How to Hugely Boost Your Facebook Reach For Free! *Updated September 2019*

There's not a day goes by that I don't receive a message bemoaning Facebook changes or chat to a fellow blogger who has decided to toss in the towel on that social media platform altogether. Many blame Facebook algorithms and, to be fair, they are unfairly biased against those that don't shell out a fortune for sponsored ad placements. Well what if I told you that you could multiply your Facebook reach exponentially in just 3 simple steps without paying a penny?

Mums on the Run ~ Your New Favourite, NO BS Groups!

That's us, literally being Mums on the Run on our US fly drive with thanks to WOW Air last month. There'll be a WHOLE lot more about that imminently but I'm here today to chat to you about our newest loves, probably the most rewarding thing we've done online to date, our Mums on the Run Facebook groups! 

Blogging Help ~ The Top Ten Questions Answered!

If you've been following along on Snapchat HERE you'll know that the way I do things has been evolving. That's always a good thing. For the past several weeks I've been offering up #AskCherrySue sessions where I give a Tip of the Day that I think others might find helpful. To say the response has been overwhelming is an understatement. Every platform now has messages daily to say women, real women, are implementing my tips and seeing real change. I'm ecstatic. The catalyst for this was the stupidly popular Snapchat Blogging Q&A so I thought the first actual blog post should be in honour of that: The Top Ten Blogging Questions Answered. 

I'll set out the top ten (of the hundreds of) questions that were asked for that Q&A. Basic answers that I've learned throughout my blogging career. If you know me you'll know I don't mince my words. Were we to have a coffee, this is what I'd tell you (to start with) (and with less swearing)...

The Importance of Clear Communication in Blog Collaborations

Many of you that have been following along for a while will know that I’m known for honesty and integrity when it comes to blogging, I've gone on record several times for that reason. I regularly work with brands, setting out digital strategies for working with bloggers and online ‘influencers’. I pride myself on the ability to communicate effectively and help other Bloggers do the same. It might be a surprise then, because it certainly was to me, that having worked professionally in the digital world for almost six years now that I can still be caught out.

I’ll err on the side of kindness and put my most recent debacle down to digital ignorance rather than deliberate misrepresentation but it’s a cautionary tale nonetheless and one that can be learned from. For the most part, the PRs and agencies in Ireland are some of the best in the world and adapt very quickly to our ever changing digital landscape; for the most part. 

What follows are some golden rules for professional blogging relationships, there’s something to be learned here for everyone (myself included): - I’d love to hear yours too – from either side of the coin…

Monday's Moments: 11/02

Afternoon all, how has the first day of the week been treating you then? I'd love to say I'm twirling on the mountain side al la Julie Andrews but I do have five Moments that have perked me right up regardless. Wanna hear 'em? 

1. Sliding Doors of Daddies

On Wednesday of last week Himself's father paid my father a visit. He's a plumber you see and fairly nifty with a nixer or two. Once they'd clapped eyes on each other though that was it. Apparently they'd been Sliding Doors'ing it for years.

Living 5 minutes apart, going to the same church, the same school with all the same friends. Sisters had married friends, neighbours married brothers - I spent the entire conversation waiting in amazement until D'Oulfella said 'So say Hi to your cousin from me won't you? I will BATE him! (He was totally lying by the by). 

2. I've Been Smashboxed!

It's been a hectic week Event/Blog wise but one of the highlights had to be getting to meet the gorgeous gals of Smashbox once again. They jetted into our very own Arnott's to launch the first IN THE WORLD of this kind of interactive make up counter. Doesn't it look like a studio's just been dropped from the sky? 

We had all of the LoLs and then you get to step into the professional photo booth (photos are my kryptonite so you can guess I was having a swell time). Your photos are abso free and can be emailed, tweeted or Facebooked from the machine. Bish Bash Bosh! (I didn't bish bash and/or bosh mine. Natch).

3. Seventy Tens

Look I know everyone says it's not about the numbers and truly, it isn't but when I see any of these milestones on the blog not gonna lie it gives me a flutter. I know I'm still a minuscule fishy in a very large ocean but I do want to thank each of you other fishies for taking the time to read/comment and keep coming back. It honestly perks me up no end. 

4. DrunkBooking

On an impromptu night out on Friday there may have been a festive 7-Up or twelve taken when all of a sudden it became a genius idea to Facebook a photo together. Anyone that knows me knows it takes a lot to get me near a camera (see Smashbox above) The only pictures that exist of me as a child look like witness shots of an abduction as my Father head-locked me into the line of the camera. 

