Facebook Algorithm Words to Avoid: 127+ Words That Kill Your Reach in 2025
TL;DR - Quick Answer
12 min readTips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.
Critical Alert: Words That Kill Your Reach
⚠️ WARNING: Using these words can reduce your post reach by up to 80%. Facebook's algorithm actively suppresses posts containing spam triggers, clickbait phrases, and engagement bait.
Words to Avoid: Complete Categories
Engagement Bait Words
Never Use: • "Like if you..." • "Share if you agree" • "Comment with..." • "Tag someone who..." • "Vote with reactions" • "1 like = 1 prayer" • "Type YES if..." • "React if you..."
Use Instead: • "What do you think about..." • "Have you experienced..." • "What's your opinion on..." • "Tell us about..." • "We'd love to hear..." • "Share your thoughts" • "What works for you?" • "Your experience?"
Clickbait Phrases
Never Use: • "You won't believe..." • "This will shock you" • "Doctors hate this" • "One weird trick" • "What happened next..." • "Number 5 will amaze you" • "This changes everything" • "Breaking news" • "Going viral"
Use Instead: • "Here's what we learned" • "New research shows" • "Expert tips for" • "Proven method" • "Step-by-step guide" • "5 ways to improve" • "Important update" • "Latest announcement" • "Popular right now"
Spam Trigger Words
Never Use: • "FREE" (in all caps) • "Buy now" • "Limited time" • "Act now" • "Click here" • "Link in comments" • "DM for price" • "$$$ or $$$$$" • "100% guaranteed" • "No obligation"
Use Instead: • "Complimentary" • "Available today" • "Special offer" • "Get started" • "Learn more" • "Details below" • "Message us" • "Investment" • "Results-driven" • "Risk-free trial"
Misleading Content Words
Never Use: • "Fake news" • "Conspiracy" • "Censored" • "They don't want you to know" • "Banned" • "Secret revealed" • "Truth about" • "Exposed"
Use Instead: • "Research findings" • "Analysis" • "Overlooked" • "Lesser-known facts" • "Not available" • "Key insights" • "Facts about" • "Revealed data"
Contest & Giveaway Red Flags
Never Use: • "Share to win" • "Tag to enter" • "Like our page to qualify" • "Winners announced" • "Contest" • "Sweepstakes" • "Raffle"
Use Instead: • "Celebration" • "Special event" • "Community appreciation" • "Selected participants" • "Program" • "Opportunity" • "Selection process"
How Facebook's Algorithm Detects These Words
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Natural Language Processing AI analyzes context, not just keywords
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Pattern Recognition Identifies spam patterns across languages
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User Behavior Signals Tracks if users hide, report, or quickly leave
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Historical Performance Learns from millions of similar posts
Impact on Your Reach
Penalty Levels
🟡 Minor (1-2 words): 20-30% reach reduction
🟠 Moderate (3-5 words): 40-60% reach reduction
🔴 Severe (6+ words): 70-95% reach reduction
How to Reset Your Algorithm Score
Week 1-2: Clean Content Only
Post high-quality content without any trigger words. Focus on valuable, original content.
Week 3-4: Build Organic Engagement
Encourage natural conversations. Reply to every comment within 1 hour.
Week 5-6: Increase Frequency
Post 4-5 times per week with consistent quality. Use Facebook's native features.
Week 7-8: Monitor Recovery
Track reach improvements. Continue avoiding all trigger words.
Industry-Specific Alternatives
E-commerce
❌ "Buy now" → ✅ "Shop the collection" ❌ "Limited stock" → ✅ "Currently available" ❌ "Discount" → ✅ "Special pricing" ❌ "Sale" → ✅ "Event"
Services
❌ "Free consultation" → ✅ "Complimentary session" ❌ "Sign up" → ✅ "Join us" ❌ "Limited spots" → ✅ "Spaces available" ❌ "Book now" → ✅ "Schedule today"
Content Creators
❌ "Subscribe" → ✅ "Follow along" ❌ "New video" → ✅ "Latest content" ❌ "Don't miss" → ✅ "Available now" ❌ "Share this" → ✅ "Pass it on"
Non-Profits
❌ "Donate now" → ✅ "Support our cause" ❌ "Urgent" → ✅ "Time-sensitive" ❌ "Help us" → ✅ "Join our mission" ❌ "Share to spread" → ✅ "Help raise awareness"
Best Practices for Clean Posts
- Write naturally - If it sounds like an ad, rewrite it
- Focus on value - What does your audience gain?
- Use questions - Start conversations, don't demand actions
- Tell stories - Narratives beat promotional language
- Be authentic - Genuine posts always perform better
- Use native features - Facebook Live, Stories, Reels
Pro Tips from Facebook Marketing Experts
💡 Tip 1: Test with Creator Studio Use Facebook Creator Studio's quality check before posting
💡 Tip 2: Monitor Page Quality Check Settings → Page Quality weekly for violations
💡 Tip 3: Use Facebook's Text Overlay Tool Keep text in images under 20% for better reach
💡 Tip 4: Leverage User-Generated Content UGC naturally avoids promotional language
Remember This
Facebook's algorithm prioritizes meaningful social interactions. Every word that sounds promotional, manipulative, or spammy works against you.
Golden Rule: Write like you're talking to a friend, not selling to a customer. If you wouldn't say it in person, don't post it on Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
What words should I avoid on Facebook to prevent reduced reach?
Avoid engagement bait words like "Like if you," clickbait phrases like "You won't believe," spam triggers like "FREE" in all caps, and contest terms like "Share to win." These can reduce your post reach by 20-95% depending on usage frequency.
How much can Facebook algorithm words hurt my reach?
Using 1-2 problematic words can reduce reach by 20-30%. Using 3-5 words drops reach by 40-60%. Using 6 or more trigger words can reduce reach by 70-95%, severely limiting your audience exposure.
Does Facebook still penalize posts with certain words?
Yes, Facebook's algorithm actively detects and suppresses posts containing spam triggers, engagement bait, and clickbait phrases. The algorithm uses natural language processing to identify patterns across languages and contexts.
How can I reset my Facebook algorithm score if I've used banned words?
Post clean, high-quality content without trigger words for 2 weeks, build organic engagement by replying to comments within 1 hour, increase posting frequency to 4-5 times weekly, and monitor your reach improvements over 6-8 weeks.
What should I use instead of "Share if you agree" on Facebook?
Use natural conversation starters like "What do you think about this?", "Have you experienced this?", "What's your opinion?", or "We'd love to hear your thoughts." These encourage genuine engagement without triggering algorithm penalties.
Are there alternatives to using "FREE" in Facebook posts?
Yes, use words like "complimentary," "no cost," "included," "bonus," or "at no charge." These alternatives convey the same meaning without triggering spam detection algorithms that flag all-caps promotional language.
How do I run contests on Facebook without using banned words?
Use terms like "celebration," "special event," "community appreciation," "program," or "opportunity" instead of "contest," "sweepstakes," or "giveaway." Focus on community building rather than explicit contest language.
Does Facebook penalize all promotional language equally?
No, context matters. Words like "buy now" and "limited time" are heavily penalized, while softer promotional language like "available today" or "learn more" has less impact. Natural, conversational tone always performs better than aggressive sales language.
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