One of the first Social Media Platforms was Facebook. Though many may think that Facebook is Dying so long after it launched in 2004 it is actually a Social Media Giant that can never be killed. Till today it is still the most popular social media site, with 2.7 Billion Monthly Active Users based on the 2020 statistics. Henceforth, it is the best platform for Social Marketing.
Since it is a platform with a massive audience base there is also a lot of accounts. Among these, there are also a lot of fake accounts and spammers. According to a statistic, there is 207 million duplicate Facebook accounts and 60 million fake accounts.
Facebook Jail can happen to anyone; whether a Personal or Business Account, having limited access to your account’s ability to post is problematic. But it is more destructive for Business Accounts. If your audiences or Facebook identifies you as a fake or a spammer account, you would most probably end up in Facebook Jail.
To Avoid Facebook Jail means to avoid Facebook Suspension and being able to continue your marketing efforts without being blocked from your account’s ability to post. Penalties could go from hours to months and that means the longer the suspension the bigger the impact on your business. In this article we will analyze; What’s Facebook Jail and How to Avoid It.
What’s Facebook Jail and What Causes it?
Facebook Jail; is being blocked by Facebook or it’s users, its the urban term to Facebook disabling your ability to post content, like, share, send friend requests, or any other features. This is basically Facebook Suspension. It’s when you are blocked for a few hours or a few months. This can be detrimental to your business, because of the loss of customer trust and loyalty, disregard of your customers due to not being present, and halt of business and sales.
Facebook Jail could kill your online business and marketing strategy in a matter of minutes, it could result in outcomes that would be beyond recovery. This is because once you are reported as spam and rebuilding trust with your customers may be impossible. Especially with the current media frenzy where whatever that gets out to the public can barely be removed or cleared.
Facebook Jail and User Demographics
To understand Facebook Jail, we need to understand Facebook and its user demographics. There are over 327.83 million American Facebook users; second after India with 346.2 million users and in the rank of leading countries on Facebook. 79% of American adults use Instagram compared to Instagram or Twitter. Moreover, the demographic of Facebook generations; shows that the older generation’s involvement on Facebook is also constantly growing.
It is important to know that Older Adults tend to have less tolerance for fake and spam accounts. Moreover, they are more vocal when it comes to their opinions and reviews. Unlike younger adults, older adults have more impact on Facebook Jail.
Facebook Jail and Rules and Regulations
Facebook Jail happens if you have not been following Facebook rules or regulations while marketing your business. It may be intentional or unintentional, and it can happen for multiple reasons. These include;
Avoid Too many contents posted quickly one after the other.
- Avoid Sending too many friend requests in a single day.
- Don’t Tag People you don’t know.
- Avoid posting inappropriate content.
- Avoid Posting or Tagging your content to too many accounts at a short interval.
- Avoid using Videos or Imagery that is marked as Spam by Facebook.
- Too many different account logins from the same device and at the same time.
- Commenting, liking, or posting too much at short intervals.
- Hate speech or threats to an individual or a group.
- Avoid over-posting in other Facebook groups.
- Avoid over Joining other Facebook groups.
All these may result in two types of Facebook Jail:
- Temporary Suspension – Facebook will only suspend your account activity for a certain period. You can easily access your full account features after the ban is removed. In this type of Suspension, the maximum account block is 21 days only. And at times you may even be able to go into your account and only have small suspensions like; not having the ability to post, tag, or share content on your Facebook Account.
- Permanent Blocking – This is when Facebook deletes your account permanently and completely. This can be damaging for your brand because it results in the loss of all your content, likes, and friends, as well as all the resources put into that Facebook Account.
Old Facebook users are less likely to get banned than Newer Facebook users, but either one can get caught in Facebook Jail.
Facebook Jail and How to Avoid It?
Here are some of the tips, tactics, and strategies for avoiding Facebook Jail for Businesses and Marketers.
Here we go with a 10 Step Guide to How to Avoid Facebook Jail!
1. Verify an Active Mobile Number
Verify your account. This should not be a problem for a legitimized business. Facebook has been a lot stricter with accounts because of all the duplicate and spam accounts. So, your Business Account may be suspended if you take too long to verify your account. This means there is one account for everyone number and each business can only have ONE account. If you choose to make an additional account or a few business pages to reach a wider audience, Facebook will shut it down.
Hence, make sure you stick with one Facebook account and one mobile number. Verify your number in your Facebook Business Account Bio. This quick step is usually disregarded but maybe your greatest insurance against Facebook Jail.
2. Limit Groups you Post On
Sometimes when you start a new Business Account or a new Marketing Ad, you tend to Post your ad onto 300 different groups in one go. Don’t Do it.
You would have just put yourself in the biggest pause and so the Facebook Jail. Because instead of people embracing the ad, your audience and Facebook will see it as a Spam; and you would have gained yourself a Red Flag and a Suspension.
