Facebook groups used to be a great way to engage with your target audience and grow your business. But in 2023, are Facebook groups still an effective strategy? In this post, we'll explore the pros and cons of using Facebook groups for business in the current landscape.
Engagement in Facebook Groups is Declining
Looking at various Facebook groups in niches like coaching, speaking, and authors, engagement is quite low:
- I discovered in a group with 13k members, only around 50 people engaged on a post. That's less than 1% engagement.
- In a 21k member group, only 13 people engaged on a post.
- Posts often get no engagement at all.
This is painful when you've invested time, money and energy into building a group for your business. You want to actually reach people, not just collect members.
Why Facebook Groups Have Declined
There are a few reasons engagement in Facebook groups has declined:
- Facebook's algorithm has changed - your posts don't reach most of your members unless you pay.
- You can't rely on the high engagement Facebook groups used to have.
- Facebook wants you to pay to reach your own members now.
Tips to Still Use Facebook Groups Effectively
While Facebook group engagement isn't what it used to be, you can still use them effectively for your business:
1. Find Relevant Groups in Your Niche
Search for groups related to your niche and target audience. Join them to connect with your ideal customers.
2. Connect with Group Admins
Group admins have an existing engaged community. Collaborate with them for things like:
- Podcast interviews
- Email exchanges
- Cross promotions
This helps you access their audience and share your own reach.
3. Create Your Own Group
If you create your own group, keep in mind you'll likely face the engagement and reach challenges we discussed earlier as you grow. But it can still be worthwhile if you want to give a shot.
Alternatively, you can build your community on Skool and collaborate with Facebook group owners.
A Better Alternative - Paid Community Platforms
While Facebook groups can still work, paid community platforms like Skool are emerging as a better alternative for businesses.
Benefits include:
- Designed for engagement and conversion
- Community feed for members to interact
- Gamification features
- Ability to create premium membership levels
- More control over your community
The focus is on building relationships first before ever making a sale. This creates loyal fans and customers.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook group engagement isn't what it used to be
- You can still use Groups effectively by collaborating with admins
- For the best results, consider paid community platforms designed to convert and engage
Let me know if you have any other questions! I'm happy to help.