| As a small business owner or entrepreneur, you | | | | for that matter. |
| are probably trying to figure out how to use social | | | | You an find the Groups function by clicking on |
| media sites like Facebook and Twitter to actually | | | | Facebook's logo in the upper left of your page, |
| grow your business. Sure, Facebook is great for | | | | once you're logged in, and then looking down the |
| sharing baby pictures, and Twitter is great for | | | | list on the left hand side of the page until you see |
| sending 140-character thoughts into the great | | | | "Groups". After clicking on "Groups", you will be |
| unknown, but can these social media tools really | | | | taken to a page that shows all of the Groups you |
| be used for something productive like finding new | | | | are a member of and that you have created. |
| leads and customers? Well, I'm happy to answer | | | | Click the "Create A Group" button at the top of |
| "Yes" to that question, although I do have to | | | | the page to start a new Group. Facebook will |
| qualify the answer: One needs to know what one | | | | then walk you through a short questionnaire about |
| is doing on these sites, and more importantly, | | | | what your title, description, and some other |
| needs to engage in a focused program of | | | | settings are, and then you'll be done. It should only |
| communication, to get real world results for one's | | | | take a couple of minutes and your Group will be |
| buisness. Unfortunately, you simply can not post a | | | | created. |
| bunch of motivational quotes all over Faceboook | | | | The next task is to pre-populate your Group with |
| every day and expect anyone to want to be | | | | relevant and interesting information, before you |
| your "Friend" or "Like" your business anymore. | | | | attract anyone to your Group. If people come to |
| Maybe in 2007, but not today. In this piece, I'll be | | | | a "dead" or empty Group, they will just click away |
| teaching the exact how-to-steps of using | | | | and not join. So, take a week or so and come up |
| Facebook's Groups feature to grow your | | | | with a bunch of interesting articles, videos, |
| business, whether you have an online business or | | | | information, tips, etc. related to your topic and |
| a traditional bricks and mortar business. | | | | post them on the Wall, Discussion Board, etc. |
| Groups are one of Facebook's original and oldest | | | | Also, make sure you completely fill out the |
| features; they are a critical platform on the site, | | | | Group's profile so that it looks like someone cares |
| just like people's personal Profiles, business Pages, | | | | about the Group! I know that sounds easy, but |
| and Events are primary tools for Facebook users. | | | | you'd be surprised how many people think it's |
| Facebook Groups are intended to allow people to | | | | better to save the two minutes of thinking and |
| gather support online for things like political causes, | | | | typing and they have Groups that look |
| movements, awareness, interest in a hobby or | | | | half-baked... not the impression you're trying to |
| niche, etc. This is important: Groups are not your | | | | make! |
| business or brand's home page on Facebook, that | | | | Now you're ready to invite a few people to join |
| is what a Facebook Page is designed to be. | | | | your Group. You don't want to go blasting status |
| Facebook Groups are for promoting and engaging | | | | updates on your main Facebook personal profile |
| in discussion of a larger topic that affects many | | | | about your Group yet, and you don't want to do |
| people and many organizations. Many people make | | | | any other "big marketing" of your Group yet. |
| this easy mistake, and then find that no one | | | | Right now you just want to invite 20 or 30 of |
| wants to join their Group. The reason people don't | | | | your personal Facebook Friends to take a look at |
| want to join a Group that is all about a specific | | | | your Group, join if they want to, and give you |
| person or company is that Facebook users are | | | | feedback. This is key because a few of them will |
| expecting a Group to be about a cause or other | | | | join, even though it's basically an empty Group, |
| larger interest topic. As always, it's a good idea to | | | | since they're your Friends. Now, when strangers |
| work within the generally accepted framework of | | | | find your Group, it will not look like a ghost town... |
| Facebook users to get the most users as quickly | | | | there will actually be posts and interaction involving |
| as possible. | | | | people other than you! |
| Here's a quick example to crystalize the point: A | | | | Once you have a few people other than you as |
| Facebook Profile page is for "Taylor Garland", a | | | | members of your Group, it's time to go for some |
| Facebook Page is for "Social Media Marketing | | | | bigger marketing efforts. Make sure you have |
| Made Easy by Taylor Garland", and a Facebook | | | | some good content and discussion topics already |
| Group is "Social Media Marketing Entrepreneurs | | | | in your Group, though, and make sure you are |
| Group". From another user's perspective, if you | | | | committed to checking your Group at least once |
| want to talk to me or about me, you use my | | | | a day or at the least every other day to engage |
| Profile, if you want to learn more about my | | | | in discussion, post more content, etc. The most |
| business, you use my business's Page, and if you | | | | obvious and most productive method of growing |
| are just interested in the broader topic of social | | | | your Group is to find the most popular other |
| media marketing, they you use the Group. So, for | | | | Groups in your topic or industry by doing a |
| your business, you want to think about an | | | | Facebook search and scanning through the results |
| interesting and compelling topic in your industry | | | | in the "Groups" section of the search results. |
| that people are talking a lot about right now. | | | | Given the size of Facebook (400 million-plus users) |
| Then, you want to start a Group about that topic | | | | there are no doubt already some related or |
| and engage users in discussion. Every time you | | | | similar Groups. You want to join these other |
| post something in your Group, it will show up as | | | | Groups, the more users the better, and get |
| being by you (your Profile), so people will know | | | | engaged in the Discussions. Some Group |
| who you are just by being in the Group. This will | | | | Administrators (that's the person that started the |
| automatically attract a certain percentage of | | | | Group, like you) will allow Wall posts and |
| them back to you and your business. | | | | Discussion comments to mention other Groups |
| When you're choosing a name for your Group, be | | | | and, when you find a large Group with those |
| sure to do some keyword research first. Use | | | | rules, you are in business. |
| Google's free "Keyword Tool External" (just | | | | You should genuinely get involved in the |
| Google search for that) and put in a basic | | | | discussions in other Groups, but also occasionally |
| keyword in your niche. So, for example, | | | | mention your Group, and you will find that people |
| "carpentry", or "bird watching", or "save the | | | | interested in your industry or topic will also join |
| whales". Then, Google will think for a few seconds | | | | your Group. Over time, if you are active for a |
| and come up with a nice big list of related | | | | couple of months every day or every other day, |
| keywords that get the most searches on Google. | | | | you will see your Group start to pick up |
| Sort the results by "Monthly Search Volume" so | | | | momentum and your membership will grow. You |
| that the most-searched-for keywords or | | | | are now in a great position as a business owner, |
| keyword phrases are at the top of the results | | | | because you have respect as an Admin of the |
| list, and then make sure you use more popular | | | | Group and the position of authority. What you |
| rather than less popular keywords in your Group | | | | have really done, when you strip it all away, is |
| name if possible. Sometimes, you will be surprised | | | | found good, targeted prospects and then built a |
| to find that people generally think in terms of a | | | | personal relationship with them using Facebook |
| totally different word or phrase than you happen | | | | Groups. Now, when they need the product or |
| to use when thinking about a niche. For example, | | | | service that your company offers, they will |
| you might think "environmental activism", when | | | | naturally think of you, because of the online |
| most people actually type and think "save the | | | | relationship that you have built with them. It's the |
| whales" or "prevent oil spill". These are important | | | | same "know, like and trust" philosophy of |
| clues as to how to name your Facebook Group, | | | | traditional marketing, just applied inside the world |
| and any websites or blogs you are working on, | | | | of Facebook! |