How to Increase Engagement and Get the Most Out of Your Private Facebook Group
Getting your Facebook Business page up and running is one thing, but many small business owners struggle with their private groups.
What’s the point of these pages? How do you get engagement out of your group members? And most importantly, how do you entice new clients to join your private group?!
In reality, creating an active, engaging private Facebook Group is more important than you might realize. When you do it right, it creates a sense of community between you and your clients that keeps them coming back for more!
Now, let’s discuss all things Groups — how to cultivate a sense of community, drive engagement up, and grow your group like never before!
What’s the Point of a Facebook Group?
Most people join Facebook Groups for a more personalized experience than what they get with Business pages.
Your Group is definitely somewhat of an extension of your Business page. But remember — people don’t join private groups to be marketed to.
While your Business page should be “strictly business,” your private group should create a sense of community-based on a common interest. You can foster this sense of community through personable content that shows clients who exactly you are. The key is to break the ice and get people talking!
How to Grow Your Group’s Engagement
Have trouble getting your members involved with your Group? You’re not alone! Luckily, there are a few techniques that can help you not only get more engagement out of your current members but also gain more members in the long run!
To get started, we’ll talk about:
● Polls
● Going live
● Member spotlights
● Engagement questions or prompts
Let’s dive in!
Polls
I don’t know about you, but I love polls! Any time I see one posted on social media, I take a couple of seconds to respond and see how my answer stacks up against the popular vote.
You probably know all about adding a poll to your Instagram Story (if not, check out my blog on Instagram Stories), but did you know that you can create a poll on your Facebook Group too?!
Whether they’ve engaged with your posts in the past or not, there’s a good chance your Group members will stop to answer a quick poll. It’s a quick way to grab your clients’ attention, and if the question is intriguing enough, they may even leave a comment!
If you’re not familiar with creating polls for your Facebook Group, here’s a quick tutorial.
Go to your Group page and head over to the section where you’d create a post like usual. Under the text box, you may have an option that says “Poll.” If you see this, click on it.
If you don’t see this option, click on the text box to begin making a post like normal. In the new window, you should see a box that says “Add to Your Post,” and three dots all the way to the right. Click these three dots.
When your list of options pops up, choose “Poll.”
Now, a new window should pop up. Type in your question and add different response options. If you’re asking a “this or that” question, including a photo or two is a big plus! Once you’ve finished crafting your poll, hit “Post.”
You can state your own opinion in your post, or wait for someone else to comment and respond with your opinion! No matter what, respond to any comments in a way that keeps the conversation flowing and encourages others to comment.
Going Live
While in-person events only apply to clients in your local area, anyone can attend a live virtual event! These lives could be personal “get to know me” discussions, exclusive product shows, or tips and tricks workshops. No matter your format, it’s a great way to encourage conversation!
The best way to host a live Group event is to schedule it ahead of time and personally invite all your group members. Here’s how you can do this:
Visit your Group’s page and choose “Events” in the top bar.
Under “Upcoming Events,” click “Find Events.”
A new window will pop up with the option at the bottom to “Create Event.” Click on this.
On the new page, you’ll be able to choose an in-person or online event. Since we’re creating this event for a live show, you’ll choose “Online.” Under Event Type, choose “General.”
Now, you can begin filling in your event’s details. Choose an enticing name that describes what you’ll be discussing during your live, and pick a convenient date and time that’s likely to work for most of your Group members. Under privacy, make sure to restrict the event to members of your Group.
Press “Next” to move on to the Location page. Choose “Facebook Live,” then press “Next” again.
On this page, you’ll add a description of your event. You could include a general description, or you could outline your entire itinerary. Whatever you do, make sure it sounds fun and exciting!
On the final screen, you can adjust your cover photo and other additional details for your event. The most important step is to check the box that says “Invite all members of [your group’s name].”
Now, you can create your event and get ready to host!