Are people talking about your Facebook Business Page? This is the second in the Facebook Insights series. If you missed the first, it is here:
Facebook Insights: A guide to understanding Reach.
This post tackles what Facebook mean when they use the term “Talking about this”. No, they are not listening in to every conversation that everyone is having in real life, that would be freaky! What Facebook mean, is people who have have created, what they call, a story.
This means your Fans have taken an action on your Page that will be visible to their friends.
For example:
- they clicked on the like
- they made a comment
- they shared an update on their Page or Profile
Facebook looks at Unique people.
- So if the same person has liked, commented and shared a post, it counts as one.
- If one person has liked an update, a second person left a comment and a third person shared the post, it counts as three.
It is a great measure of the level of interaction or engagement that your Fans have with the Page.
The figures for “Are talking about this” can be found next to the number of Likes.
This figure is very important to keep an eye on. The more interaction you have on your Page, the more visible it will be to your Fan’s friends and the greater the Reach.
The figure measures the number of unique people who have interacted on your Page in the past week.
This is the number of people who have
- Liked your Page
- Posted to the wall
- Liked a post
- Commented on a Post
- Shared a Post
- Responded to a Question or Poll
- Responded to an Event you have created
- Mentioned your Page
- Tagged your Page in a Photograph
- Checked into your Page Place
- Recommended your Page
It is useful to see what proportion of “Talking about this” you have compared to the number of Likes on your Page. The higher the better. I have seen Pages with a high number of Fans, but nobody is “talking”.
Each post has also got a figure for “talking about this” which is specific for the post. It includes likes, comments and shares.
Facebook use another term, just to confuse you. In the picture above you will can see that they have a term called “engaged users” which is different to “talking about this”
“Engaged users” is a measure of every unique person who clicks on an update. So it includes all the people who are “talking about this” as well as people who may have clicked on a photograph, or clicked through on a link. In the example given of the Fanpage Friday post, the difference is probably 7 new people clicking through to see people’s Fanpages.
So how do you improve your “talking about this” metrics?
You need to encourage engagement by asking questions, having interesting content and responding to people who leave comments and posts. Give people a reason to talk about your Page.
The next post will cover how to use Facebook Insights to get to know your fans. Please share this series with people you know who have Facebook Pages, thank you.
Facebook Insights: How to use it to get to know your fans
Facebook Insights: A guide to understanding Reach
(Updated this “Talking about this” post on 10/11/12)
Nicky Kriel
Nicky Kriel is a Social Media Coach & Trainer inspiring, educating and empowering Business Owners to use Social Media more strategically. She is also the author of How to Twitter for Business Success. For more information visit http://www.nickykriel.com or to find out about her courses that she runs in Guildford visit http://www.nickykriel.com/courses
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I didn´t know about Engaged Users. I will not have a look at these figures.
Hi Lesley
Did you meant the not? “I will not have a look”
Nicky
Thanks so much, Nicky! I was just wondering about this over the weekend, but didn’t take the time to research it. Now I don’t have to. I appreciate your insight.
Hi Jen
What were you wondering? What else do you want to know about? Might even write a blog about it. Thank you for leaving a comment x
Nicky
I was wondering about what the “talking about this” meant and what the difference was between that and “liking” a page. Thanks for clarifying.
If you want another blog idea, maybe you you could explain why some business pages don’t look much different than personal pages and some of them look more like a web site, or at least a giant colorful poster. I’ve wondered that, too. Is it paid advertising? Or do they know some other trick that I don’t?
Hi Jen
Will do this as a Blog post, thanks for the idea.
Nicky
I’m glad I have you to explain all this. I see and read the charts but really didn’t understand what it meant. Thank you!
Hi Cindy
Very please that it was helpful to you. Thank you,
Thank you so for confirming and informing! Its a shame that Facebook cannot make it sound so simple! :}
Thank you, Marie
Your comment made me smile. It is always encouraging to hear that a blog post has been useful, so thank you very much for the comment.
Nicky
Hey Nicky, I have gone through your post and I must say that you are correct. Loved your post. I have landed in this blog while touring in the blog land. In the recent time SMM is a major thing for SEO. And most of the clients are looking for Likes, Talking about this etc etc. Your article is really helpful for the newbies. Thanks a lot – looking for more from you.
Thank you,
It is always amazing where you land up while touring blog land. I very glad you liked my post. I try to make things simple and easy to understand. Let me know how you get on.
