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Blogger Tip Tuesday: Boosting Facebook Posts – Yay or Nay?

February 3, 2015 By: Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC52 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to run a small experiment. I wanted to see what would happen if I boosted one of my facebook posts. Basically, I was looking to figure out for myself if boosting facebook posts was something that would turn out being worth the money. I didn’t want to spend much for this experiment and I also wasn’t very patient – I only ran the ad campaign for two days. So, how was the process? And would I do it again? I’ll answer all those questions today in this week’s Blogger Tip Tuesday as I explore if boosting facebook posts is a yay or a nay. 

Boosting Facebook Posts: yay or nay

So, I was inspired to give this a shot by the book I’m currently reading How To Blog For Profit: Without Selling Your Soul. The author, Ruth Soukup describes how boosting facebook posts might be worthwhile if you choose a post that is already doing well and have a clear goal in mind. The timing was right for me. My post breaking down a typical Pure Barre class was doing quite well on facebook and I thought I’d see how much I could increase it’s reach and if that would turn into tangible page views for the blog. So to get started you can click on “Ads Manager” on the left hand side of your homepage — this will take you through all the steps – you’ll choose which post to boost, how much you will spend, the time period, the audience (I boosted among people who already liked my page) and any restrictions within that. After a few clicks  – you are all set! It’s very easy to do and doesn’t take much time at all. 

So, what happened when I boosted the post? Well, my goal was to increase conversion of facebook into blog page views. As you can see below, the post had a paid reach of 4,108 and there were 83 post actions (that’s likes, responses, etc.). There were 105 clicks on the post link, which translated into that Pure Barre post by far being my most viewed post of the week (and it was the second most viewed post of the month of January, which really says something considering it didn’t go live until the last week of the month). Altogether, there were 4,442 impressions from the post – which is WAY more than I normally get on a facebook post. When all was said and done, the $20 spent translates into a cost per engagement of .25. Which isn’t a lot. However, I don’t think I’d boost a facebook post again unless I were trying to sell a product (like an e-book or something). I think if you are just trying to get more traffic to your blog, it probably isn’t worth the money. While I did get a lot of traffic to that post, it wasn’t SO MUCH traffic that I’d just boost a regular post again. 

Screenshot 2015-01-28 at 3.27.30 PM - Display 1

Have you ever boosted a facebook post? Any plans to do so? 

note: this post contains an affiliate link.


Comments

  1. Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says

    February 3, 2015 at 6:52 am

    Yep, I’ve tried the experiment as well, didn’t seem beneficial in the long run.
    Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Skinny Confidential Book Review & GiveawayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 3, 2015 at 5:05 pm

      yeah, if i was selling something i might do it again but that’s it!

      Reply
  2. Janelle @ Run With No Regrets says

    February 3, 2015 at 7:26 am

    I was looking forward to this post! It sounds like a good way to get hits for a giveaway or a product for sale. At least boosting actually does work. I need to review my notes from reading Ruth’s book (though I’m still not ready to monetize my blog!).

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 3, 2015 at 5:06 pm

      yes, it does have an impact but figuring out why exactly you want to do it is important in my book! love that you read ruth’s book too!

      Reply
  3. Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says

    February 3, 2015 at 8:15 am

    I was wondering about this myself. I thought it was kind of like paying people to visit your site. Interesting info as usual thanks!
    Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Don’t Sweat it! Shower Pill Review & GiveawayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 3, 2015 at 9:49 pm

      more of like a sponsored post kind of mentality, i think! it was an interesting experiment that i’m glad i tried 🙂

      Reply
  4. Emily says

    February 3, 2015 at 9:16 am

    I’ve boosted some posts just to get my blog name out to more people. Now, I’m just scaling back to posting consistently now that I have somewhat of a readership, and people who are interested in my blog content, so I can develop relationships with people and not just be the ‘publicity obsessed’ blogger. 😀
    Emily recently posted…A Father’s KissMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 3, 2015 at 9:48 pm

      what was your experience boosting posts??

      Reply
  5. Mar @ Mar on the Run says

    February 3, 2015 at 9:41 am

    I’ve pretty much given up on my Facebook page so don’t think I’d ever boost a post. Maybe if I had something to sell (likely never) I’d consider it. Still, an interesting experiment!! I really think FB is making their pages geared towards full scale businesses. That’s the only way they’ll make any money!
    Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Shamrock Half Training Week 6My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 3, 2015 at 5:09 pm

      yeah selling something would be a good use of that feature!

