Are You A Lion Or A Sheep?
A Facebook group needs strong leadership and clear direction if you want it to succeed. If you act like a sheep, the herd might follow you for a moment and then lose interest or move in a different direction.
Launching a successful Facebook group is a definite art. If you are thinking of starting a new group or already have an existing group, here are a few essential pointers to get you going viral and effortlessly attract new members.
1) Choose a Killer Title For Your Group Name
Without a memorable name that is both colorful and sticky your group will fail right from the beginning. It has to be compelling and dynamic and press peoples emotional hot buttons. For Ideas look at the groups that have grown to over 1000 members and compare the names to those that that are still stuck at around 150 members. If your name is boring most people automatically assume your group will be too.
2) Pick A Graphic That Captures The Essence Of Your Group
A picture speaks a thousand words, does the image you choose convey the essence of your group. Get a striking image and then use photo shop to add some text on top of the picture. Make sure it can still be read when it is reduced in size. Many groups make their Logo much longer than its wide it then becomes a full banner advertisement and takes up more space when its listed on the group page giving it more prominence.
3) Leverage Your Friends
You can’t grow a group huge without the help of other people. Groups go viral because people invite their friends to join. If your initial network hasn’t reach 500 people you will have a hard time getting enough momentum for your group to take off. In that case find another friend and launch together. Make them a group admin too. Its much more fun launching a group with several people than having to do all the work on your own.
4) Target Your Initial Members
Having powerful and influential friends as core members of the group is vital. Hand select the people who you want to be there and send them personal invitations. Make them feel special. You need to choose people who are dynamic on Facebook or Twitter, people who are famous, people who have huge followings, people who have large networks and people who are already experts and leaders within your niche. Having these people as initial members instantly gives your group credibility. Honor those who first join by making them officers and ask them what title they would like under their name.
5) Create A Whisper Campaign
Tell your friends about the group in an indirect way long before you are going to launch, hint about it in blog posts, in teleseminars and in wall posts and in all your communications with your potential core members. Get them excited and they will start to talk about your new group even before you open the doors. Get your favorite bloggers to write an article about your group. Start a discussion using Facebook Notes and make your group the logical solution to a problem that people might face. Create the content for your group before you launch and tell people what you are doing.
6) Turn Your Group Launch Into An Event
By turning your group launch into an event you automatically stand out and get noticed. Plan it the same way you would a big party, You want all your guests to arrive at the same time so that the dance floor is packed. People won’t join if they turn up to your group page and find a cold empty room with no music and no refreshments.
Use Facebook Events and hold a teleseminar to publicize it and/or write Facebook notes and tag all your initial members, get them interacting with each other and keep sending them back to the group page to post on the wall and participate in the discussions.
Groups are not just confined to a single location, they spill out all over the place. Like a crowded house party that ends up with lots of people milling about on the front lawn. Anyone who drives down the street will always know which house to go to.
7) Include An Irresistible Offer
Offer an incentive for people to join, give away a free ebook, mp3 recording or video straight away.
Promise to supply more exclusive content in the future for those who join the group early and become active participants. Identify those special members by signing them up to your optin list or joining your Fan page.
Focus on adding value and encourage your group members to share their own talents. Your group will become a valuable resource instead of a derelict notice board for spammers
8)Aim For Viral Visibility
The more activity you generate the bigger your viral foot print will be in Facebook’s newsfeed.
You want to get your group to 500 members as quickly as possible so that it maintains its growth velocity. After this point it will hit critical mass and continue to grow on its own.
Stimulate activity on the group wall and discussion board, ask questions and continue to supply fresh content on a regular basis. You want you members to keep returning and posting within the group.
9)Advertise Your Group
If you are holding a party you need to put up some posters and give out flyers. Use your status updates wisely; be creative, use humor, and learn about link baiting. Attract members from a whole range of social media platforms, like Twitter, YouTube, Ustream, Friend Feed, Ning. Advertise in other similar groups and online forums. Get your group members to help you and reward those who put in the most effort by helping them to promote themselves using your group as a platform. Self promotion before contributing value should be discouraged.
10) Launch Strategically And In Several Stages
Have a clearly defined and mapped out strategy. Create a revolving door Pre launch, launch, post launch, relaunch. Sequence. After initial activity your group may need restimulating. By holding regular events you keep your group in the public eye and your members will continue to feel connected. Get your active members to participate in your relaunch process, and make it a win win situation for all involved
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Great post! I was wondering if you knew anything about monetization of Facebook Groups? A friend had told me yesterday that some people have built Facebook groups, and have sold them…..I’m not sure what Facebook’s TOS says about selling advertisement and things like that, but, I’m sure it could be lucrative……
just wondering if you have ever heard anything about that (selling groups and/or selling advertisement space in a Facebook Group)….????
Also……the reason I ask that is, because, over a year ago, I began my own Facebook group….
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21237201144&ref=ts
+200,000 Members….While it has grown significantly…with becoming viral and all, I do realize that Facebook group’s have very big limitations….
….it’s actually become quite a science in attempting to engage members,interaction, and encouraging return visits (Usually people just click to JOIN, visit the group once, only to never return)…..
@howie,
In my new book Facebook Strategies Guide, released later this week, I talk about this subject and explain how you can optimize your group and get people to interact. People do sell Facebook groups, but the value depends on the group name and subject that it focuses on. If you want some tips on how to get the most out of your group send me a message on Facebook, I’d be happy to help you
Thanks for tips, I’ll be sure to follow
Thank you for including your link on Doug Firebaughs message about Facebook groups.
