Did you know that you can adjust the audiences for posts on your personal page on Facebook?

Posts we make on our Facebook business page are public. The default audience for our personal page is Friends, meaning anyone who is a Facebook friend can see the post. However, there are times when having an audience of Public can make sense. At other times, using the option of “Friends Except…” is the best fit.

If you want as many people as possible to see your post, use the Public option. Then, if a Facebook friend shares your post, all her/his friends might potentially see it. Using Friends instead of Public means only your shared Friends might see the post.

 

Times to Use Public as the Audience for Your Post

  • When sharing your business page to your personal page. Doing so means that it could appear in the news feeds of your Facebook friends. This is one way to get more of your Facebook friends to like your business page.
  • When sharing a post from your business page to your personal page.
  • When sharing a Facebook Live video from your business page to your personal page.

 

How to Change the Audience for a Facebook Post on Your Personal Page

  • On the computer: click on the space that says: “What’s on your mind?” Then scroll down to News Feed. To the right of that will be a box that containing the options Public, Friends, Friends Except, etc. Choose the one that fits the needs of the post.
  • On the mobile app: click on the space that says: “What’s on your mind?” Just below your name, you’ll see the audience button. Tap on it to change the audience, then click Done.

After you post, be sure to change the audience back to your standard audience choice.

 

Times to Use Friends Except Acquaintances

  • When the post is more personal than most of your posts, such the loss of a loved one. You may not want all your business acquaintances to know about personal matters.
  • When you include photos of a child or grandchild.
    • Another option is to create a closed group to which you post those photos. This way they can only be seen by the people you have specifically invited to be part of the group.

 

How to Create the Option of Friends Except Acquaintances

  • First assign an Acquaintance status to those of your Facebook Friends who are merely acquaintances in real life. To do this, go to your personal page, click on the Friends tab and hover over “Friends,” then click on Acquaintance.

 

How About You?

Do you change the audience from time to time? If so, what tips would you offer for selecting the appropriate audience for different types of posts?

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 45 and up, to become more effective using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

She works with business owners, business development professionals, business consultants, job seekers, and more – ranging from entrepreneurs to people in large corporations. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.