you scroll right past?
• Relevancy Score: After crunching all the numbers, a piece of content is given a final score that determines its rank in your feed. The higher the score, the more likely you are to see it.

The Goal: "Meaningful Interactions"

A few years ago, Facebook announced it would prioritize posts that sparked "meaningful interactions." In plain English, this means the algorithm values active engagement over passive consumption. A single thoughtful comment is often worth more than a dozen simple "Likes." Shares, direct messages originating from a post, and conversations in the comment section are the gold standard because they signal that the content is genuinely interesting and community-oriented.

Now, let's translate that knowledge into a working strategy.

7 Practical Ways to Get the Algorithm on Your Side

You don't need to post 10 times a day or try some complicated "hack" to boost your visibility. Instead, focus on these seven fundamental strategies that align directly with what the algorithm is designed to reward.

1. Spark Real Conversations, Not Just Likes

The easiest way to signal to the algorithm that your content is valuable is to get people talking. Instead of just broadcasting information, invite your audience to participate. Asking open-ended questions is one of the most effective ways to do this.

• Weak Engagement: "Here are five tips for better productivity."
• Strong Engagement: "What's the one productivity hack you can't live without? Share it in the comments below!"

The second option gives people a reason to stop scrolling and contribute. Use polls, ask for opinions, and create "this or that" style posts that are easy for people to answer. When you get comments, always reply to them. This doubles your comment count and encourages more people to join the conversation.

2. Go All-In on Video (Especially Reels)

If you take away just one thing from this article, let it be this: Facebook is prioritizing short-form video. The Reels feed is a massive discovery engine, pushing content to people who don't even follow you yet. This makes it one of the most powerful tools available for organic growth right now.

Your Reels don't have to be perfectly produced cinematic masterpieces. They just need to be engaging. Here are a few tips:

• Hook them in 3 seconds: Start with a bold statement, a compelling question, or fast-paced visuals to stop the scroll.
• Use trending audio: Tap into trending sounds and songs to get a visibility boost. The Reels algorithm often favors content using popular audio clips.
• Provide value: Your Reel should either educate, entertain, or inspire. Quick tips, behind-the-scenes looks, and relatable humor all perform well.

Don't forget about other video formats. Facebook Live continues to get outsized organic reach because it generates a high amount of real-time engagement. Longer-form native videos (3+ minutes) are also great for telling deeper stories and building a connection with your core audience.

3. Post When Your Audience is Actually Online

Timing still matters. The algorithm considers recency as a signal, so posting when most of your followers are active gives your content a better initial push. That first hour is where your post gathers early engagement signals that tell the algorithm whether it's worth showing to a wider audience.

So, when is the best time to post? The correct answer is inside your own analytics dashboards. Navigate to your Facebook Page's Meta Business Suite, click on Insights on the left menu, and then go to the Audience tab. Here, Facebook will show you a detailed chart of the days and times your followers are most active. Start by posting during these peak hours and see how your content performs.

4. Build a Community, Not Just an Audience

An audience listens, a community participates. Facebook offers one of the best tools for building a dedicated community: Facebook Groups. When you run an engaged group tied to your brand or niche, you create a direct line to your most loyal followers.

Content posted within Groups often has a much higher organic reach than page posts because members have opted in to be a part of the conversation. Use your Group to provide exclusive content, ask for feedback, and host discussions. As members engage with one another, they create a web of "meaningful interactions" that the algorithm loves, which can have a positive halo effect on your main Page's visibility as well.

5. Be Consistent, But Don't Spam

The algorithm favors accounts that show up regularly. A consistent posting schedule teaches your audience when to expect new content from you and signals to Facebook that your account is active and reliable. This doesn't mean you need to post multiple times per day. It's far better to post three high-quality, engaging posts per week than seven low-effort ones that get no interaction.

The key here is planning. A content calendar is your best friend. Map out your posts a week or two in advance so you're not scrambling for ideas at the last minute. This prevents content droughts and leads to a more thoughtful, cohesive feed.

6. Reformat and Repurpose Your Best Content

Stop feeling like you always need to create something from scratch. Your best-performing content is a goldmine of ideas waiting to be repurposed. The audience on Reels versus your main feed might be completely different, so give your proven ideas a chance to shine in a new format.

For example, you could:

• Turn a top-performing tips-based blog post into a quick, value-packed Reel.
• Take a customer success story and make it a visual carousel post with quotes.
• Expand on a simple text post that got a lot of comments into a longer-form native video.

Look at your analytics, identify your hits, and think about how you can give them a second life.

7. Use Multiple Content Formats

While video is king, relying on only one content format can limit your reach. Different people in your audience prefer to engage with different types of media. Some love watching videos, others prefer scrolling through a photo carousel, and some appreciate a good, old-fashioned text post.

Mixing up your formats keeps your feed fresh and allows you to appeal to different segments of your followers. A healthy content mix could include Reels, carousels, single-image posts with engaging captions, Live videos, and curated links with your own commentary. This diversification makes your content strategy an "all-weather" portfolio that can perform well no matter what a small algorithm tweak might favor tomorrow.

What to Stop Doing Right Now

Sometimes, getting better results isn't about doing more, it's about stopping what's holding you back. Here are a few common mistakes that can get your content demoted by the algorithm.

Engagement Bait

Posts that explicitly beg for likes, comments, and shares are considered engagement bait. This includes practices like "vote-baiting" (e.g., "Like for Option A, Share for Option B") or "tag-baiting" (e.g., "Tag a friend who loves pizza!"). Years ago, these tactics worked, but Facebook's AI is now incredibly sophisticated at detecting and penalizing this type of low-quality engagement.

Posting Only Links to External Sites

Remember, Meta's goal is to keep users on its platforms for as long as possible. If your feed is nothing but a series of links sending people off of Facebook, the algorithm will likely reduce your reach. You can and should still post links, but balance them with a hefty dose of native content (videos, photos, and text posts that keep the conversation on Facebook). When you do post a link, write a thoughtful caption that frames the issue and encourages discussion in the comments.

Using Low-Quality Media

Grainy photos, blurry videos, or images with text taken from a viral meme are all signals of low-quality content. Facebook's technology can "see" the quality of your visuals. Blurry, poorly cropped, or heavily watermarked content (especially from competing platforms like TikTok) is often down-ranked. Upload high-resolution files and make sure they're formatted properly for a mobile feed.

Final Thoughts

Winning on Facebook isn't about finding a secret trick to outsmart the system. It's about shifting your mindset from broadcasting at an audience to building a community with them. When you consistently create content that fuels conversations, provides real value, and respects your audience's time, the algorithm doesn't become an obstacle - it becomes your most powerful distribution tool.

Staying consistent, responding to your community, and tracking what works can be a huge drain on your time when you're jumping between apps. That's why we built Postbase from the ground up to feel less like a chore and more like a launchpad. Our visual content calendar makes planning a breeze, our rock-solid scheduler (built for modern formats like Reels and Shorts) means your content actually publishes when it's supposed to, and a unified inbox for comments and DMs helps you manage your community without the chaos.