And it turns out that tribes, not money, not factories, that can change our world, that can change our politics, that can align large numbers of people. Not because you force them to do something against their will. But because they wanted to connect." -Seth Godin
Facebook Groups and business go together like peanut butter and jelly...they work on their own, but together, they're so much better!
My guess is you’re a member of a few Facebook Groups. But are you utilizing these groups to help you increase your visibility, make connections, and in turn, build your business?
As an owner of a Facebook Group (not a member? Come say hi and join us inside Business Besties and Creative Bosses!), I love what having our own group can do to build community. But today, I don’t want to talk about starting your own Facebook Group, I want to talk about leveraging other people’s groups to help you make more money.
Before social media, we had to connect the old-fashioned way. You know, get showered, put on real pants, and do our hair to go to networking events.
Now, pants are optional, and Facebook Groups have given us the equivalent of networking parties without needing to stand awkwardly in a corner hoping someone will come talk to us and save us from our watered-down cocktail and introverted-misery.
Hanging out and interacting in other people’s Facebook Groups can be an incredible, free way to build relationships. And you know, I think relationships are at the core of a successful, sustainable business!
For those of you who don’t want to spend a ton of money on Facebook ads (which is an entirely different conversation), hanging out in groups with your target audience is a pretty good alternative.
Hang out in groups, save money, and build your empire in your sweats...sounds pretty great, huh? And it IS pretty great, but I think there’s also a little confusion around ‘best’ practices and FB group etiquette (yes, there's such thing as FB group etiquette). This is keeping some of us stuck in lurking mode.
Let’s dig into some easy ways to make Facebook Groups work for you, so you can connect with more potential clients and grow your business without turning into a sleazeball online.
7 Ways to Use Facebook Groups to Grow Your Online Empire
Choose your groups wisely.
This sounds like a no-brainer, and yet, I think it’s easy to gloss over. If you want to utilize Facebook Groups to grow your business and brand, you’ll want to start by choosing groups where your people are hanging out.
It can be easy to gravitate towards the groups WE want to hang out in, but if we’re focusing on groups to grow our audience, we want to go where our people are.
I suggest choosing and joining three to four groups where your ideal clients already are.
2. Introduce yourself.
Again, I’m being a bit Captain Obvious here, but I’d say there are more people who never introduce themselves than those who do in groups.
This is a missed opportunity. And come on, if we were going to a party offline with all new people, we’d say hi and introduce ourselves before launching into conversation. Wouldn’t we?!
Same rules apply online as they do IRL.
3. Share consistent value.
One of the best ways to make other people’s groups work for you is by sharing consistent value.
If you’ve been hanging out with me for a second, you know I’m all about sharing value as a way to connect and build relationships. It’s also an important part of my 7-Step Heart-Centered Sales Framework. I believe in giving value first before we ever make an offer.
Hanging out in groups is no different.
Instead of just posting in the group’s ‘promo day’ thread, step it up a notch and share consistent value in the group on non-promo days.
Value can look many different ways: helping someone out, answering questions, giving some love to a heartfelt post, or sharing your own content.
Just like sharing value on your own social media platforms increases your 'know, like, and trust' and builds relationships, sharing value in other groups does the same.
One of my clients has built her business around using this strategy alone, adding value by engaging with others in Facebook Groups. It's that simple, y’all.
4. Don’t just drop it like it’s hot!
Piggy-backing off of #3, let’s talk a moment about dropping content and running.
I see this all the time, all over the place, in my group and in others.
Not sure what I’m talking about? This is when we spray our content everywhere, hopping in and out of groups only to drop our content or promotions.
Not only is this tacky and definitely not Facebook Group etiquette, it really doesn’t serve you and ends up being a waste of time. I’m pretty sure the ever-changing algorithm doesn’t favor this, and it’s kinda like running into a party, screaming, and running out.
You’ll get so much more mileage when you first take a moment to engage with others in a group. After all, that’s the whole point of groups, to create community.
This is also how we begin to form connections and real relationships. Remember, relationship-building is a two-way street.
When we engage with others, we’re also more likely to get engagement back (you gotta give to get, friends). We tend to comment and like the posts from people we know, and the algorithm is also going to be kinder to you within a group when you take the time to engage first.
5. Read and respect group rules.
If you’re a guest in someone else’s group, be a gracious guest. Read their rules and follow them.
Other people’s FB Groups are an amazing opportunity for everyone to utilize, but with opportunity comes responsibility. This isn’t your online house and you want to treat it with respect.
It takes group owners time, energy, and often money to grow and maintain a group. Don’t like their rules? Don’t play in their sandbox.
6. Make it easy for people to engage with you.
One of the biggest complaints I hear from clients who are using this strategy is that no one ever engages with their content in groups (or in general). First, see #4, with the reminder that you have to give what you want to get.
Sometimes we also make it tough for people to know how to engage with our posts.
Make it easy for people to comment by leaving a clear call to action asking them to do so.
Remember that most people want to look good online, so ask questions that allow people to do exactly that.
Share more heartfelt content. We make it safe for others to share when we share first.
7. Quality over quantity.
The goal here isn’t to get the most likes or to become the most popular in a group. The goal is to increase your visibility and make new relationships and connections so you can grow your business.
Keep this in mind as you’re showing up and making new friends in Facebook Groups.
Better to really connect in one group than spread yourself thin in twenty-five. Better to make three new true connections that turn into paying clients than get one hundred likes on a click-bate post.
It’s always about quality over quantity. Narrow and deep over wide. I promise this will always serve you and your business.
See you online! Wishing your your version of success!
P.S. Here's what's been going on inside my Facebook Group this week:
We had our free monthly masterclass and talked all things sales and mastered a Heart-Centered Sales Call that Sells. You can still catch the replay through Sunday, 2/24 at midnight EST here.
We also talked about the dark side of goals and those times goals can sabotage our business success during our weekly Monday night conversation. You can catch the replay here!
This upcoming Monday, we're taking about narrowing in on your zone of genius and how this helps you build a profitable business! Join us Monday at 5:30 pm EST right here!
