You don’t know just how powerful Facebook groups are. I don’t know about you, but using Facebook can be quite addictive, as it provides you with a perfect place to start real conversations. Now, due to the fact that your audience is already on Facebook, it’s going to be easier for them to engage you and your brand in these groups rather than on your blog.
Unlike Facebook page posts, having a Facebook group can help create original content viewable by your members, and make your members value you for the content you share and the relationship forged. I totally love that just by having a valuable group, Facebook sends people to your group everyday organically, thereby growing your email list and your customer base.
In this article, you will learn how to launch your own Facebook group and also acquire loyal fans to your site. Shall we?
How to launch your Facebook group
A Facebook group can be likened to a blog. The first thing you need to do as a startup blogger is to clearly state why you want to start the group, who the group is for, and the services you will provide. Considering this will go a long way in ensuring that your group doesn’t dwindle or lose its essence. You also need to ensure that your group members have a specific common need to avoid having to struggle to create meaningful content for them.
You will also need to ask yourself why you want to launch the Facebook group. Your reason may vary from wanting to connect with other people to using it as an avenue to sell your products or services. Running a Facebook group isn’t child’s play, and you need to have a cogent reason for wanting to launch one.
Now that you have decided on your reason for launching, the next step is to Start your group and get it running. To do this, go to the sidebar on the left and click on“Create Group”. It’s mandatory you add another person when starting, and this is where I suggest you add a close friend or family member. Just be sure to give them a heads up on the development. I also recommend making the group a closed one to enable you to regulate its members. After this comes naming the group, and this is where I advise you use one your members can relate with or a name based on your values. Immediately after this, create a header with your photo for your group.
Now is the perfect time to create a description and pinned post, where you will include who you are, what the group represents, your target audience, rules, and regulations, amongst others. Clearly state your dos and don’ts. You will also need to create a pinned post to welcome and invite new members to introduce themselves. When you have done this, aggressively share the word about your Facebook group for people to join. You can start by reaching out to your already existing Facebook friends, and then blogging about the group. Your aim should be to just get as many members as possible.
You will also have to ensure that the members you let into the group are legitimate, have their own accounts which shouldn’t be less than a month old, and aren’t fraudulent. For clarity, you can also visit his/her profile to see how engaged him/her is on their own account. Finally, I advise you to launch your group with an event. You can also opt to create free challenges in the group to further spike their interest in joining the Facebook group.
How to create engagement in your group
Launching your Facebook group is just one phase of gaining the audience you desire. You need to look at building engagement on the group to further increase its visibility and subsequently increase your sales. I advise you to recruit a few group members to keep the group active and engaging. You can ask them their expectations of a Facebook group and invite them to become group leaders. When you do this, you will over time notice positive feedback and engagement from the other group members.
Another method you can adopt to create engagement in your Facebook group is to host regular events on the group. This is something I love doing! My events vary from Facebook live Q&A sessions to free challenges, etc. You can try either of them out and see the amazing engagement it will garner. I advise you also display the events on your blog.
Finally, you can make your group a bit more fun by asking impromptu questions. Prior to starting up my own Facebook group, I was a sucker for games. I still am! I love picture challenges and brain tasking challenges. You can startup by asking your audience where they live, a picture of their pet, or you can share a sticker depicting your mood. Another trick I love using is the “Fill in the blank” questions. You don’t have to make your questions dwell on the group topic. Diversify! Think of interesting topics you are certain your audience will love and fully engage in.
Be a leader and grow your email list
As a group leader, you are expected to set an example of what the group depicts for your members to follow. Be approachable! Ensure you have an answer to any question you ask, as setting such example will pave the way for your audience to also participate actively. You will also need to participate and be actively involved in the group on a daily basis to encourage others to participate.
You can also increase your Facebook group engagement by sharing personal stories on your group wall. Tell your audience about your pleasant and unpleasant experiences. It will draw them closer to you and give them a sense of belonging. You could even spice it up by including humor while narrating the stories. Outside this, you could also write posts that will be of help to your audience in their quest to achieve their personal goals. The aim is to ensure that your group is always engaging and members actively participating.
If you are looking for a way to get as many email addresses as possible for your group, you can also get group members to join your email list by letting them sign up to attend a live webinar which can be held once a month or as desired.
Finally, between us, we know your major aim of creating the Facebook group is to sell your product or services, so why not include it in your group description? Make them know that you will likely sell your product or service in the group once in a while. While at it, ensure you create multiple posts and schedule them using a social media tool like Buffer. You can even go a step further and ask past purchasers to give their honest reviews to further increase your sales.
Over to you
You now know how important Facebook groups are in building your authority and connecting with your audience. Before creating a Facebook group, you should know your exact reason for wanting to startup, your target audience, as well as the services you hope to provide. You also need to ensure that your target Facebook group members have something in common.
If you want to increase your group engagement, I recommend asking your audience questions about themselves, and also narrating your personal experiences with them. This will tighten your bond and make them feel important and wanted.
In conclusion, you need to ensure you have the right strategy to launch your Facebook group and build your audience and engagement. This will definitely be a good time to get to work and start getting those loyal fans you so desire.