Although most bloggers use Facebook to promote and support their blogs, you can also post directly to Facebook. It's important that you understand the limitations and benefits of blogging on Facebook before you start to blog.
There are two ways to blog directly on Facebook
There are two ways you can blog on Facebook. Facebook posts are the first way to blog on Facebook. This works best for shorter posts. Facebook Notes is the second method to blog on social media. This allows you to create short but attractive blog posts that are easy to read by your followers.
Tip Don't know how to create a Facebook business page? Our guide 7 Steps to Create a Facebook Business page
How to blog using Facebook posts
You may associate the term "blogging" with articles that are longer than other social media posts. Microblogging is a form of blogging that allows bloggers to create short pieces of highly relevant content that they can share with their audience. Facebook is just one of many platforms ideal for microblogging--Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr are other popular microblogging sites.
Marketing guru Andrea Vahl microblogs on Facebook and uses the platform to connect personally with her followers.
Many bloggers use Facebook posts to microblogging. Facebook is a great platform for sharing short videos, images and text-based content. Facebook's maximum character limit is 63,206. However, studies have shown that posts of 80 characters or less get 88% more engagement. Posts with visuals and videos that are short tend to be the most successful on Facebook.
Although short posts are more popular than longer posts, it doesn't necessarily mean that they can't work. Jeff Foster, for example, writes posts between 300-1000 words that often generate high volumes of likes and shares.
You must understand your audience to be a successful blogger on Facebook. Try different lengths and post types. Next, experiment with different lengths and types of posts.
Author Jeff Foster often adds blog content directly to Facebook via Facebook posts, and then usually adds the same content to his LifeWithoutACentre.com blog.
How to blog using Facebook Notes
Facebook Notes is a Facebook feature that's not as well-known as it should be. Facebook notes can be used to create blog posts similar to those you would find on Squarespace and WordPress.
Example of two blog posts on Facebook from Bill Gates (created using Facebook Notes)
How to add Facebook Notes to your Facebook Page
You will need to activate Facebook Notes on your Facebook Page. This process can be started by clicking on the Page Settings tab in your Facebook page administrator's window.
Once you’ve opened your Page Settings screen, navigate to the Templates and Tabs menu option on the left sidebar.
You’ll add Facebook Notes to your page by first clicking on the Page Settings tab.
Notes will be available after you click on the Templates or Tabs menu. To activate Notes for your Facebook page, move the slider to the right.
Once you click on Templates and Tabs, a variety of tabs options will appear, one of which will be Notes.
After you have completed the above steps, Facebook Notes will become active on your page. Now you are ready to blog.
How to create a blog post using Facebook Notes
You must log in as the page administrator. Navigate to your Facebook homepage. There you will see your Facebook featured tabs. This may differ from other pages' because you may have other tools loaded. Click on the down-arrow next to More tab to see Notes.
When you click on Notes from your tabs bar you’ll see the following:
To add a new blog post via Notes, simply click on the “+Add Note” button in the top right corner. Once you do this, a blank template will appear (see below). You will use this template to create your blog post.
Once you click on Templates and Tabs, a variety of tabs options will appear, one of which will be Notes.
How to format your Facebook Note blog posts
The interface for Facebook Notes is very simple, as you can see in the above image. You can add an image and a title to your blog post. Your post will automatically include the current date. Your Facebook Note can be saved, deleted, or published. A Note can be saved to your Facebook account. However, it will not be published. You can save your posts so that you can come back later to edit or write again. Then you can publish them when you are ready.
Facebook Notes' optimal featured image dimensions are 1200 x 445 pixels Your featured image will appear on your followers' Facebook feeds and will impact how many people will click through to your post. It is important to choose a striking image.
Although Facebook Note's formatting tools are not very robust, they provide enough tools to help you create beautiful blog posts. The majority of formatting tools can be accessed only once you have started typing. To see your options, click on the paragraph icon or the circle plus icon.
Facebook Notes allows you to add images and HTML code into your blog posts. You can also embed videos, gifts, and links to content on other sites to your Facebook Notes.
Blog post text-formatting options are revealed by clicking on the paragraph icon. You can adjust headline sizes or add bulleted lists, numbered lists, and quotes to your blog articles. You can also bold and italicize your text.
