First of all, there is nothing really “wrong” with Networked Blogs as a company. They don’t kill puppies or eat Chik-fil-A, that I know of. But they do break Facebook. And you need to stop using them.

Here is why:

1. It’s poor engagement and it’s hurting your page.

Take a gander at those NetworkedBlogs posts. How many likes and comments do you have on them? That’s what I thought. Now, here is why that radio silence matters: Your Facebook page is your way to engage with the people who love your blog. It’s a conversation tool. When you are automatically publishing links and no one comments, that reduces your visibility in your fan’s newsfeed.

I’m not making this up. Facebook has a little thing that people in the biz call “edgerank.” The more often people comment, like and engage with your page, the more often your posts show up in the newsfeeds. Silence means your posts are the sound of one hand clapping.

2. It’s just plain lazy.

Social media is all about having a conversation and building community. When you put your Facebook page on autopilot, your conversation lags, your page dies and I’m pretty sure kittens do too. It takes nothing to log in, post your link with a little comment or call-to-action.

Also, when you post automatically, you aren’t taking the time to curate your content. Facebook isn’t Twitter. You can’t just post everything. Well, you can, but you’ll piss people off. Pick the best content, post once a day while people are on (between 4pm-9am).

3. It breaks the Facebook

When you have your page on autopilot, you aren’t posting pictures, status updates, videos–you know, fun things that people care about.  And your audience, that community of people who care about your page? They become the tree falling in the woods, but you aren’t around to hear. Are you crying yet? You should be.

And no, you shouldn’t use HootSuite either.

While Facebook is silent on the issue and third-party apps like HootSuite, Networked Blogs and others deny this vehemently (they would), it seems as if posting through a third-party app actually hides more posts from Facebook’s newsfeed. Every page I’ve worked on, unhooking these automatic posting apps is the first thing I do.

I REPENT! WHAT CAN I DO!?

Alright, sinners. This is how you make right with the gods of Facebook. Leave an offering of chicken nuggets at my doorstep.

After that, you can go unhook your account from Networked Blogs (or whatever you are using).

Then, the next thing you do is post a funny or inspirational picture and share it with your fans as a little gift. Include in that post a call-to-action.

Then, next time you publish to your blog, post that link with a one sentence call-to-action. “LIKE if you love boobies too!” “My favorite way to annoy my kids is_________” etc. at an optimal time.

Check out this fabulous infographic on how to get more likes and share and optimal time posting. You can also find more resources on the topic here or on this Pinterest page.

Now, I will tell you what my dad told me after I swore I didn’t know that hitting my sister with a Barbie Jeep would draw blood: “Ignorance is no excuse.”

It will take a week or so, but slowly, your fans will come back to you. I don’t know about your sister, though. That Jeep did a number on her.