What’s great about Facebook Groups is that people have been using them for a very long time. So, people already are familiar with them, and many Facebook users visit them and use them often. What’s most important about Groups is that if you have posts that get lots of comments and other interactions, Facebook will show them to a lot more people than a traditional status made on a profile or page. With social media reach essentially requiring paid boosts to get anything seen - often with minimal ROI (return-on-investment), Groups remain a relatively free way to engage people with your brand.
The key to a successful Facebook group is inviting the right people who are interested in what your brand is about and the topics related to your business. Whether you run a blog, business, or organization, you likely already know people who will be happy to join your group. Then, make posts that spark discussion and continued conversation. The beauty of well-crafted discussion posts in Facebook groups is that if they continue to get interaction over time, they can do work for you for weeks, months, or even years, depending on the topic. No other type of Facebook or other social media post, besides perhaps viral posts, have that sort of active life.
Yes, keeping up your Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media pages is important, Facebook groups help you consistently find what questions engage users and it’s very likely your group members will come up with ideas to use for other social media posts. Crowdsourcing ideas is another great benefit of Facebook groups, and of course, user-generated content tends to quite effective in getting more interaction. While simply sharing third-party content or posting occasional fun updates is good for social media, it’s important to also know what’s on your target audience’s mind.
The one drawback of having a Facebook group can actually be one of its strengths if it’s properly moderated. Because most Facebook groups are closed and require either invites or applications to join, some people may say things they may not ordinarily say in public. While people being more open to discussion is actually a very good thing, arguments can happen.
The important thing with Groups is to keep a positive environment for all group members. If peace can’t be made, never hesitate to ban group members who are causing problems if they won’t listen to reason. That being said, it’s fine for people to disagree. Disagreements actually help promote discussion and the visibility and relevance of the group to its members. Just be sure that members remain civil, as the good of the community must come first.
If you need help getting started with a Facebook Group, or need to build up an existing group, let us know! We're happy to help! Whether it’s figuring out the right people to invite to your group, deciding on the right discussion questions, or just help with continuously interacting or moderating with your group members, we can help you with any or all of these things.
Check out our Social Media Set-Up and Social Media Management services to see some ways how we can help with your social media presence.