This is an awesome, power-packet article.
Thank you for sharing. I am joining your group now and checking into your book Facebook Strategies Guide
Cathlene
thanks for the nice tip. Now im very inspired to launched a new group.
Check this out guys http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=81492166556
My Music group is like 4 days old and I thank you so much for this information. So far I have about 56 members.
Please join m group – Songwriting Leads – Uniting All Music Industry People
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=87918826694
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=589345058#/group.php?gid=87768961525
My group is doing pretty well. It’s basically a place where people take screenshots of funny things they have seen on facebook, look:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=84616700680&ref=ts
I already have 850 members in less than 4 months, but I really want it to EXPLODE, so any tips please email them to me!!
Hi I see there are quite a few groups that have a similar focus to mine. If I ask members of these groups to join mine will I potentially be considered a spammer and run the risk of being removed from Facebook?
thanks for the tips there is a lot of good info here
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/308649
Ablaze For A Cure
Excellent article.
if you love jamiroquai join my group!
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join my group please and tell all your friends to join PLEASE! just click the link below
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Great article. you kniw what's also great? RAPTORS! Join PLS
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Very helpfull, thank you. Please follow retail electric prices in Texas. Join my site:
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I made a bet that I could find a million people who loved rainbows, help me out!!!!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10000022…
I made a bet that I could find a million people who loved rainbows, help me out!!!!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10000022…
if you like to party in the london area with great people and celebs at grand venues please join my group ( london vip parties) and come and party we provide a service that makes sure that your evening out,private party ,corprate party what ever the occation may be that you are looked after and get the vip treatment for more info please add the group and contact myself james chittenden hope to see you all soon.
found a better guide
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reece-Kairys/3177…
nice@! thanx!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=128340…
please join ..
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eminem-fan-page/1…
please join i just madethis and im trying to get people
Ha! I love it. I wish I had organized a little more. I have a simple collaborative travel tips group. I started it the other day but hope that it grows beyond 50 people. If it hits 60, I might just retire!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=112760…
mines an application
http://apps.facebook.com/heyilike/104717
All anybody says below is join my group!
Comeon guys, you need to add value!
Just like my Fanpage, you get a free course,,via ebook
Then 7 days in your inbox!
Great information. I would love your help. I want to promote a group through a fan page that I am the admin on. Why can't I do this? I want to make a connection with the page and the group – and let all the people who are a fan of the page know about the group. Do you know how I can do this?
Agree all the tips you offered here. To add to that, the IDEA, is the very important thing. One best suggestion is to make the title an incomplete sentence like, “You know you're addicted to Facebook if…” The members will be the one to complete the sentence to give it a thought. I've just made this and it has been very successful. This Facebook group page goes viral right now on Facebook. It just started just last Sunday. Exclusively those who are natives of Davao City, Philippines.
You can check it here: http://cebuanddavao.com/2011/0…
i have 22 groups i created 1 group only
my friends always add me in their groups
before i had 46 i leave some groups of them
hi im edward http://www.facebook.com/Mr.Lov… add me im cute
LOL
http://www.facebook.com/groups… Hello folks I'd like you to join this group, my goal is to have more than 260 members please support my Church group.
https://www.facebook.com/group…
https://www.facebook.com/group…
Become A member
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so far i have 2,958 people and i want more
Please join to ATOF to change world with love and happiness… Here is the link… Share it on your wall… https://www.facebook.com/group…
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How to make money free, No experiences needed! Join now ! 100% Free http://www.facebook.com/groups…
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Join Game Arena 2012…It is A Cool Hangout Place For Gamers……
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Visit Our Group
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And Join Us Today itself
For more read the Discription in our Group
An Don't forget to add memers
Please share with your friends
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facebook.com/benedictcumberbat… – for all things Benedict Cumberbatch! (:
Bangalore Travel Club:
… a group that travels globally, loves to interact widely and meets in Bangalore. It is a space where we love to share everything about travel.
You are invited to join our group at http://www.facebook.com/groups…
I have an online Weight loss support group, and I would love to see others join. We are playing games, sharing recipes, and giving away prizes come check us out at
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http://www.facebook.com/TheWarHoundsClan
join us now on cod elite and share for share and like for like on facebook and youtube and twitter
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TWH The War Hounds clan
if you wish to join us then friend request the war hound on xbox live or request join the war hounds on call of duty elite thanks
great article
We have a group aimed at the Disney City Girl Facebook gaming demographic. We attain teammates requests for separate games as well. We have over 700 members and are just beginning to roll the ball. Please check us out, share our link, join, invite members and most of all have fun!! We have a very active fan base. Enjoy !!! http://www.facebook.com/groups/400080903408330/?fref=ts
Check our group out for fitness motivation and events:
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Please Join My Group
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join here and ask any technical doubts here https://www.facebook.com/groups/ftwaskdoubts/
pz ad ur friendz tooo
ask here and add all ur friendz do not forget to ask doubts @CallumDeanTerry here join here and & ask any technical doubts https://www.facebook.com/groups/ftwaskdoubts/
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We have wallpapers, cheats, ect. for games.. plz come join
Join Please My Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IamTheJoker/
Onl for joker luvrs
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