      Reply
  6. Jess says

    February 3, 2015 at 10:25 am

    Working in social media strategy and digital marketing, I think your conclusion is pretty on the mark. Boosting posts can be effective if you are trying to amplify your reach for a company you’re working with (e.g. if you are having a hard time getting the impressions/traffic you need to satisfy an agreement with a sponsor), if you’re running a giveaway, or if you are selling something.
    Jess recently posted…Run the Bluegrass Training Week 8My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 3, 2015 at 9:47 pm

      glad to hear the SM professional side of it lines up with what i found out 🙂

      Reply
  7. Meranda@Fairytalesandfitness says

    February 3, 2015 at 11:24 am

    I ‘v never done this and I still don’t really understand how it works. Is boosting it similar to having it stay at the top of someones facebook newsfeed instead of it getting bumped down? I am assuming that it doesn’t actually get shown to people who are not your FB friends, correct? For example: If you only have 400 FB friends, you are not going to have your post seen by 5,000 people, correct?

    Our blog is not a “business” so we have no plans to do this in the future but I am just curious of the analytics of it all. Facebook Baffles me! Thanks for trying it out and reporting back!

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 3, 2015 at 5:03 pm

      with a page, this isn’t based on fb friends – it’s based on likes. and no, it’s an advertisement that will get shown to the demo you select when formatting the ad. when you see something on fb that says sponsored underneath it you are seeing an ad that someone paid for you to see 🙂

      Reply
  8. Natalie says

    February 3, 2015 at 11:36 am

    Interesting experiment…
    Sounds like its great if you are selling something.
    Thanks so much for the info!

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 3, 2015 at 9:46 pm

      yes, that’s exactly my feeling!

      Reply
  9. Jen@milesandblessings says

    February 3, 2015 at 12:11 pm

    Hmmm this is interesting. I have never really done anything special or that costs anything to promote my blog. I just post to facebook and twitter when I post.
    Jen@milesandblessings recently posted…Perspective & Kids runningMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 3, 2015 at 9:46 pm

      i was curious but it’s not something i’d do again (at least not until i write an ebook! :))

      Reply
  10. Debbie @ Deb Runs says

    February 3, 2015 at 1:06 pm

    I’ve always wondered if boosting would really work, but have never tried it. As always, thanks for the insight.
    Debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…From Football To FeetMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 3, 2015 at 9:45 pm

      yeah so my takeaway is that it CAN work depending on what your goal is.

      Reply
  11. Tara @ Running 'N' Reading says

    February 3, 2015 at 3:51 pm

    Courtney, I’ve never tried this and considering how “cheap” I am I can’t imagine that I would but I’ve definitely wondered what the impact might be. Thank you for trying this on our behalf!! 😉 Interesting to see what the difference brought to you and thank you for sharing the results.

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 3, 2015 at 9:44 pm

      yeah i kind of wish i’d let it run for longer but i just wasn’t that patient! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home says

    February 3, 2015 at 7:50 pm

    I’m not planning on boosting my posts. FB is one of those necessary evils but I’m not giving them my $. I’m always interested to hear what works and what doesn’t tho…

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 3, 2015 at 9:43 pm

      yeah, i hear ya!

      Reply
  13. Jennifer says

    February 3, 2015 at 10:00 pm

    I like experiments – thanks for sharing. I’m a bit behind on FB strategy since I do not maintain a page, but the insight is always appreciated 🙂
    Jennifer recently posted…Monthly Goals – February 2015My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 12, 2015 at 11:03 pm

      haha, thanks for reading!

      Reply
  14. Kathryn @ Dancing to Running says

    February 4, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    With my Facebook reach becoming smaller and smaller, I’ve been wondering if paying to boost any of my posts would be worth it. Thanks for the detailed insight, Courtney. Your thoughts just confirmed my thoughts: it doesn’t really seem all that worth it.
    Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Who Is Ready to Rock ‘n’ Roll With Me?My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 4, 2015 at 10:43 pm

      Yeah, while you will get a boost, I don’t think it is worth it unless you were selling a product. Fb is so weird!

      Reply
  15. Coco says

    February 4, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    Love hearing the results of your experiment!
    Coco recently posted…Loving Lately: Pizza, Donuts, And ChocolateMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 4, 2015 at 10:46 pm

      Thanks! It was very interesting!

      Reply
  16. Maureen says

    February 4, 2015 at 10:41 pm

    I’ve been wondering about this as well. Great advice about using it for selling an e-book or other product.
    Maureen recently posted…Big Weekend Eats {WIAW}My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 4, 2015 at 10:50 pm

      Yeah I think that’s probably the best use for it.

      Reply
  17. Emily says

    February 5, 2015 at 9:51 am

    My experience for me, since I’m a relatively new blogger, is that I’m getting my name out there, and I’m not quite a foodie or a runner blogger, so I had to find a unique audience. I think it really helped me find/target that unique audience. It tapered off the more I did it as more people knew about me.
    Emily recently posted…A Father’s KissMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 5, 2015 at 10:25 am

      so interesting! thanks for sharing emily 🙂

      Reply
  18. Abby @ BackAtSquareZero says

    February 5, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    Interesting. Thanks for sharing, always wondered about this.
    Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…Gluten Free Chocolate Desserts to Make Valentine’s Day SweetMy Profile

    Reply
  19. Annmarie says

    February 12, 2015 at 10:10 am

    This is really interesting- I have been wondering if it were worth it as well. I don’t get a lot of engagement on Facebook and very little of my traffic comes from there. Thanks so much for sharing, this is good to know 🙂
    Annmarie recently posted…Wild Workout Wednesday: Powerful in Pink Fitness EquipmentMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 12, 2015 at 11:33 am

      I have mixed feelings — if you have a specific goal (like selling something) it might be worth it. But just for traffic, probably not.

