What is reach on social media? 

Reach on social media is the total number of unique people who see your content. It’s different from impressions, which count repeat views. 

When you post on Facebook or other platforms, reach tells you how many individual users your post got in front of. It’s a key metric to track how far your message is spreading and how many new people you’re reaching with your social media efforts. 

Organic vs. paid reach 

Organic reach is when people see your social media posts naturally, without you paying for ads. It’s like word-of-mouth marketing in the digital world. 

Paid reach involves using money to boost your content’s visibility. You’re essentially buying ad space on social platforms. 

On Facebook, organic reach might mean your post shows up in your followers’ feeds. Meanwhile, paid reach could involve a sponsored post appearing for users who don’t follow you. 

Instagram works similarly. An organic post might appear in your followers’ feeds or explore pages. A paid ad could target users based on interests or demographics. 

Organic reach is free but can be limited. Paid reach costs money but offers wider exposure and targeting options. 

Both have their place in a well-rounded social strategy. You might use organic posts to engage your current audience and paid ads to attract new followers. 

Our post “Organic vs. Paid Social Media Marketing: What’s Better for your Brand?” can help you decide which approach fits your goals best. 

Reach vs impressions 

Reach and impressions are two key metrics you’ll encounter in social media marketing. Reach refers to the number of unique users who see your content. Impressions, on the other hand, count the total number of times your content is displayed, including multiple views by the same person. 

To put it simply: 

  • Reach = unique viewers 
  • Impressions = total views 

For example, if 100 people see your post once, your reach is 100 and your impressions are 100. But if 50 people see it twice, your reach is 50 and your impressions are 100. 

Understanding these metrics helps you gauge your social media engagement rate. You can use them to improve your content strategy and measure your success on different platforms. 

How to increase reach 

Want to boost your social media reach? Try these tips: 

  • Use relevant hashtags. Add 3-5 targeted hashtags to your posts to help new followers find your content. 
  • Post at optimal times. Share when your audience is most active.
  • Collaborate with social media influencers in your industry. Their followers can help expand your reach to new audiences.