With the decreasing organic reach for Facebook fan pages, we’ve learned many of our community members are turning to Facebook groups as a way to connect with their target audiences. They share blog posts, trending topics and exclusive events in these groups. You may have even noticed a drop-down menu on fan pages that allows you to create a group. Keep reading for insight from three members of The Network Niche influencer community who position their Facebook groups to build traffic, make sales and promote their expertise. We even asked these content creators if they believe a designated blog Facebook group should replace an email list. You’ll be able to weigh to decide for yourself if your blog needs its own Facebook group.
Blogger: Michele Brosius
Facebook Group: Weight Watchers Freestyle SmartPoints Recipes & Tips
Member: 13,000
Blogger: Kari Jordan
Facebook Group: Northshore Mama VIP DEALS Group
Members: 5,000 members
How do you find time to manage your Facebook group? Do you have an admin or assistant? I have an assistant. But the settings are set that only admins can post. All posts are to my blog, which is mostly affiliate link-laden posts.
What are the rules in your Facebook group to avoid spam & abuse? Are you the only person who’s allowed to post links in your group? My settings do not allow anyone but Facebook admins from my main page to post. Comments are welcome and encouraged, of course. I ask questions before approving new members and explain that this is my business and unauthorized links are not allowed. I also tell them that we do not want them to add people to the group. I personally hate being added to groups that I didn’t ask to be in. We tell them to invite them, or share the link, but NOT ADD people. This keeps our numbers more organic and keeps people from thinking we are too spammy.
In your experience, is it better to focus on building an e-mail list or building community within a Facebook Group? My blog has always, for seven years, had better Facebook interaction than Twitter, Instagram or anything else. I think it is my demographic and the fact that my page is locally based. Most of my almost 20,000 Facebook followers are local to my area. I get unsubscription notices from my email almost weekly. Facebook has always been my sweet spot. So with the constant turning down of exposure, I had to figure out a way to get around that. We post 15-20 deals a day. I can’t pay to boost each one.
Just last year, Facebook allowed a page to host a group, so we moved over. Within three months, we had the same amount of members as I had grown in three years on the Facebook event I’d used before. This strategy has worked well for me for several years now.
RELATED TOPIC: How Hiring a Virtual Assistant Helps Grow Your Blog
Blogger: Marie Denee
Facebook Group: The Curvy Fashionista Community
Members: 5,000
In your experience, is it better to focus on building an e-mail list or building community within a Facebook Group? I think it is always important to build on what you own, your newsletter, but it is just as important to, meet them where they are at!
Comment below: After reading their experiences, do you believe your blog needs its own Facebook group? Would you add Facebook group management to your duties or assign a virtual assistant?
Facebook Group Guidelines
If you’re considering creating a Facebook group, check out the official guidelines for administrators. There are marketers who charge for access to their exclusive groups and challenges. It’s important to note that violating Facebook’s guidelines could risk your ability to host a group.
Click to Tweet: Does your blog need a Facebook group to engage with your followers? See what three @TheNetworkNiche members say works for their Facebook groups!
Once an influencer joins our network, they’re invited to participate in The Network Niche Facebook group. We share content ideas, industry trends, and offer support to content creators.
