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For a long time, we figured that we knew how to game the Facebook algorithm. Be controversial. Be topical. Hop on trends. After all, the ones who grab the most eyeballs win, right? Well, that is all about to change.

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This is Clickstarter, the Australian digital marketing podcast. I\\u2019m Dante St James.

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The new way forward for ranking on Facebook is going to be more about being inspirational and attracting positive reactions. This is a big change to the volume or \\u201cengagement\\u201d metric in Facebook\\u2019s feed delivery algorithm which always seemed to be based upon two things:

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1.\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0What\\u2019s getting the most eyeballs and reactions through positive and negative reactions, sharing and commenting.

2.\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0And whatever feature Facebook was pushing the use of at the time, like live video was a few years ago, for example.

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This big change is being tested right now by Facebook in the form of mini-surveys being held on both mobile and desktop versions. The survey will simply ask you how you feel about particular posts that you\\u2019ve reacted to, and whether you want to see more or fewer posts like it. It\\u2019s just like the \\u201chide this post\\u201d feature, but this time, it\\u2019s asking for your choice between a positive or negative piece of feedback.

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This is all around the pivot from Facebook being that place where arguments are conducted and tribes are formed about differing political positions, to a place where we go to be connected with family, friends and those who share our interests, as well as being a place to be inspired and to feel good about our interactions and engagements.

So what does this mean to Australian businesses who want to get ahead of these changes?

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1.\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0Engagement-baiting will probably be discouraged

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If you\\u2019re one of those marketers who like to bait people for engagement by posting opinion pieces that you know get people fired-up, like manufactured outrage over whether it\\u2019s called a chicken parmy or a chicken parma (and I\\u2019m look at you, every newspaper and radio station in the country) then it\\u2019s time to swing away from that stuff because it\\u2019s probably going to stop working soon.

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This goes for those traditionally viral stories like the blue or gold dress meme, anything pitting one group of people against another \\u2013 and pretty much anything involving a story from Sky News Australia who are the undisputed kings of outrage baiting in this country right now.

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2.\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0Inspirational and feel-good content will be encouraged

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This is the secret behind the success of pages like The Dodo, who has built an entire business model around fundraising for animal rescue organisations worldwide through awareness videos showing the rescue of stray and abandoned dogs, cats and other domestic animals.\\xa0

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Inspirational content isn\\u2019t just about cute heart-warming videos, it can be about educational content that helps people to overcome problems or improve their lives. For example, Life Hacks, Tips and Tricks, Cooking demonstrations and How-To content generally aims to improve people\\u2019s lives and attracts positive reactions, which is what the next point is about.

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3.\\xa0 \\xa0 \\xa0Anything that attracts positive reactions and avoids negative reactions

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This is where outrage and engagement baiting will fall flat. This new tweak to the feed algorithm that Facebook is testing is designed specifically to encourage positive reactions. Likes, Hearts, Cares and Wow will be rewarded, while the number of Angry reactions will be a determining factor towards the success of your posts\\u2019 reach in the feed. This is a big turnaround from the previous \\u201call reactions are equal\\u201d approach.

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This means that if you are in the habit of posting stories and information that is designed to inform people of things that you think they should be aware of that can also lead to them leaving an angry reaction, then you\\u2019re in danger of losing feed prominence.

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You can prepare this by posting good news stories, your positive approach to a challenging event, and informative ways for people to take action on issues they care about. You can do this by leading with the most important thing first \\u2013 the positive things that people can do in the face of a challenge, leading to the hope of a positive result. Rather than leading with outrage and then switching to a call to action. This is important. Outrage leads to angry reactions. Solutions can lead to positive reactions.

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The lesson for everyone is that the time for outrage baiting, raising a rabble and causing controversy on Facebook is coming to an end. It\\u2019s time to work together as humans, rather than driving us apart into our echo chambers and tribes.

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I\\u2019m Dante St James. You can learn more about digital marketing the Australian way at clickstarter.com.au, and give your business all the tools it needs to get known, get found and stay known.\\xa0