The algorithm is smarter than you and it knows the difference between a vanity update and a value bomb.

Platforms optimize for "Time on Platform." A profile picture update gets a glance. A well written thread or article keeps people reading for minutes. The algorithm rewards the latter with massive reach.

The "Recency Bias" trap. You think updating your image keeps you at the top of the feed. In reality, high engagement posts with long comment threads stay at the top of the feed far longer than a static image change.

Comments drive distribution. It is hard to have a meaningful business conversation in the comments of a profile picture change. It is easy to have one in the comments of a controversial or educational post.

Retargeting relies on intent. You cannot build a retargeting audience based on "people who liked my photo." You can build a powerful one based on "people who read my article on X."

Feed the machine what it wants. The machine wants content that sparks discussion and keeps users on the app. Give it value, and it will give you customers. Give it a photo change, and it will give you a pity like.

Here's a prompt to help you with this:

Act as a social media algorithm specialist. I want to understand how Facebook ranks content so I can stop fighting against it with cheap tricks and start leveraging it with high quality content. My goal is to create a content calendar that aligns with how the algorithm prioritizes distribution. Provide me with a breakdown of the hierarchy of engagement (e.g., shares vs. likes vs. comments) and a strategy for structuring my posts to maximize the "Time on Platform" signal. Ask me any questions you have.

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