After you publish your blog post with Facebook Notes, here's what it will look in the Facebook feeds of your followers:
Example of what your Facebook Note looks like in your followers’ Facebook feeds
You can see that only a small portion of your blog post text will be displayed in the feeds of your followers. To read the entire blog post, your followers will need to click on "See More". It is important that your blog's introduction and image are appealing. If they don't, your readers won't click the "See More" button and your blog will be ignored.
Clicking on the "See More” link will take your followers to your entire blog post. They won't have to leave Facebook. (See example below).
Example of what a Facebook Note looks like once its published
A Big Warning About Facebook Notes
Facebook Notes allows you to post on Facebook for free. Although this feature was more popular than it was a few years ago, it hasn't taken off like wildfire, and I'm not seeing as many people using it today. Even Mark Zuckerberg , the Facebook CEO, seems to be using Notes sparingly.
Facebook has not yet made an announcement about removing this feature from the platform. However, Facebook occasionally makes service changes. If you intend to blog on Facebook using Facebook Notes, it is strongly recommended that you save a copy of your posts elsewhere. If Facebook stops supporting Notes, I would hate for you to lose all of your content.
How can I make money blogging on Facebook?
Facebook can be a great place to make money by selling products and services, affiliate marketing, or sponsor posts. Facebook also allows you to open a shop. You can also open a shop on Facebook if you're looking to make the most of your blogging career.
What are the Pros and Cons to Blogging on Facebook Directly?
Facebook is the most used social media platform in the world. Facebook alone has over 221 million US users. This social media giant is a must-read for bloggers.
More people in the US visit Facebook than any other social platform. (Source: Statista)
You need to be clear about the question: Can you start a blog via Facebook?
Let's look at the pros and cons of blogging on Facebook to help you make an informed decision about whether it is the right strategy.
There are many benefits to blogging on Facebook directly:
- No cost: Facebook allows you to post without paying a dime.
- Large user base: Facebook boasts a large active user base that covers nearly all ages.
- It's simple to get started on Facebook by simply typing
- Less reader resistance Many social "scrollers," prefer to stay on the same social media channel that they are currently on. Your Facebook blog allows your followers to read and comment on your posts directly from Facebook.
- Facebook visibility benefit: Facebook wants you to keep your fans on the social network, rather than redirecting them to another website. Facebook may reward you with visibility for blog posts in your followers' Facebook newsfeeds.
One of the top reasons to blog directly on Facebook is:
- No organization tools: It's impossible to categorize or organize your Facebook posts.
- Very limited formatting options:Blog posts formatting capabilities on Facebook are very limited. Poor formatting can often lead to subpar user experience.
- It's hard to build a brand: A private domain is not available on Facebook. This makes it extremely difficult to create a brand and reputation for your blog.
- Search disadvantage. Your blog has more control than your Facebook posts over search engine optimization (SEO).
- Monetization is not as easy as it seems. Facebook doesn't offer as many options to monetize your blog as you have on your website. Advertising on Facebook is not a way to make money.
- It is difficult for users to find complete blog content: Although new Facebook posts appear in their feeds, it takes a lot for your followers to go back to your blog posts and find them. Visitors to a separate blog site can do this quite easily.
- Facebook isn't widely used for traditional blogging. While people may promote their blogs through Facebook, it isn't as popular for hosting longer-form (over 300 words!) blog posts.
- Your work could be lost: Facebook has the power to remove any of your blog content at their discretion (though they would likely give you a warning).
Facebook: Is it the right blogging platform?
While blogging on Facebook is a great idea for some, it may not be right for everyone. Your goals will determine if you choose to blog on Facebook. You don't need a website yet to start your blog , but you aren't sure if you want to.
You can make money blogging by creating your own blog. This will give you the greatest control and maximize your chances of making a profit. However, you should still use Facebook to promote your blog. A blog on Facebook can give you an advantage in visibility and engagement.
An example where Facebook expert Jay Baer published the same blog post on Facebook directly as well as on his Convince & Convert blog.
The Best Alternative to Facebook Blogging
Although you can blog on Facebook, Facebook has some restrictions about who and when your posts will be seen. Let's say that you have 100,000 Facebook followers. You may not see every post from all of those people. If you don't support all of the content with paid advertising, then you can expect less than 5% to see every post.
