Have you considered Facebook Groups for business? You should!
We hear a lot about Facebook Pages for business brands. Many business brands develop and nurture a Facebook Page. They assure quality content and incentives for fans.
Only occasionally we hear about brands empowering their employees and/or associates to engage socially as catalysts for the brand. But we have not heard as much about the use of Facebook Groups for business.
Yes, it is another presence to maintain. At the same time a Facebook Group could be the social tool to other social media marketing efforts and actually make things easier on several fronts.
Lets explore Facebook Groups as a Facebook Marketing tool...
3 Clever Ways To Use Facebook Groups For Business
1. Stakeholder Teams
Whether you are a small business, medium sized company, or an international brand, chances are there will eventually be more than one person working on social media. Since Facebook where many spend time, and it is usually a big part of a brand's social media strategy, it makes sense to create a hub on this platform.
Imagine a private place for collaboration:
- Sharing status and progress on current social projects.
- Discussing clever ideas found online to bring to your brand.
- Releasing specific graphics and messages for managers in multiple locations to share within their own networks.
- Relaying customer service inquiries so the appropriate contact can respond.
Here, a staff or team can be more efficient and save on email. Plus, the group activity then has a database so group members can search conversations for reference on future collaboration.
2. Super-Fan Engagement
The biggest reason people like a page is for special information and discounts. So, reward your super-fans -- Choral your loyal customers and keep them motivated to talk about your brand!
Nurture a place where they become a happy, family of whatever size. Let them share in a personal way with each other about themselves. Also let them talk about their experiences with your product, and even share photos. This is social listening at it's finest!
Brand managers can:
- Learn other life-interests for targeting advertisements.
- Discover new avenues of marketing a product or service.
- Become aware of new sources of competition.
- Gauge potential successes of future product launches.
From time to time, give this group special coupons or prizes exclusive just to them.
3. Advisory Council
Marketing Managers will probably have a more structured plan in working with this type of Facebook Group. They will probably develop a more intimate working relationship with members here.
The goal here is to gain additional feedback from a select group of customers:
- They purchased your new product.
- They subscribed to your signature service.
- They reported a specific customer service satisfaction or dissatisfaction.
- They are part of a test group, or are testing a product or service.
The Facebook Group allows you to continue communication with a select group of customers or ambassadors to know more. This will probably not be a very large group, and Group Moderators will have screened the members and be trustworthy themselves.
It is possible to do more extensive research on topics with this group. Be sure you reward them commensurately for their time and attention.
The Important Decision With Facebook Groups For Business
Each company must set their own policies regarding Facebook Groups. They will certainly want to consider if anyone can join the group, or if they will be selective.
Marketing managers should also be aware that Facebook is a large, active platform. Matters of high security are advised to be taken to other communication channels.
As the image indicates, Facebook Group managers can choose the settings:
- Open - Member comments and interactions can be seen in the ticker.
- Closed - Member comments and interactions can be seen in the ticker.
- Private - Member comments and interactions CANNOT be seen in the ticker.
Facebook Groups are just one of the many Facebook marketing tools, if used appropriately. More on how to set up a group here.
Your Views On Facebook Groups For Business
There are other ways to use Facebook Groups for business. The three ways listed above should give marketing managers a place to start.
Are you using Facebook Groups in a successful way other than described above?
Did this post trigger some new ideas for you?
Please let us know your thoughts in the comments box below! 🙂
I use groups to sale my book and get people to sign up for my free video drum lessons. I didn’t mean to I just joined some drumming groups and started chatting. Naturally people started adding me and checking out my profile where I have links to my site so some turned into sales.
I didn’t set out trying to sale anything and don’t join groups and post spam. Obviously that’s not going to get you anywhere
While I am not using my facebook group for any marketing purpose other than branding and increasing social media presence, I know atleast 10 people in my social circle who are using big Facebook groups to drive big amount of traffic directly to their blogs.
The traffic coming in this way is mostly targeted and hence fetches good revenue from CPC and CPA advertising campaigns.
Just wanted to know your view on this. Is this good and worth to try in the long run?
Anurag,
Thank you for sharing your experience.
I suppose there isn’t any reason one could not post information that assists a CPC or CPA campaign. And, if the individuals you know are being transparent and letting people know the links are part of a campaign, there isn’t harm.
That said, in my opinion, the format of the group to let like-minded people share ideas — It is lost in that circumstance. So much more could come from the group experience!
But, there should be room for all to co-exist. They may want to consult Facebook’s Terms of Service, though. 🙂
~Keri
Kyle,
Looks like you have had some productive and rewarding experiences with Facebook Groups!
It’s best when the paths can be followed through natural evolution, which seems to have happened in your case.
To start from scratch is a bit different, but can also work too.
Thanks for sharing with us,
~Keri