How to Create a Custom Facebook Feed in WordPress (2023)
Looking to display Facebook posts directly on your WordPress website? Embedding a custom Facebook feed is a great way to make your site more engaging while promoting your Facebook presence and growing your following.
In this article, we‘ll show you how to easily create a custom Facebook feed in WordPress using Smash Balloon, the best social media feed plugin. We‘ll walk through the process step-by-step so you can start displaying your Facebook content in no time.
Here‘s a quick overview of what we‘ll cover:
- Why add a Facebook feed to WordPress
- How to install the Smash Balloon Custom Facebook Feed plugin
- Connecting your Facebook account
- Customizing your Facebook feed‘s layout and design
- Embedding the feed in WordPress
- Bonus tips to get more from your social media content
Let‘s get started!
Why Display a Custom Facebook Feed on Your WordPress Site
With over 2.9 billion monthly active users, Facebook remains the largest social network in the world. If you‘re active on Facebook, embedding a feed of your latest posts on your website is an excellent way to boost engagement.
A custom Facebook feed can:
- Provide fresh, dynamic content on your site
- Improve time on site by encouraging visitors to scroll through your feed
- Drive more likes/follows for your Facebook page or group
- Promote your Facebook content to a wider audience
- Display social proof by highlighting your Facebook activity and community
Basically, a Facebook feed creates a stronger connection between your website and your Facebook presence. Visitors can see your latest posts, events, photos, and videos without leaving your site.
An engagement-driving custom Facebook feed
The Easiest Way to Create a Custom Facebook Feed in WordPress
The best way to embed Facebook feeds on WordPress is by using the Smash Balloon Custom Facebook Feed plugin. Over 1 million websites use Smash Balloon to display feeds from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
With Smash Balloon, you can create customized feeds from your Facebook pages or groups and display them anywhere on your site. The feeds are completely responsive and will look great on any device. You also get full control over your feed‘s layout and style.
Some key features:
- Display posts, events, photos, videos, and more from Facebook
- Combine multiple Facebook pages or groups into a single feed
- Customize your feed‘s layout, color scheme, post style, header, "like" box, and more
- Filter posts by type or #hashtag
- Render Facebook posts server-side for optimal performance
- Infinitely load more of your feed on scroll
- Lightbox to display photos and videos in a full-screen gallery
- Shoppable feeds and CTAs for Facebook shops
For this tutorial, we‘ll use the Pro version for its advanced customization options and additional features. But there‘s also a free version of Smash Balloon that makes it just as easy to create a basic custom Facebook feed.
With that in mind, let‘s walk through the setup process.
Step 1: Install the Smash Balloon Custom Facebook Feed Plugin
To get started, install and activate the Smash Balloon Custom Facebook Feed plugin. If you need help, learn how to install a WordPress plugin.
After activating the plugin, go to Facebook Feed » Settings and enter your license key. You‘ll find the license key in your account on the Smash Balloon website.
Click the "Connect a Facebook Account" button to proceed.
Activating the Smash Balloon Custom Facebook Feed plugin in WordPress
Step 2: Connect Your Facebook Account
Next, you‘ll be prompted to connect your Facebook account. This allows Smash Balloon to access your pages and groups.
Click the "Connect a Facebook Account" button to open the Facebook login window. Select the account you want to use and grant Smash Balloon the requested permissions.
After connecting your account, navigate to Facebook Feed » All Feeds and click "Add New" to create your first feed.
Select the type of feed you want to create (timeline, photos, videos, etc.) and click "Next." Then choose the Facebook page or group you want to embed.
You can also create feeds from multiple pages/groups. To add another source, click "Add New" and select another connected Facebook account. Repeat the process as many times as needed.
Connecting a Facebook page
Step 3: Customize Your Facebook Feed
Now it‘s time for the fun part: Customizing how your Facebook feed looks on your site!
After adding your Facebook source(s), you‘ll see a live preview of your feed in the editor. The left panel contains all the settings and options you can use to adjust your feed‘s layout and style.
Let‘s quickly run through the key customization options:
Feed Layout
In the Feed Layout settings, you choose your feed‘s layout type. The main options are:
- List: Display your posts vertically in a single column
- Grid: Show posts in a multi-column grid
- Masonry: Render posts in columns with variable heights
- Carousel: Create a slideshow carousel of your posts
Play with the different options to see which one you like best. You can also set the number of posts to display and choose how many columns to use on different devices.
A Facebook feed displayed in a carousel layout
Color Scheme
Switch to the Color Scheme settings to choose between a light or dark color scheme for the feed. You can also manually select the colors for every element if you want to precisely match your site‘s branding.
header
To display your Facebook avatar and cover photo at the top of your feed, configure the settings under "Header." You can choose from several different layouts and customize the style and format.
