The Value and Use of Facebook Groups
‘Are You Using Facebook Groups For Good?’
As moderator of several Facebook Groups and a member of about another dozen more, the importance of Facebook Groups is something I feel strongly about.
My own Facebook Group experience has grown my online community and built long lasting relationships as well as true friendships. I’ve collaborated with friends, connected locally and learned from others in several social media industry groups.
There are a few ‘buts’ and ‘howevers’ and that’s what this post will be about:
The value in Facebook Groups is in how you use them, to what extend you use them and for greater good you use them.
It took me a few months of being on Facebook before I truly understood the value of Facebook Groups and I am here to tell you:
YES – Join, and create Facebook Groups
NO – Don’t abandon your own wall or Facebook Page
Facebook Groups let you find and connect with people of similar minds and likes or dislikes. Groups can connect your family, church group, industry leaders, writing class, book club, high school reunion committee, colleagues, PTA, play group etc.
There are three main group categories on Facebook:
- Open Groups
- Closed Groups
- Secret Groups
- If your group is actively recruiting new members for the group and wishes for anyone to join, choose ‘open groups‘. Recommended for large organisations and associations who might want to build their overall membership.
- If your group is very defined and you want to screen who joins, but still want to be found via a Facebook search, choose ‘closed groups‘. Recommended for book clubs, PTA’s, church groups, large companies, etc.
- If your group has a very limited audience and you do not want to grow or invite anybody into your private conversations, choose ‘secret groups‘. Recommended for large families, mastermind groups, play groups, etc.
Now that you know what options you have to choose from, lets talk about Facebook Group engagement as well as pros and cons for using groups as a way to communicate on Facebook.
I asked some of my peers who are active in Facebook Groups and who also run businesses, the following question:
‘How do you use Facebook Groups and what should we, in your opinion, NOT use Facebook groups for? ‘
Read the variety of answers I received:
’Facebook groups are easy because you can tag your friends so fast to create a group.’
‘If I had to say what a group should *not* be about, I’d say it shouldn’t be for purely personal gain.’
‘In the case of a group where the owner is marketing something, there must be a balance between discussion that is not about his/her product and mentions of that product or program.’
‘I use a few groups just to exchange ideas and support the members. Other groups are used to hone writing skills and help promote each others sites.’
‘For business, I like to use them as a place to choral key staff & company stakeholders to exchange thoughts & further form a company.’
‘Open groups tend to get out of control with activity & spam, unless appropriately monitored, which is too often not found.’
‘Facebook Groups vs. Facebook Pages Groups= everyone is on the same level of topic, experience, expertise, ability, etc. Page= page operates as the authority and overall has the “most” experience, authority, expertise, ability.’
‘Groups are a great way to offer your customer “exclusive” content. It could be a powerful tool to build brand loyalty.’
‘Groups makes me think of the bulletin boards of the young Internet (about 10 years ago)’
‘I don’t recommend them for brands as they should be transparent and the limitations for the setting within FB for groups prevents growth as well.’
‘I love the support and motivation side of groups.’
‘A few months ago after the death of my uncle, my cousin started a family group. [Our family is SOOOO huge that I did not even know he passed until 4 days after and I am friends with all my family on FB.] Now we have the group that will give us notifications if we want to alert the whole family.’
Can you say ‘difference of opinion’?
I did promise my own 2 cents.
I recommend using Facebook Groups wisely, meaning: do not spent all day communicating in groups. That group engagement does not help your Facebook edgerank. Take discussions regarding your brand, fundraisers etc. to your Facebook Page or Timeline wall. People will see the engagement, will likely jump in and you have now created real engagement for improved edgerank AND marketed your product or service, or yourself as the expert.
For an open or closed group, setting up documents with guidelines is very important to prevent spamming of the group wall and keeping on topic. For the same reason, I recommend having at least two moderators for a group (depending on the size of the group) to keep members in the group on topic and prevent inappropriate conduct within the group and on the group wall.
Secret groups are great for brands and families. It’s a safe place to communicate your thoughts with a very small and selected audience. I recommend these groups as they are fun and very appropriate for the exchange of highly sensitive material.
Your Turn!
- Can you see the power of groups?
- Do you feel the passion?
- How are you using Facebook Groups?
I will be working on a follow up post, so please…comment away! I know you want to! And I highly approve!
Dorien@MoreInMedia.com
More from MoreInMedia
- Early Achievers In The Pre-Holiday Facebook: Game of Like
- I Jump! You Jump? A Positive Facebook Timeline Review
- The Game of Like and the Great Pumpkin
MoreInMedia Recommends
- The “Almighty Power” of The Press Release! (Chad Nicely)
- Facebook Profiles, Groups and Pages for Business (blondishnet)
Great post Dorien! You are on point and covered just about everything! I love participating in groups, my Achilles heel is accepting too many invitations.
