The Ultimate Guide to Facebook Groups

Facebook Groups for coaches, bloggers, and other entrepreneurs

Facebook groups are both helpful and overwhelming, for both the creators and members. Even more so when a group is super engaged and has a lot of members.

Which is why I’m writing this post: I want you to feel good about contributing to Facebook groups and get the most out of them, plus learn how to create a positive, engaged one of your own…if you wish. 

Let’s first begin with a story, shall we?

How #bloggingboost grew to over 14K Members

When I began pondering creating a Facebook group of my own, I had no strategy behind it. Yep, the old Social Media strategist known as moi created it with one real goal: to bring creative, holistic bloggers and coaches together. 

That’s it, really.

I did think it would help grow my list. I knew it could also possibly help me grow my brand and expand my reach, but those honestly weren’t my main intentions as Pinterest has always been my focus, Social Media wise. I get most of my traffic from there, and pin to boards that have over 500K followers. It’s been effective and helpful, and I’m a certified Pinterest junkie.

Just recently I was interviewed about how I grew such an engaged Facebook group, and what tips I could give to entrepreneurs looking to do the same. What I’m going to tell you here and now is what I believe key to building a thriving community of any kind, on any platform.

A thriving, engaged Facebook group grows around a topic that already has a following or a group of people passionate about the topic.

And that was why my group probably took off: I wanted to bring people bloggers and coaches together. I wanted to create a positive, safe space for Highly Sensitive entrepreneurs, introverts, and other awesome people. That was the ‘why’ behind it.

Notice I didn’t call my group after my brand. I called it after what I wanted it to be, which is a place that helps you boost your blogging endeavors.

Because there are so many bloggers around the world, there are already thousands of people on Facebook who blog or want to blog

My group isn’t about me. And it never has been. That’s not to say though that you’re group can’t be about you and what you do, but it also needs to be about something more.

How to use Facebook groups effectively

Let’s now discuss how to get the most out of using your own Facebook group, and network in other people’s groups.

Your first goal is to read the group rules that are usually located in the pinned post at the top. This is SUPERIMPORTANT. Group owners and admins really dislike it when a new member joins and then spams ( more on that in a minute) or doesn’t abide by the group rules, and then we have to spend time deleting posts or writing the new member.

Usually groups will allow you to introduce yourself, which is your next step. Introduce yourself in a way that isn’t focused on promoting your site, but telling the other members about who you are as a person, as well as what you doand how you can add to the group.

Promotion is usually never the main focus of a Facebook group, unless the group exists mainly for the purpose of promoting your Social Media, blog posts, etc. The majority of groups ( including mine and those of my clients) are not in that category.

Most groups have been created for the sake of bringing people who share an interest or goal together. 

As I mentioned, Blogging Boost was created to bring together creative, holistic people who blog together to boost eachother up. We have one day a week when members can promote their blog posts, which is on Mondays.

But wait, you ask. How do I find relevant Facebook groups in my niche, or that have my Ideal Clients?

Great question, and it’s easy friend!

1.) Head on over to Facebook.com and search for terms or topics that your Ideal Clients or peers would be interested in

ie blogging, life coaching, entrepreneurship, weightloss, etc

2.) Do a quick Google search for ‘Facebook groups for Bloggers’ or whatever your niche is

blog posts and articles will pop up and mention any relevant groups

3.) Ask others in your industry what their favorite groups are

bless all of you who say Blogging Boost!!!

4.) Ask for recommendations on Social Media

ie Tweet about it or post on Facebook 

A few groups I personally am a member of?

Blogging Boost, naturally

Badass Solopreneur Society

Holistic Families 

Blog + Biz BFFs

Rachel Macdonald’s private group

How to network

The main way you can get the most out of a group is to do the following.

1.) Be helpful

2.) Be consistent in your postings and interaction

3.) Share wins and encouragement

4.) Ask questions

The great thing about modern networking is that if you follow the above, you’re going to build relationships naturally! No more crappy networking parties. It’s all about being helpful, and letting people get to know you, and what you do.

Absolutely never spam. I know you get that, but as a group owner, I can’t tell you how often people will make promotion their main objective. Some use scheduling apps or software that autopost for them, and almost never actually engage with group members.

Your goal is engagement.

Keep in mind too that you want to be known for something, and your posts say something about you as a person, and as a coach or personal brand. 

I’m a writer, Social Media strategist, and Blog Coach for Life and Health Coaches. What I post in groups is usually encouragement for coaches plus tips regarding content marketing and Social Media. I understand my clients very well, because most of my friends are coaches and I did coach training myself.

//Action steps//

Write down how you can help your Ideal Clients in the groups you are going to join, or the Facebook group you will start.

This is an abbreviated version of my post, which you can read in its entirety here.