Friday apparently was an exception, until I woke on Saturday with my deleting finger ready. It was then that I noticed there were over 25 likes on the blimmin thing, in a matter of hours. It'll have to stay so. Yis complete set of brilliantly supportive bastids yis. 

5. Like a Frilly Phoenix from the Fahr!!

Moment 5 has to be one of the best in the past 18 months. Percy Kirstie McDermott, one of the founders and imho the very epitome of Beaut.ie is back. Hang on, I don't think you grasped the gravity of what I just said SHE'S BACK!! For now Frillseeker.ie has taken up residence on Facebook here  with the site to follow shortly. 

If you've ever worked or even wanted to work in the beauty industry or social media buzz in Ireland then you'll already know Kirstie as one of the warmest, funniest, Tayto lovingest and most supportive gals in the bizz. I, for one, am extremely excited to see her work back on the Irish interwebs on the regular. I'm wishing you luck K-Dog, you in no way need it!

Tell me so, what's been the happiest of your happy haps this week, eh? 

CherrySue's Christmassy FB Giveaways - iTunes Voucher!

Next up in Mah Christmassy Giveaways series is a €15 voucher for iTunes. You can download a couple of your own Cherry Pick of the Weeks. Or stuff it in a loved ones stocking. Either or.

Head on over to the Facebook page to get liking & sharing, Lovelies. Closing date is Dec 17th. Good Luck!

Facebook? Face Facts!

Have you heard the story yet of the Northern Irish father of a 12 year old girl that is taking a landmark case against Facebook? He is, understandably, irate that his child is in serious danger from sexual predators and paedophiles following sexually explicit photographs and status updates that were posted on her page.

'That's outrageous' you might say, 'That poor child'. But here's the crux of it, this 12 year old has written these posts, taken and posted these pictures and invited sexual interest from many, many men herself. She was in 'care' at the time but obviously allowed unsupervised access to the internet, despite her father contacting Facebook on two previous occasions to shut down her accounts for similar behaviour.

The story, first revealed by The Daily Mail is sure to cause debate and it has been suggested that, should it prove successful, may see widespread changes in Facebook usage. I first heard this on the radio while working on Tuesday, I'm fairly sure any one that passed me as that story unfolded were wondering about the crazy lady shouting at her radio.

Since when did it become acceptable to abdicate responsibility for your children? Granted, this child wasn't in his immediate care at the time but why wasn't she being supervised? He claims Facebook is guilty of negligence but I can't help asking? Facebook? Really? It's not that I don't have sympathy for the man, I do, I can't imagine the trouble he is having/will have with this young girl should they not get to the root of her problems but his anger at negligence is misplaced in the extreme. Surely her Carer was aware of her behaviours and told to look out for warning signs. If not, why not?

In the interim, get the child offline! The PSNI have confiscated her phone to examine texts, forward & back, with men in the immediate area and farther afield. Why had she got a phone? Yes children these days are using mobiles younger and younger but NOT when they're a danger to themselves, exhibiting such self damaging behaviour.

Drunken FB'ing? Be afraid, very afraid...

It would seem Mark Zuckerberg is in agreement . Facebook is not best placed to supervise your children, I would go so far as to say Facebook couldn't care less about your children. Do you know why? Because they're YOUR children. There are grave risks for young children online but also in the real world. We've all heard of Stranger Danger so why doesn't that apply online? It does but why are the zealots jumping on this bandwagon so ready to ignore it? 

Both my lads are online and on Facebook, have been for a couple of years. Both have me added as a friend and that's the compromise we've reached. The PC is in the living room and that won't change. I give them a degree of independence but the fact is they're still children. I regularly check usage, history and contacts. I very often veto pictures, updates and friends, because that's my job. Nobody else's. I explain several times a month that while they don't agree with all of my decisions, they are my decisions. That the human brain doesn't fully develop it's reasoning centre until the age of 21, so of course they don't always see my point. They LOVE when I roll that chestnut out.

When I asked the eldest Gorgebag to take down a picture of his sixpack he wasn't best pleased. 'Paedophiles are looking at you!' I insisted, 'Lucky paedophiles' says he. 'Want to know an interesting fact about your brain, Dear?'. 

Where do you fall in this debate? Do you reckon FB are to blame?