Hi Dorien,
Very important distinctions, thanks for sharing.
I am on few groups, 2 or 3 and I actively learn about Facebook, blogging and other social media and test some new tools people recommend. I have not created any group and don’t follow groups where there is no active sharing and support. I am glad I met you and other great people through Knikknolette Church’s group : KIWK
I loved your post and topic today…I agree that we must monitor our groups carefully and not use our groups for personal gain. There are huge benefits in offering group members a way to know you for who you are and groups give you that opportunity.
When I created The Women of facebook group…I knew I wanted to create something very special for women and at almost 1000 members now…I am proud to say that we have been able to keep the essence of the group alive.
We can use groups for other reasons and the answers people gave above are all awesome! We need to read carefully what the group we are joining is offering so we can grow within that group community.
Very well written. I just had a meeting with a young woman right out of college and was explaining the value of the groups for determining your brand. I will have to direct her here.
Hi Dorien,
After being closely involved in a few groups last year I am seeing an explosion of them this year!
I have met and formed many supportive relationships through them which I would not be without … But one thing that does annoy me is being added to groups I’m not likely to be interested in without my permission! A few of the night clubs in my area are doing this and it is not good marketing!
Thanks for the post, look forward to reading more!
Thank you for sharing that post with us Dorien.
Great way to communicate, exchange ideas, stay organized, etc.
Facebook groups (in my opinion) – that’s one of the best ideas Facebook came up with
love it!
Hi Dorien. I do use quite a few Facebook groups mainly to post my latest blog posts to I am not sure how effective I am being with this strategy though, although it has increased my amount of friend requests.
Dave
Hi Dorien. Your article very clearly explains and summarizes the value, type and use of groups, and the advice on where each has its place. There is obviously power in using groups. I have begun 4 groups and have 2 separate pages, and member of 4 other groups. Meanwhile, with Twitter, Google+, Blogging ( dreams) and all the tools of each of those often there is work to do,( not enough time for it all and and remain actively seeking commission in the depressed design and building economy here. There has to be a balance. Like Knikkolette Church, I too join and have interest in too many groups, its just hard for me to say no, to the opportunities of meeting new folks, learning new subjects and skills, helping and or attempting to inspire others. For the groups I’m involved in. The Social Network groups, I’m learning how to use social media and hopefully communicate, engage, and even market better. The groups I’ve started are about sharing common interests: Local Historic Preservation, Inspiration, Zumba, However before Facebook groups I was actively involved in beginning local chapters or groups, professional organizations and like AIA, CSI, USGBC. This is just another dimension and tool to enlarge the pie (muffin) . I would like, or actually need a caffeine drink with that muffin.
Thank you for this post! I am a member of so many groups, but my favorite will always be my circle of friends, i have 1 for my grade school classmates, 1 for my High School and 1 for all my relatives! yeah we monitor each other online, chat about petty stuff. And the other one of course is about business or blogging. I don’t think I can live without my facebook pages…. thanks for this wonderful post!
Hey Dorein!
Another great post, I hadn’t joined any FB groups until late last year. My experience with them so far has been great. I don’t belong to many because I want to make sure that I contribute to the ones that I am in, and that is really hard if you are in too many. As Joel says, there is not enough time in the day!
I think FB groups engage people amazingly well, I am continually delighted by the levels of participation and collaboration in the groups I am in.
Kittie x
Thanks for making the distinction. I am only in a few groups (more for community and less for business). Not as active as I would like, not out of disinterest but more out of lack of time.
I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Best as always, Doc Peg/Peggy
I think I initially met YOU in a Facebook group! I like them because I am expanding my network. Each one I am a member of has a unique focus. I hear what you are saying about Facebook edgerank however, I thought if it was an open group, it was seen as the same as any other social media participation. No?
Great post. And having seen your questionnaire on a Facebook group, it’s really fun to see the resulting post!
I think it’s great advice not to abandon your page for interaction in Facebook groups. I am always trying to strike a balance, and had actually been wondering if I should just move all my activity to groups. So thank you for that wisdom.
I’m a member of a few smaller groups on Facebook, as well as some larger ones. I love the features and functionality. It is a great way to connect with people on a more in-depth personal or professional level.
Great insight!
So glad to hear you are also using Facebook groups, Mysti.
It’s an often overlooked and under utilized resource.
Dorien.
Great post Dorien. I feel I needed the distinction. So thanks for it. I really enjoy facebook group and I feel they are a great tool for making work done at any level. the reason is also that you do need to stay on the group always but you get the full repository all at one.
I think a few people needed that extra bit of information regarding how to use and utilize Facebook Groups.
So many people are in groups, but do not understand the dynamics of these groups.
A bit of clarification was needed, for some of my group mates and for the ‘public’ as well