On a monthly basis, Facebook Groups are used by over 500 million people, with thousands of new groups being created every day. Did you know that a single Facebook user can belong to as many as 6000 separate groups?
While having a Facebook Page has become as vital as breathing for most businesses, few are aware of and take advantage of the numerous marketing opportunities provided by another powerful Facebook tool: groups.
Facebook Page vs. Facebook Group
Groups are what make up a community. They’re a wonderful touch to your Facebook page, but they’ll never be a substitute. A Facebook Page is like handing out business cards to customers, whereas a Facebook Group is like having coffee with them. Members can use groups, which are comparable to discussion boards, to ask questions, write about events, follow conversations, share images, links, and much more.
Group membership can meet some users’ social image needs (for example, if you represent a specific industry, you’re expected to be seen in specific groups) and provide a sense of exclusivity and intimacy, making the relationship you build with your audience through a group much more personal and potentially long-lasting.
- Offer something of value
Groups are what make up a community. They’re a wonderful touch to your Facebook page, but they’ll never be a substitute. A Facebook Page is like handing out business cards to customers, whereas a Facebook Group is like having coffee with them. Members can use groups, which are comparable to discussion boards, to ask questions, write about events, follow conversations, share images, links, and much more.
Group membership can meet some users’ social image needs (for example, if you represent a specific industry, you’re expected to be seen in specific groups) and provide a sense of exclusivity and intimacy, making the relationship you build with your audience through a group much more personal and potentially long-lasting.
- Validation of Content
Do you recall the expression “when in doubt, test it out”? While your group’s primary objective is to create conversation among your target demographic, you can also use it to test new content ideas before they reach a bigger audience. Even if your new idea receives little comment and generates little engagement, you’ll still win because your Page’s reach is uncompromised.
Furthermore, other users’ chats and comments may give you new content ideas for your blog and social network posts. Keep an eye on what types of content the group responds to the most, and use that knowledge to your Page.
- Get genuine comments from customers
How can you create a product or service that fits your customers’ needs if you don’t know what those needs are? Ask instead of guessing. This is an advantage you don’t have over your competitors. Facebook Groups allow you to communicate directly with a certain group of people, and if that group mostly consists of your customers, you’ll be OK.
- Provide outstanding client service
Eighty percent of Americans would be willing to pay more for a product or service in exchange for a better customer experience. THIS IS WHY GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE IS SO IMPORTANT. One of the most successful ways to deliver good customer care on Facebook is to form a specialized group for customer complaints. Why? First, since your competitors are unlikely to have done so yet, and second because it can help you provide great customer service.
- Create a sense of belonging for an event.
Building a dynamic community around your events could be a fantastic idea if you advertise or organize a lot of them. Participants can ask questions and receive help prior to the event, and then they can share their photographs and views afterwards. Here’s an example of a Facebook Group for Tech Saturdays, a monthly startup event held on the first Saturday of each month to bring together entrepreneurs and tech experts who share their expertise with the audience.
- Remain Consistent
Consistency is crucial, as it is with other social media posts. So, here are some content ideas to help you stay consistent in your Facebook Group and increase participation.
- Organize a challenge or a competition.
- Post relevant blog articles, current events, or industry news to keep content from becoming too brand-specific and instead focus on the group’s objective.
- There’s access to exclusive news, product releases, and behind-the-scenes looks.
- Send new members a private note or ask them to answer a fun group-related question to welcome them. Inquire about the group’s must-have pantry item, for example, if they’re talking about vegan meals.
- To discover more about what they want from the group, conduct a poll or a quiz, and reward them with a prize (such as a free product).
- To connect with members of your group in real-time, schedule Facebook Live sessions.
- Encourage members of your organization to take part in a weekly theme day, such as #ThrowbackThursday, #MotivationMonday, or #WellnessWednesday.
- To get folks chatting, ask a few conversation starter questions or prompts.
How can you know whether your Facebook Group marketing efforts are working? Expect immediate results like higher sales or a higher customer rotation rate. You may use an Internet monitoring tool to see how much buzz there is about your brand on the internet. Is it more likely that customers will share your product or service with others? Are they ecstatic or gloomy about the prospect? Any action taken without regard for the consequences is the same as doing nothing at all.