You might want to reach audiences as much as possible but limit the groups you post on. The model range to post on groups would be 1 to 50 Facebook Groups per day. This is sufficient to market your account without being at risk of suspension by Facebook. Anyway, 50 posts a day is already far more than a human can achieve. Posting quality posts is better than a high quantity. So, focus on the quality of your posts so that it does not look like a Spam.
3. Post Original Content.
Don’t post the same thing repeatedly. Also, make sure that you do not plagiarise your content and instead design for your own original content for your market and brand. This is because original posts on Facebook are on a decline.
Therefore, people are less engaged so if you want your audience to be drawn to your Business and Marketing Ad then you would need to produce original content. Evade from constantly posting the same content, image, or plagiarising from the internet, this way you can engage and keep the interest of your audience while also not becoming suspicious Spam on Facebook.
Videos have been a great Marketing Tactic on Facebook because of how much audiences are watching them even when on a mute. Moreover, videos are hard to copy and plagiarise so your content would stay original to your brand.
4. Be Eccentric
One of the tips to avoid getting blocked is being eccentric in your activities and content post. Regulating content means you will ensure not to post the same types of content at constant intervals.
For example; change between links, imagery, videos, YouTube Videos, polls, and blogs. Don’t post 10 posters back to back; keep it eccentric.
Posting links back to back can be your fastest way to Facebook Jail, and losing your account’s ability to post. It is not only an offense by Facebook, but Google as well.
You can avoid Facebook Jail by creating a Media Marketing Schedule for what you are going to posts and how you are going to keep it interesting.
5. Edit Marketing Posts Often
The first rule when Advertising on Facebook is to not Spam content. It might be your original content and you might be reposting at different time intervals but if you constantly reposting it with the same links, captions, hashtags, and wording, even if you don’t know you would fall into the Jail trap.
To Avoid Facebook Jail, edit your post, like; adding a new caption, extra few seconds to a video, or a new title for your poster. Just don’t do it so often that you fall under temporary suspension.
6. Take Time Between Posts
Many Business accounts use auto-posting programs, and because of the frequency of those posts, there is a higher chance of landing in Jail. Facebook marketing campaigns can fail because;
- Posts are too sales-like
- They don’t encourage any audience engagement
- No Goals or Objectives
- No Analysis of Competitors
- Not Personal Enough
If you can keep track of the campaign fails you should be able to know When and What to post. Adjust the timing of your posts while using the program. Make sure not to post in dozens of groups in a matter of seconds. That is spamming and WILL LAND YOU IN JAIL.
7. Don’t Post Where It Doesn’t Matter
Facebook has countless groups that you can use to promote your business, but not every group is based on your industry, niche, interest, or audience. You don’t have to constantly stick to a small boundary but going away too far from it is redundant too. Henceforth, you need to make sure that you are not posting where it doesn’t matter.
For example:
- Don’t Post in a group the keeps removing your ads.
- If they don’t approve your posts, MOVE ON. You don’t want to be banned by the admin and in Temporary Jail.
- Make sure the group is relevant to your ad. If you are posting about ladies’ fashion in an All Men’s group there’s no point.
- Ensure you are aware of the group name, interests, rules, and regulations; before joining in.
- Don’t Post Where It Doesn’t Matter, don’t waste a good opportunity to post somewhere that does.
8. Do’s and Don’ts of Personalizing
A successful Marketing Strategy is one that is Personal and is relatable. But, on Facebook, some Businesses make it too personal. Consequently, some of the Do’s and Don’ts of Personalizing are:
- Use your Business Account.
- Don’t use a Personal Account.
- Allow People to add you, but don’t add a random personal account yourself. You could Risk being reported.
Only add people you know personally. - Leave the follow button on and only add companies, brands, and people your company initiates with.
Don’t tag people without their consent. - Don’t tag people in pictures or images they are not in. That means; being reported, which equals Facebook Jail.
- Engage in your audience by answering their comments, without automated commenting.
- Post polls
- Create live videos.
- Allow for raffles and promotions for followers.
9. Have a Bio
This might seem trivial, but many business accounts fail to have a properly filled out Bio. Most people will read a Bio before adding an account. So, when you don’t have a Bio, you’re not only suspicious in the eyes of your followers but also Facebook. By filling your Bio, you are giving your business page a personality profile, and so insurance against Facebook Jails.
10. Research and Apply
Social Media Marketing is an extensive platform. So, do not take it lightly. Research and Apply the tactics and strategies behind building your Marketing plan to obtain maximum Return of Investment on your Marketing Strategies. For Facebook Learn and Master the ways to Avoid Facebook Jail to obtain the maximum advantage from your account.
In Conclusion
Whether one is a Business or a Marketer, if they are trying to get into the Social Media Marketing and Business Platform, it is essential to know; what are the most popular social media sites, and how they can be used. Since Facebook is the first variant among Social Medias, it makes it the best choice for digital marketing and to promote your business.
Even though not facing Facebook Jail intentionally or unintentionally may seem impossible it is certainly easily avoidable once you Master the 10 “How to Avoid” Tactics through proper; Research, Planning, and Presentation of your Marketing Strategy.