Posts
The Posts settings let you customize the style and information displayed for individual Facebook posts in the feed. Choose between a regular or boxed post style, customize colors, add a background, show/hide dates, set text lengths, and more.
Like Box
To display a "like" or "follow" button for your Facebook page, enable the Like Box settings. You can customize the layout and choose whether to show your Facebook cover photo and small avatars of friends who already like your page.
Load More Button
If your feed contains a lot of Facebook posts, you‘ll definitely want to customize the "Load More" button that appears at the bottom. You can choose from several different button styles and customize the color, margins, and labels.
lightbox
To let visitors view photos and videos in an immersive full-screen lightbox overlay, turn on the Lightbox option. You can choose between a light or dark lightbox style, customize captions, and more.
Once you‘re satisfied with your custom Facebook feed‘s appearance, click the "Save" button. You‘re now ready to display the feed on your WordPress site.
Customizing a Facebook feed‘s layout, colors, header, and posts
Step 4: Embed Your Custom Facebook Feed in WordPress
Smash Balloon offers two easy ways to embed your Facebook feed:
- Embed the feed on a post or page using a block
- Embed the feed in your site‘s theme using a shortcode or widget
To add your feed to a post or page, create a new post/page or edit an existing one.
In the WordPress editor, add a new block and select the "Facebook Feed" block to insert it into your content. Then choose the feed you want to display.
You can also convert your feed into a shortcode and place it into a Shortcode block if you prefer.
Adding a Facebook feed to WordPress using the block editor
To display your feed in a theme‘s header, footer, or sidebar, navigate to Appearance » Widgets and add the "Custom Facebook Feed" widget to the desired area. Select your feed and click "Update."
Adding Facebook feeds to a lot of content? The plugin also lets you create a dedicated Facebook feed page and display all of your feeds there automatically.
After embedding your Facebook feed, visit your website to see your feed in action. It should look just like the preview in the Smash Balloon editor.
A custom Facebook feed embedded on a WordPress site
5 Tips to Get More From Your Facebook Feed
Embedding a custom Facebook feed in WordPress is an excellent starting point. But why stop there?
Here are some tips to further boost your site‘s engagement and get more value from your social media content:
- Create a Social Wall
In addition to Facebook, you may also be active on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and other social networks. Smash Balloon offers plugins to embed feeds from all of those platforms too.
For maximum impact, combine feeds from multiple social networks into a single "social wall." This creates a dynamic, engaging hub of your latest social content in one place.
Need some inspiration? Check out these social media feed examples.
- Add Shoppable Feeds
41% of people say they use Facebook to follow brands and research products. If you sell products on Facebook, embedding a shoppable Facebook feed on your site is a great way to drive more sales.
With Smash Balloon, you can create custom Facebook shop feeds and tag products directly in your posts. When a visitor clicks on a product in your feed, they‘ll be taken right to your Facebook shop page to complete their purchase.
- Leverage User-Generated Content
Social proof is one of the most effective ways to build trust and boost conversions. What better way to provide social proof than to highlight content posted by your own customers and fans?
Create feeds from posts you‘re tagged or mentioned in or from hashtags related to your brand. Showcasing user-generated content (with permission) is an easy way to add authentic social proof to your site.
- Keep Your Feed Fresh
Your Facebook feed is a reflection of your brand. Make sure to post fresh content consistently to keep your feed active and up to date.
Also, be mindful of the types of posts you publish on Facebook. Videos and images generally perform best. Use plenty of visuals in your posts and cross-promote your top content between Facebook and your website.
- Track Your Feed‘s Performance
Is your Facebook feed getting clicks and engagement? Use Smash Balloon‘s built-in analytics to find out.
You can track key metrics like impressions, clicks, and CTR right in your WordPress dashboard. With these insights, you can measure the effectiveness of your campaigns and make informed decisions to optimize your feeds.
Adding analytics tracking to a Facebook feed in WordPress
Start Engaging Your Audience With a Custom Facebook Feed Today
With the right tools, creating a custom Facebook feed in WordPress is very straightforward.
To quickly recap:
- Use Smash Balloon to create customized, responsive Facebook feeds
- Connect your Facebook account and choose a source for your feed
- Customize your feed layout, style, colors, and settings
- Display your feed on your site using a block, shortcode, or widget
By cross-promoting your Facebook content on your website, you can boost your social following while encouraging visitors to spend more time engaged with your site.
We hope this guide helped you learn how to create a custom Facebook feed in WordPress. For more social media tips, see our guides on how to create an Instagram giveaway or how to go viral on Twitter. You may also want to check out our expert pick of the best social media plugins for WordPress.
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