How To Build And Engage Your Facebook Group

With over 2 billion active users monthly, Facebook is a great way to market your business or service whether through ads or Facebook pages. But while Facebook pages allow brands and personalities to gather followers and post updates, Facebook groups are more effective in building a community, a loyal follower base, and fostering meaningful discussions.

Originally, Facebook groups are similar to forums where users bond together over a common interest and discuss similar topics and share files. Eventually, they also became a platform to sell products, promote services, grow a business network, and more.

Just imagine the organic reach your brand could have if you are able to maintain an active community where members regularly interact within the group. In order to do that, you first need to grow your group’s following and engage the community so you can effectively extend the reach of your content as well as increase your customer base.

Here are some tips you should know so that your Facebook group won’t be left with 45 members and gathering dust.

1. Have a pinned post

A group’s pinned post usually outlines the rules and regulations of the Facebook group. It also highlights what to expect and what a member is allowed to post. That way, everyone can be on the same page and a feeling of inclusivity is established.

Set the guidelines right away so members would know how to behave and engage in the Facebook group. Explain what your Facebook community is all about and what your members can get out of joining.

A community is only as good as its members so say a warm welcome, establish the rules, and give a few topic prompts on what they can post in the group once they get accepted.

2. Post engaging content regularly

The best way to maintain an active Facebook group is to post consistently every week. Creating new content is the best way to engage and maintain the members.

The best way to schedule your posts regularly is to create a content calendar where you can plan your future content and see an overview of what you share. Your format for the week could be a mix of images, videos, text, links, and articles. You could then organize them in a way that would not overwhelm the members. It is always better to post quality over quantity.

However, posting content often is not enough. Your content also has to be fresh, creative, and has to have some variety. Create engaging content that people want to see and share. It would also make your members interact more with your posts.

If you are having a hard time coming up with regular ideas, schedule a weekly or daily theme and post content related to that theme. Perhaps have the theme Tried and Tested Thursday where your members can post reviews or information of a service or product related to the group. You can also have Fun Fridays where members can suggest new ideas or come up with their own topics.

3. Link your Facebook group to your website

If you already have a website, it is best to link your Facebook group there. That way, visitors from your website can be converted to Facebook members when they see the linked accounts. A website is also a great supplementary to a Facebook group.

Take advantage of search engine optimization so users can find your Facebook community through typing relevant keywords related to your blog posts or web pages. If you don’t have a website yet, you can create a free website through a website builder that already has built-in SEO optimization.

4. Encourage current members to promote the group

One of the best ways to grow your group is through networking. Leverage on your current member base and ask them to spread your community through word-of-mouth or inviting their friends to join.

You can also create incentives for those who invite the most members in the group. Do this by staging mini contests, milestones, or member spotlights. Another alternative is to hand out freebies, samples, or trials if someone has reached a target number of invites.

The referral system is effective because it allows the members to share what they have gotten out from the group, how it has helped their lives, how it enabled them to share interests and conversations with like-minded people.

5. Ask questions

Asking questions is a good way to encourage members to participate and reply in group posts. Ask them about their opinions on selecting designs, photos, headlines. You can ask them about recommendations on what they want to see from your brand or from the group.

Get to know your audience through asking meaningful and thought-provoking questions which at the same time, will allow you to acquire data for your next content marketing project. In case you don’t know what to ask, here are some examples to get you started:

6. Early access to updates

Are you launching a new product? Revamping your entire website? Creating a new platform? Starting another channel? Opening a service?

Let your members be the first to know. It can either be through a photo, video sneak peek, or through mention. It feels more special to be in a group that has insider access before anyone else.

Ask them what they like about the update, what can be improved, what are they looking forward to see, or what giveaways they want to have.

Guest article written by: Anne Balad is the digital strategist for hPage.com, a free website builder. Find her on Twitter – @annebalad.