Facebook groups – what’s the value of starting one? That is a question I’ve asked myself often during my years of working in social media. I’ve participated in a range of Facebook groups. Like anything else on social media, some have been more valuable than others.
Recently, I decided to create a Facebook group that ties in with my new Meetup group: Simplify Your Social Media.
At the first Meetup, someone asked if we could form a Facebook group. They pointed out that having one would provide a way for us to communicate between our monthly gatherings.
So, to help serve the members of this Meetup, I set up the Facebook group. Doing this prompted me to reflect on Facebook groups in general, which led to this blog post.
What are Facebook Groups?
According to Facebook:
“Groups provide a space to communicate about shared interests with certain people. You can create a group for anything — your family reunion, your after-work sports team, your book club — and customize the group’s privacy settings depending on who you want to be able to join and see the group. Learn how to create a group or join a group you’re interested in.”
Go to this link in Facebook for more information about Facebook groups: https://www.facebook.com/help/1629740080681586?helpref=faq_content
Another helpful link is Understanding the Differences between Profiles, Pages, Groups, and Events:
Why Create a Facebook Group?
There are countless reasons to create a group on Facebook. Among them are to:
- Give members a place to share tips and points of view.
- Provide a mechanism to stay in touch. These could be people in a business networking group or a group of friends or family members. They could be people who share a hobby or interest, or any other collection of like-minded people.
- Facilitate personal connections. By being in a group with someone, you might become their Facebook friend and/or friend in real life.
- Increase business opportunities. As members get to know each other within the group, they may start to do business with each other. They may then recommend each other to people outside the group.
- Minimize the need face-to-face meetings. A Facebook group is an efficient way for group leaders (or others) to communicate between meetings.
How to Create a Facebook Group
- Go to the Groups section on the left-hand side of your Home page. Click on Groups, and then click on Create Group.
- You need to invite at least one other person already on Facebook to be a member.
- Now enter the name of the group and its level of privacy. Privacy levels are Public, Closed, or Secret. Go to this link to learn about the differences: https://www.facebook.com/help/220336891328465?helpref=related
- Add a cover photo, if you have a relevant image.
- Click on More under the cover photo, and click on Edit Group Settings.
- Create a description of the group’s purpose and who it was created to serve.
- Review the default settings and change them as needed.
- For example, decide if you as the admin want to approve potential members.
What About You?
Have you joined Facebook groups? Which types of groups have provided the most value to you? If you found some that were less valuable, what was it about them that made you lose interest? If you have created a Facebook group, what advice do you have for someone starting one?
About Joyce
Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 45 and up, become more effective using social media, especially Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter. She provides social media tutoring and training to business owners, business development professionals, authors, speakers, coaches, business consultants, job seekers, and many others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.
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