      Reply
  20. Lean Lena says

    February 12, 2015 at 11:27 am

    I boost mine every now and then; and I completely agree with you – unless the blog post you’re boosting on FB sells something (e.g. has affiliate links, products, etc.) it’s not really worth the money.
    I also found that targeting an add to people outside of your current audience (those who don’t like your page yet) is a little more worth it as it brings new likes to the page.
    Enjoyed this post. Thank you for sharing!
    Visiting form the Fitness Blogging Support and Share Group on FB 🙂
    Lean Lena recently posted…Yoplait Whips! – Whipping Up Healthy MealsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 12, 2015 at 11:34 am

      That’s a good point about the audience — I may try it again using some different parameters!

      Reply
  21. Heather @ divas run for bling says

    February 12, 2015 at 1:45 pm

    Thanks for sharing how boosting a post went. I haven’t every boosted a post so it was great to hear how it turned out.
    Heather @ divas run for bling recently posted…5 Things I Love About Half MarathonsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 12, 2015 at 2:03 pm

      it was a really interesting experiment!

      Reply
  22. Kate @KateMovingForward says

    February 12, 2015 at 2:30 pm

    Thanks for passing on the info from your experiment! I never have but have always wondered what the ROI would be. 🙂
    Kate @KateMovingForward recently posted…5 Chick Flicks Your Guy Won’t HateMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 12, 2015 at 11:05 pm

      i might run another experiment because i want to see how choosing some different factors makes (or doesn’t) a difference.

      Reply
  23. Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club says

    February 12, 2015 at 4:41 pm

    Hi Courtney! How are you getting .25 cents per action? I’m calculating .19 cents per action which is even better. I have boosted posts in the past and have some shirts that I am selling and would use it for that but just on a day to day basis I would not pay for it.
    Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club recently posted…In The Gym with Sharon ChamberlinMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 12, 2015 at 4:54 pm

      you get a report that details out the cost and the cost per action, etc. the report breaks it all down. i’m not looking at it right now, but it did add up. either way, to sell your shirts, i think it’d be a good investment!

      Reply
  24. Aj @ NutriFitMama says

    February 12, 2015 at 9:30 pm

    This is a very informative and interesting post, thanks for sharing your experience! I’ve boosted a couple posts and got a LOT of clicks and interactions on my blog from Facebook. BUT it’s not something I would do on a regular basis unless I had something to promote, selling something, giveaway, etc etc. I think it’s great for a new blogger to get out there, but it really also depends on the content you are boosting.
    Aj @ NutriFitMama recently posted…Thinking Out Loud and Chocolate Drunken StrawberriesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 12, 2015 at 11:01 pm

      yep – your take is exactly the takeaway i had after boosting my post!

      Reply
  25. RFC says

    February 13, 2015 at 8:23 am

    Thank you for sharing this! I do NOT have a big budget (or hardly any) to contribute into my blog, yet I would love to make the blog more profitable. I definitely struggle with the concept that it “takes money to make money”, so I’m trying to make wise decisions as to where to invest that money!
    RFC recently posted…California Dreaming – and Racing – Giveaway!My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 13, 2015 at 8:57 am

      i would not invest in fb to grow your blog or to make money (unless you are selling something). i think the money could be better spent on reading an awesome book – i really recommend ruth soukup’s blogging book. it’s fantastic!

      Reply
  26. amanda says

    February 21, 2015 at 11:35 pm

    Thanks for sharing! Interesting to read your results. I don’t have a desire to boost a regular post, but I agree if you’re trying to sell something it might be worth it.

    Reply
  27. Monica says

    February 22, 2015 at 12:57 am

    Having worked in social media for a government organization that included promoting events and other campaigns, I did a LOT of experimentation on boosting and other advertising avenues on Facebook without the benefit of really having knowledge of online marketing at the time. What I did find, however, was pretty much the same conclusion you came to – boosting posts had only a superficial effect. Even for promoting contests, events and initiatives, using a pay-per-click advertising method got us more interaction than a simple blanket boost (and a farther reach than our print advertising too, might I add!). It was tough, as the lone social media person for the whole organization, to keep up with Facebook’s seemingly ever-changing algorithms. I also noticed the cost per interaction go up each time I used the service, which meant spending more taxpayer money every time we did a new campaign. I wouldn’t boost another post for an organization when Facebook’s other ad methods get better bang for the buck.
    Monica recently posted…My Birth Plan – Part 2My Profile

    Reply
    • Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says

      February 22, 2015 at 10:35 am

      It’s so interesting to hear others experiences with boosting through Facebook!!

      Reply

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