Facebook Frustration: Why Your Posts Aren’t Reaching (And What to Do About It)

We are all experiencing it! We are a boutique branding and marketing agency and we feel the pain of the facebook algorithm changes too! So we've sourced some juicy information to help you (not just ourselves).

If you’re running a nonprofit, small business, or community organization and wondering why your Facebook posts seem to disappear into the digital void, you’re not alone. The harsh reality is that Facebook’s algorithm has fundamentally changed how content reaches audiences, and the statistics are more sobering than you might expect.

In this blog I'll share tips on how to get around the annoyance so you can still thrive on a platform we used to love so much!

The decline in organic reach on Facebook isn’t just a feeling, it’s backed by hard data. Facebook’s average reach in 2024 was measured at only 5.9%, with other studies putting the average Facebook Page post reach even lower, around 2.6%.

To put this in perspective, organic reach is now limited to just 5.5%, meaning that out of every 100 people who follow your page, only 5 or 6 will actually see your posts in their news feed.

In 2024, there was a 30% drop in organic engagement on client campaigns for retail brands within three months due to algorithm updates prioritizing personal connections over brand content. This dramatic shift has left many organizations scrambling to understand why their carefully crafted posts about fundraising events, volunteer opportunities, and community impact are reaching fewer people than ever before.

One of the most significant factors affecting your post reach is the inclusion of external links. Facebook prides itself on being a self-contained entity, and posting external links forces time away from the platform. Thus, Facebook will minimize views to your business page.

The evidence is clear: Facebook posts without links get roughly twice the engagement of posts with links, and studies consistently demonstrate that non-linked posts outperform linked ones in reach and engagement. This means that when your nonprofit posts a direct link to your fundraising page or event registration, you’re essentially telling Facebook’s algorithm to show your content to fewer people.

Platforms like Facebook changed their algorithms in 2024, favoring paid promotions over real, unpaid content. This shift represents a fundamental change in how social media platforms operate. The evolution of Facebook’s algorithm has dramatically reduced the visibility of posts from business pages, particularly those that rely on organic reach, making it increasingly difficult to connect with their audience without significant investment.

The message is clear: Facebook has become a pay-to-play platform where organic content struggles to compete with boosted posts and advertisements. For nonprofits operating on tight budgets, this presents a significant challenge in reaching their communities effectively.

Facebook frequently updates its algorithm to identify and reduce the reach of posts that qualify as clickbait or contain spammy links. The platform’s algorithm uses multiple factors to determine which content gets shown, including user interactions, content type, and engagement predictions.

Posts that are tagged with popular keywords or show up in relevant Facebook groups tend to get a higher score. Factors that influence this score include the kind of content, user interactions with similar posts, and how long a user spends viewing posts in the same category.

While the challenges are real, there are proven strategies to work within Facebook’s current algorithm:

Move Links to Comments: Instead of including external links in your main post, keeping users on the Facebook platform in the first place is the first step in beating the Facebook Algorithm. Post your content without links and add “Link in comments!” to direct people to additional information.

Focus on Native Content: Create content that lives entirely within Facebook’s ecosystem. Use Facebook’s built-in features like polls, events, and photo albums rather than directing traffic elsewhere.

Prioritize Engagement Over Clicks: Using interactive elements can help combat the algorithm’s preference for personal connections. Ask questions, encourage comments, and create content that sparks conversation.

Leverage Visual Storytelling: Instead of posting a link to your fundraising page, share the story behind the need. Show photos of the work being done, introduce the people being helped, and create an emotional connection that encourages shares and comments.

Strategic Boosting: For critical posts, consider modest paid promotion. Even $5-10 can significantly increase reach for important announcements or fundraising campaigns.

The reality is that organic reach in 2025 is pitifully low, and organizations need to adapt their strategies accordingly. This doesn’t mean abandoning Facebook entirely, but rather understanding how to work within the current system.

Facebook’s engagement rate by reach records average values that go up to a maximum of only 1.20%, compared to other platforms that may offer better organic reach. This data suggests that diversifying your social media strategy across multiple platforms may be more effective than putting all your efforts into Facebook.

The most successful nonprofits on Facebook are those that focus on building genuine community rather than just broadcasting information. The more deeply connected your followers feel to your brand, the more likely they are to like, comment on, or share your new content.

This means shifting from a broadcast mentality to a community-building approach.

Understanding Facebook’s algorithm limitations is the first step toward developing more effective social media strategies. Rather than fighting against the system, successful organizations are adapting their approaches to work within it.

The key is to set realistic expectations about organic reach while implementing strategies that maximize the visibility of your most important content. This might mean posting less frequently but with higher quality, more engaging content, or allocating a small budget for promoting critical posts.

The Facebook algorithm isn’t going to return to the days of high organic reach. Facebook Engineering Director Lars Backstrom warned that Pages could anticipate a dip in organic reach, which could leave reach lower than earlier estimates.

However, organizations that understand these limitations and adapt their strategies accordingly can still build meaningful connections with their communities. The key is to focus on quality engagement over quantity of posts, use Facebook’s native features effectively, and complement your social media efforts with email marketing, direct community engagement, and other communication channels.

I know it stinks, trust me, as an experience design agency with a huge focus on marketing and results, it really is frustrating so we've decided to just keep an eye on the latest updates.

Speaking of which, you can reap the rewards of our work by subscribing here: 

Sources: