Yep, Facebook has made yet another major update on the platform and it’s all about Facebook groups!
There are a couple of things you’ll want to think about before clicking on the ‘+ create group’ box to get the most out of the Group for not just the members, but for you and your business as well.
So, how are you going to make use of Facebook Groups to grow your business?
“When you create a Facebook group, the purpose is not to pitch a product or service. Erase that idea from your mind entirely!” Neil Patel
Make your Facebook Group work for both of you
While I agree with Neil’s comment above, creating a Facebook Group can build a community around your brand that will help to make sales. It also lets people know that you care about their opinions, likes and dislikes and you will become known as someone who has the answers, and if you don’t someone in the group will.
Let’s look at 3 ways to make your Group a success.
1. Why do you want a group in the first place?
Facebook Groups can be initiated for many reasons, as a support for your upcoming course, group coaching or just as a place to vent about things in your industry; although you will want to moderate this closely and ensure that members follow the rules of the group around behaviour.
Groups can be a wealth of information before you launch your next product or service. To find out why your members are in the group, conduct a poll, this way you won’t be guessing what will sell and what will flop. Give them what they want!
Members can provide case studies or testimonials for you and you can even ask to guest blog on their websites for more online exposure as the expert or leader in your industry. By asking a simple question like “which do you prefer, quick Facebook Lives or one hour Webinars” you can decide on the next visual content you create.
The group insights data give you valuable information about new members, post engagement, member demographics and your top contributors. Utilise your top contributors to become administrators of the group as it gets larger. The demographics of the group, particularly age, gender and location will help you better target your ads so that you’re not wasting time and money.
2. You have to keep the group engaged but how?
Keeping your community involved and gaining value from the group is going to be the best and most time-consuming part of administering a Facebook Group.
Sometimes the quickest way to let the group run with it themselves, is to ask a simple question that starts a debate about something.
You can do this by:
- Running a poll
- Running a quiz (that you have the answer for)
- Asking a question about the latest ‘unicorn’ in your industry and how it relates to them
Now sit back and relax as they advise and engage with each other. You will have to jump in too, but the bulk of the heavy lifting will be done by your community.
“Your group algorithm matters. That means spend time creating organic content that makes it easy for your group members to respond. ” Julie Stoian
Use hashtags for different options within the group like #ask #advise #question #newbies #askmeaything etc.
Allow members to promote their business or product with a # on Fridays only for example.
Create hashtags for each day of the week, this not only increases engagement but ensures that what is shared is relevant to the group.
3. Don’t waste all these awesome members’ data, get them onto your email list!
When people join your group ask them at least 3 leading questions about themselves and their business. This enables you to get their name, email address and company name but ask permission or make it a requirement of joining the group to add them to your mailing list.
Other types of questions to ask before they join will give you insight into what they’re coming to your group for:
- How did you find this group?
- What’s your biggest struggle/issue/challenge?
- Which of the following best describes you? A: I don’t have xyz b; can’t get started with xyz c; want to improve xyz.
Give them a reward when they join, like a tip or a free resource.
Create an exclusive group membership as a bonus for those that buy one of your products – let them engage with like-minded people.
You can even direct the group, through the cover image, to a landing page on your website that relates to the group’s purpose. If the group is all about an aspect of creating an online course, then directing them to my landing page for our service for creating online courses will make some people take up the offer, to get it done professionally, rather than struggle along themselves.
It’ll be worth it in the end.
It takes time to build an amazing community, time and effort. The amount of support, help and resources you can get from an online community, especially in Facebook Groups is invaluable.
Alethea xo
Alethea Tuitahi
Online Course Designer & Founder
Alethea specialises in creating beautiful, conversional, student focusd online courses. Allowing course creators to deliver their course or program to the world… sans tech frustrations and problems. Need help building your online course? As a Thinkific specialist, Alethea is here to help! Book in a free call here.