How to Use Facebook’s Audience Optimization Tool

Recently, our book marketing experts introduced readers to the Facebook Audience Optimization tool. Here, we discussed why authors and publishers should use this tool, and the various benefits that can come from optimizing posts.

In this week’s post, we will briefly walk you through how to set up and use the Audience Optimization tool. Let’s get started!

Step 1:

Go to your Facebook page, and in the top right, click Settings.

Step 2:

Under Settings, locate the Audience Optimization for Posts option. Click Edit. Check the box and then click Save Changes.

Step 3:

Return your Facebook page. Now that Audience Optimization is enabled, you will see a “target” icon located beneath your page’s update box.

Step 4:

Create a new Facebook post. Then, click on the Audience Optimization icon. You should see Preferred Audience, NOT News Feed Targeting. If you see this, you do not yet have the Audience Optimization – but it’s coming.

Next, set up your Preferred Audience by typing in the audience’s interests. As you’re typing, Facebook will make suggestions – feel free to choose from these. Facebook will also display the estimated reach for each interest.

You may also choose to add Audience Restrictions. For example, if your book is chick-lit, you may want to optimize your post so that it is only seen by women between the ages of 18-45.

Once you are satisfied with your Preferred Audience, click Save.

Step 5:

After you click Save, you will see the audience’s Preferred Interests listed below the post. Click Publish to send the post. Note that, rather than a tiny globe icon (public post), page administrators will see a gear icon next to their published post. This symbol indicates that the post has been optimized for your Preferred Audience.

So, there you have it! Again, the Audience Optimization tool will not immediately help with increased organic reach or building your audience. But, with time and increasingly optimized posts, your existing audience will become more engaged, which will hopefully increase both your reach and audience.

Questions? Please feel free to contact one of our friendly book marketing experts for a consultation if you require assistance with the Facebook Audience Optimization tool.