New Facebook Group An Unfolding Strategy

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11.9K followers

I just signed up to a new Facebook group in a niche that I am interested in....... currently looking at options to get some value from my connection. Like all activities, it can be a real benefit creating a plan that is aligned with your desired outcomes.

I see a lot of folks getting banned from Facebook, so steady as you go, I think.

Things not to do

  • Don't just turn up and start posting straight off the bat you are entering into someone else's turf, folks don't like newbies walking in and trying to dominate.
  • Don't cross post the same post into every group that you are in mix and match it. Facebook may just have an algorithm that detects those behaviors, they definitely have facial recognition software and it also detects other images.
  • Definitely don't break the rules of the group observe what the admins are doing for a while.
  • Definitely don't post raw links, remember that it may not necessarily be Facebook that is getting hot under the collar it may just well be your admins or fellow group members, we are human after all.
  • Don't just show up just to promote your self, folks just see right through that one.
  • Don't request feed back in that veiled kind of way where by you are just trying to get engagement for your gig.
  • Try not to do those drive by posts, where you just post at set times and don't bother to engage with the group, folks see right through that one as well.
  • Don't just share everything directly from your website or fan page. maybe try writing some fresh content expressly for the group, an opportunity to bring out your creative and best marketing face.

Just some thoughts I guess a check sheet to keep me on the straight and narrrow

This next one is important, we need to get our heads around it.

Facebook is a business

They make their money through advertising just like the daily rag used to, no advertising no daily rag, many of them are long gone. So if you are trying to game the system you will be caught out, they pay their engineers and admin folks a lot of money to protect their position.

I see folks questioning the value of Facebook, some folks promoting the benefits and some folks giving it a wide berth., the key is to is to create a strategy and follow it through, by the looks there are so many ways to slice the pie this is one of them maybe.

Taking action with purpose

In the beginning, I have allotted 3 months to this endeavor.it is only 12 weeks or in business terms, one-quarter so relatively not a very long interval. By defining the time I can be more focused to this venture. I haven't mentioned the niche because I am hoping that this method may be transferable.

Strategy

  • The first thing to do is create a portal of entry to Facebook free from my timeline so I don't get distracted, I have loaded the group page into my smartphone and access it from my favorites bypassing my home page.
  • From here looking at the rules they seem to be pretty standard no promotion, no spamming, no hating, play nice etc. Pretty standard by the looks.
  • Checking through the members bio images you will find that if the group is niche related that the same folks will pop up in most of the groups that you sign up to. Here is a give away if you post the same content to different groups it is like shooting yourself in the foot.
  • The group seems to have a vibrancy to it, which I like, I am currently analyzing the members.
  • If you take a population and randomly select 35 respondents across age, sex, race, and so on, you will get an overview of that population their needs desires, goals, and aspirations. The goal is to work out where folks sit, in doing so it will enable one to speak their language and hopefully communicate on a level that will create engagement. That may sound a bit over the top but it does set a benchmark and that is key you can build from here, the kooky thing about it, is that it works and works for any population.
  • I have been observing the group, the dominant members, the ones that tend to spam, the quiet ones, the ones that post periodically the ones that bring value. There are huge differences within each subset. the largest one is the folks that are just there but don't engage so perhaps some potential there.
  • Initially, I will start, liking posts, then posting comments on posts, from here start posting from here I hope to post some subtle value added informatrion following the 80/20 rule so out of ten posts, two will carry that subtle call to action.
  • Always looking to provide engaging content better do less but make it good.
  • This may sound rather mercenary, it is marketing, it may need some tweaking or re-evaluation as it progresses through the next twelve weeks. The thing is that we need to go with a set idea of the outcomes.
  • Get up everyday and say to yourself " I am on social media for the purpose of business "

If your little head pops up above the parapet Facebook may come to you and knock on your door, it doesn't hurt to boost the odd post.

Desired Outcomes

  1. To build a relationship with the originators and admins.
  2. To market to the group using similar interests, while building connections
  3. To generate some leads and traffic.
  4. To provide some value and learn some new skills.

I hope to work out a little system that I can spread across other niches. So looking to engage and utilize a resource, it is a pretty simple strategy but one that may evolve.

Consistency is the key and the realization that there is a subtle difference between over posting and posting value, the key is to know the difference. The thing that we need to realize is that folks get turned off by over exposure. In our connected society, we are all becoming more sophisticated and most of us can spot the spammers and shallow folks at 100 yards.

So wish me luck with this action with purpose experiment. Nothing ventured nothing gained. The great thing about this industry is that there are so many possibilities.

Don't you just love that?

Alex

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Recent Comments

55

Some very good tips here to take away and use. I like the ideas about posting starting at likes then comments etc.

