On The Hill: Radar Hill Blog

Now more than ever, businesses are looking to redefine how they reach out and engage with their customers. One of the best tools they will have at their disposal will be Facebook groups.

In recent years, the dynamics of how businesses and audiences connect on Facebook has changed radically, with groups becoming ever more popular among users, and the Facebook experience shifting towards centring groups and paid advertising as the primary marketing channels. 

In this post, we’re going to look at how to use these groups to build community and generate passive income, as well as some key tips on how to make the most of your Facebook group. 

To help facilitate these connections between businesses and their audiences, Facebook rolled out ‘Groups for Pages’, a feature that would allow businesses to set up interactive groups around their business, forging real connections and providing additional value to their customers.

Generating Passive Income Through Facebook Groups

A passive income stream can be a lifeline for your business, something that brings in revenue when other avenues have been closed off. The key with most passive income streams is to provide value and connect with your audience in a meaningful way—something Facebook groups are ideally suited to.

Here are four ways you can generate passive income from your Facebook group:

• Link Back To Your Blog Posts 
  • Do your blog posts contain a CTA or product links? Then linking back to them can be a great way of creating a passive sales funnel. 
• Establish Your Authority 
  • Establishing your authority organically can be tricky, but with a Facebook group it couldn’t be easier By answering peoples questions and providing expert information you will ensure your customers trust your authority in your business field.
• Create A Paid Membership Group
  • By creating a paid membership group you will be able to generate a steady passive income stream for your business. Just ensure that there is a wide range of benefits for your customers for them to be part of the paid group.
• Offer an Online Course
  • There has never been a better time to offer an online course. With your audience already looking for engagement, and a wider audience for remote learning than ever before, using a Facebook group to help facilitate this has a number of advantages. You will be able to use the platform’s built-in video chat features, figure out the kind of content your audience wants through their comments and interactions, and help reach them with details of the event quickly.

Build A Community Around Your Brand 

Facebook groups are about more than just income streams—they’re also a way of fostering a community built around a common interest.

These groups aren’t just important for your audience, they can also help build your brand identity, and help you feel connected to your customers even if they aren’t able to come into your physical location. 

Because your Facebook group will be focused on the services you’re providing, it can serve as a general interest group surrounding that area, with people sharing tips, asking community questions, and talking about their shared passions.

While this may not seem directly related to your business, these discussions can, in fact, offer you valuable insight into what you should be offering your customers.

What’s more, it also helps customers associate your brand with being helpful, as the community will be providing value to each other. Most importantly, that sense of togetherness and camaraderie will bring joy to you and your customers. 

How To Make The Most Of Your Facebook Group 

As with any online business platform, going in without a guide or strategy can lead to wasted time and effort with little return. Luckily, a lot of what happens with a Facebook group can and should be organic.

However there are still some useful guidelines and tips you should keep in mind:

• Engage Frequently and Consistently 
  • This is vitally important during the formative stages of the group when you should be consistently starting conversations, responding to questions, and being an active participant.
• Moderate Actively 
  • One of the most important aspects of running a large online group is making sure you have a robust moderation policy in place, resolving any disputes and making sure you have everything under control.
• Pay Attention To Your Group Insights 
  • After your group has reached 250+ members, you’ll be able to use the Group Insights tool on Facebook. This will let you know which posts are getting the most engagement, and at what times people are most active in the group.
• Offer Real Value 
  • No matter what your brand identity or audience, you won’t be the only option for customers when it comes to Facebook groups, so make sure you’re offering value that your competitors aren’t. This could mean prizes and competitions, lively discussions, or expert content that helps improve their lives.
• Let Your Audience Lead 
  • Yes, you should be starting discussions and engaging consistently—but this isn’t a Facebook page. A Facebook group should be user-led, with participants feeling like the hierarchy between customer and business has been dissolved

When it comes to your online presence—Radar Hill is here to help guide you every step of the way. To find out more, get in touch with us today!

Read our small business guide for more marketing tips.