Facebook is an excellent marketing and promotional tool for bloggers, but it's not the best blogging platform. If you want to build a successful blog, you should create your own website with a top blogging platform. You can then use Facebook to promote your products and services, engage followers, and spread the word about your blog.
Bluehost is my preferred hosting provider for self-hosted WordPress blogs. You can have your own domain and brand it, grow it as you need it, and make it look the way you want. You can also fully leverage the power of search engine optimiz (SEO), so that your blog content is more visible in Google searches.
Bluehost is your hosting provider and you can start a self-hosted WordPress site for as low $2.95 per monthly
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How to use Facebook to promote your blog
As a blogger and consultant, I know firsthand how important Facebook is as a marketing and promotion tool. Each time I publish a blog post on my self hosted WordPress blog I add it to my Facebook page. This allows me to reach my large Facebook fan base and creates a sense community for my blog audience.
Example of a popular Facebook page for a personal development blog
I use Facebook ads occasionally to reach my ideal market and to introduce them to products or services I think they may like. My blog has a Facebook group where I create a community and host challenges and special learning events.
Facebook has many different ways that bloggers can make more money. You can increase your blog's monetization by publishing sponsored posts to Facebook. Furthermore, you can sell products on Facebook.
Facebook can be used to promote your blog posts
Facebook posts can be added manually to your page or via a social media management tool such as Hootsuite and Buffer. I personally use Buffer. To link an article from your business or personal blog to Facebook, click on the "Create Post” button from your Facebook homepage. Next, add a brief intro and the URL of your post. Facebook allows you to choose whether to publish your post immediately, or later.
You can promote articles from your personal or business blog using Facebook’s “Create Post” feature.
Facebook gives you the option to add additional features to your post. These options can vary, but these are the ones available at the time of writing:
You can also Boost your Facebook post—starting as low as $1 a day—so more people will see and engage with your post. A Boost is a form of Facebook advertising, but in my opinion, is typically not as effective as other advertising options available through Facebook
Tip For more information, see Facebook Advertising: The Ultimate Guide With Examples
This is how your new Facebook post will look after you have added your blog content, link and hit the Post button.
You can easily create a Facebook post to your blog content in a few minutes.
Your blog posts on your website will look slightly different in the feeds of your followers than blog posts made in Facebook Note. These images show the subtle differences best.
Blog posts created with Facebook Note appear slightly different in the Facebook feed than posts added from personal or business blogs.
Examples of Popular Facebook Post Formats from Bloggers
Variety is the spice in life, and it is possible to increase engagement and improve overall results by adding variety to your blog’s Facebook page. A smart strategy to maximize your blog's exposure on Facebook is to add different content to your posts.
Videos get more engagement on Facebook than other types of post formats.
(Source: BuzzSumo)
Example 1: Promote your blog with video on Facebook
Videos get about 59% engagement on Facebook is better than any other type post. Live videos can be posted to Facebook, or linked to existing videos from your blog or YouTube channel. HubSpot shows that Facebook users spend three times more time watching live videos than they do non-live videos.
85% videos on Facebook don't have sound so make sure you add captions to videos that rely on sound to communicate important messages. Some videos, such as "how-to videos", don't rely on sound in order to function well.
The Twins Mommy blog often posts engaging how-to video content to its Facebook Page.
Example 2: Make a personal connection on your Facebook page
Facebook is a social network, so it pays to be personal. You can ask your audience for questions and share personal stories or anecdotes via your Facebook page. Ask your followers to join the conversation. This is a great way to make your followers feel more genuine and show that you care. People are more comfortable doing business with people they trust and can relate to.
The Grown and Flown blog often use its Facebook page to connect with its followers with personal anecdotes and stories.
You can make yourself more human by adding candid photos of yourself.
Travel blogger Wandering Earl often posts images of himself working from exotic locals.
Example Three: Add Amazing Photos to Your Facebook Page
All blog niches benefit from using attractive images on their Facebook pages. However, some niches require exceptional visuals. Amazing visuals are essential for blogs in travel, fashion, food and home interior design.
A compelling visual is one of the best things about them. They are often shared by many people. This can increase exposure for your blog.
Bottom Line
Facebook allows you to blog for free by using the post and notes features. It's best to create your own blog and promote it on Facebook for maximum blogging results.
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