Thanx for the information and advice

Hi, Steve, there seems to be more than one line of thinking on this, some would say just start posting taking a broad and focused approach where the key is to build relationships and connections may bring better results. It is certainly taking a long-term approach

Good lessons here Alex. I will find them very useful when joining new groups.

Many thanks for sharing

Terry

From observation they seem to work, the things about the online world are that everyone's perspectives are similar in nature, a lot of it comes down to this factor, if we observe something and don't like it then chances are there are many others thinking the same thing.
Some folks forget or don't understand that.
If we have a strategy we have something to base our progress on all the best as you engage Terry.

Facebook is a big and a bit frightening thing, but certainly worth doing. Thanks, Alex.:)

Hi, Vera, that is a good way of putting things, they are at the end of the day just like us making money from the online world it is just that they are very big and very good at doing it. At the end of the day, it is all about how we chose to engage or not for that matter.

Yes, absolutely. And always remember that new things mostly don't happen easily.:)

That is sound advice Vera, so true at the very least it can be fun trying.

:)

It sounds like a reasoned approach. Give value, build trust. I'd like to know how this approach works over time.

Formulating a strategy can give us focus and a plan to work to and it also gives us something to measure against and from here the ability to make informed changes which should enhance the outcomes that have been set out to achieve. Will definitely keep folks informed as to the outcomes.

Thank you for that well thought out strategy, I will surely take the advice when I start engaging
Regards
Morne

Hi, Morne, you are most welcome we will have to see how it goes. Like much in business if we have a strategy we have something to focus on but also something to measure results against.

I do wish you luck Alex.

I can never get my head around Facebook. Whenever I go on FB to my own pages, they encourage me to do different things. So I take fright and leave.
I have a page for my schnauzer site, and FB shows me an ad they have created for me. They tell me no-one else can see it. Of course they want me to advertise. So maybe that is one way to test the waters! As you say Alex, there are so many possibilities.



Hi Valerie, I guess that we have to find that balance, it costs nothing to climb on board the Facebook train, they will prospect to try and get some business from you, just like in days gone by where the local newspapers would tout fo advertising by using sales representatives, it is just that the process has become very efficient by the use of clever technologies.
I think that there are opportunities for us as marketers, the key is to be focused on the outcomes we are striving for when we have that on our radar we can then focus on results.
Jump in and test the waters.

It sounds like a good idea, Alex. I do need to test those waters,
What I need to do first is draft a plan of action. I'm not so worried about goals. But there is so much going on with websites etc., as you will be aware, and I find it difficult to complete something. It's an ongoing challenge. My big mistake was having multiple websites. But I can't let them go now!
However, I will get there with Facebook as it's worth a try.

That can be a problem, Valerie, I think we all find that there are only so many hours in the day, and it is how we spend the available hours that counts. I guess it is all about working out what suits us best. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us much appreciated.

Thank you, Alex :)

Hi Carol, you are most welcome hope that it is useful.

Great advice, Alex

Most welcome we shall see how it goes.

Great post and sound advice Alex. Unfortunately I'm one of the 'quiet ones' and just can't get my head around Facebook.

I know I need to set up a 'page' for my business at some point, but I've been putting it off. However, what you have posted here will stand any of us in good stead once we decide to take that plunge! : )

Juliana ~

Hi Juliana, thank you for sharing, that is not a bad thing, do you belong to groups associated with your niche just joining and observing we can learn so much then just start commenting and liking. it is only hard until we do something about it give it ago, every one of us has to start somewhere. All the best, the way I look at things we have nothing to lose.

Yes Alex, after reading your post I did go and join a couple of groups in my niche and I'm going to take your advice of just slowly interacting.

I don't know why I was so afraid to be honest, there seem to be some really nice people who are also members so I'm sure I'll be fine now. Although I'm still terrified of setting up my own page! lol

I'm sure I'll force myself to do it sometime soon.

Thanks so much for helping me with this, I really appreciate it : )

Hi, Julianna good move we all have to start somewhere and we can build from here if it is a group that we are interested in or it is niche based the other members will have a similar outlook. they are an excellent way to gain knowledge and make connections or create some value for us.

Classic there are many things that challenge us online just doing it sometimes is the best way to go.

If you are looking at setting up a fan/business page check out the info that Facebook has available, it is easy to overlook that most platforms have good tutorials that can be really helpful. All the best you will do well I am sure.

https://www.facebook.com/business/learn/managing-facebook-pages

Great, thanks Alex ; )

You are most welcome.

Great info and training my friend a joy to read


Paul

Hi, Pual thank you for your kind words, we will see how it goes.

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