Nicky
I am wondering if you have noticed what I am seeing on a Facebook post insight. The number in insights for “talking about this” for a certain post is a much higher number than the number of shares, likes and comments I actually see on the post itself. Any idea what that’s all about?
Hello! Thanks for the clarification. I have a newborn photography page and my reach is through the roof- 2k but my “talking about this” number is only 30.And even worse, my page gas only 55 likes and is 5 months old. This is so discouraging! I have even put in my descriptions of the photo’s “if you enjoy this photo please like my page” but it doesn’t seem people are even doing THAT let alone doing any other action such as liking or sharing my photo’s in order to show up on their friend’s newsfeeds! Any quick suggestions on this? Would be a good blog too but I’d love some quick advise now too
)
Thanks again.
Hi P (It would be nice to know your name!)
You might find these posts useful http://www.nickykriel.com/blog/social-media/the-5-ways-to-get-more-comments-on-your-facebook-page/ , http://www.nickykriel.com/blog/social-media/5-facebook-tips-to-increase-your-visibility/ and http://www.nickykriel.com/blog/social-media/15-ways-to-promote-your-facebook-page-without-annoying-your-friends/ There are tips within them that might help. Let me know how you get on.
Nicky
Great post, Nicky! So where’s the Facebook “Like” button on this post?
nevermind, i found it. it wasn’t there at first, I swear. when I posted my comment it appeared magically. (and yes, I clicked it!)
Hi Evan
Thank you for the lovely comment and I am pleased that the “Like” button mysteriously reappeared.
Nicky
Dear Nicky
Kindly advice where I can see great posts for interaction as inspiration
Nice post – short and to the point, very effective. Going to find you on Twitter now, and follow…
That is just amazing, thank you so much!
Very interesting to read your postings. I’m new to using social media, so insights are very helpful. At present, I have four ‘Likes’ and one person talking about this, so now I understand what the difference is… I just need a few more now – but everyone starts with one, so I’m pleased! Thanks for your help.
Hi Maxine
What’s the URL for your Facebook Page? I will pop over and give you another Like. Thank you for your lovely comment.
Nicky
Hi Nicky – my Facebook URL is:-
http://www.facebook.com/MaxineDoddArtist
Thanks very much indeed!
Hi Nicky,
This is such a useful post, thank you – and explained in a way even I can understand! I was confused by the fact that there were more ‘talking abouts’ than ‘likes’ on my page (only 12 and 10 respectively… sob) but now I understand. Slightly strange that people are engaging with the page without liking it – but I’m not complaining!
Thanks again,
Helen
Hi Helen
It is worth asking your friends to pop over over to Like your Page and send out some invitations. Have you read this post? http://www.nickykriel.com/blog/social-media/15-ways-to-promote-your-facebook-page-without-annoying-your-friends/
Nicky
I’m still wondering ‘talking about this’ over what period of time – in the last 12 hours, 24 hours, week, month?
Thanks,,,,Very Nice Post…..
Hello again, just wondering if there is a time-frame associated with ‘Talking about this..’ My Likes are still there but recently, the ‘Talking abouts’ seem to have dropped. Is it just the passage of time or is there a way to keep people talking?
Hi Maxime
“Talking about this” is a measure of how much activity you have had in the past week. (There is a 2-3 day lag in reporting the insights so it shows the activity levels for a week that ended 3 days ago.) So it will fluctuate from week to week depending on how much activity you have had on your Page.
Nicky
Many thanks once again, much appreciated.
Hi Nicki,
This article is extremely helpful! Thank you!
One question…where can I find the “Engaged Users” number on a FB page?
Hi Christine
Thank you, glad you found it helpful. If you click on the “See all” in the insight section. It’s in the overview section. You will need a certain number of Likes before you see the Insights data.
Nicky
Thanks for clarifying so nicely. I was wondering about this stuff, though I had a fair idea, but wanted to reconfirm myself. Basically why I was wondering more because right now I have 175 likes · 168 talking about this type of figure, which is pretty much unusual I believe for a company page … I do not pay to promote, but yea I promote it a lot, organically though … nice to know that it’s going for great. Cheers and thanks again for clarifying so nicely. Ellen
Hi Ellen
Well done on building so much engagement on your Page. The more interaction you have, the more visible your Page will be. You obviously doing something right!
Thank you for leaving a comment.
Nicky