So here’s the thing about Facebook: It may not be where all the influencers and popular kids are hanging out right now, but it is STILL a huge and viable source of audience connection.
Newer social channels like TikTok scare the pants off of certain demographics, but Facebook feels safe and comfy to just about everyone. And that means if you’ve got a neglected Facebook Group, you should think seriously about reviving it!
After all, a Facebook Group allows you to reach people all over the world and get your business in front of them, connecting with fans and potential customers in ways that other social media simply won’t allow.
And although paid Facebook offerings like Facebook ads can yield amazing results, you don’t have to shell out big bucks to reap the benefits.
Some people think that FREE Facebook Groups can’t generate income, but boy are they wrong. In my opinion, if you’re not utilizing your free group to sell your services or products, you’re missing out on a ripe opportunity.
Skeptical? Not to worry. Just keep reading and I’ll have you convinced in a few short paragraphs. 🙂
Are Free Facebook Groups REALLY Helpful in Sales Generation?
Heck yes, they are! Free Facebook Groups are where normal folks go to connect online with people who share their interests. They’re not as intense as Reddit and far easier to navigate, so people of all ages and income levels join them.
Lively Facebook Groups can have thousands of members swapping tips, selling items, or just chatting about some subject they’re all obsessed with!
So if someone says these groups are outdated, just point them to Instant Pot Community (2.7 million members) or Dogspotting (1.8 million members), where members add a new post or comment almost every minute of the day. (Seriously.)
Your own group is likely to be much smaller, but it can still become a priceless source of both audience cultivation and steady sales.
The main goal of a Facebook community is to reinforce the three pillars of building a phenomenal brand: get people to like you, know you, and trust you.
And since these groups allow you to post original written and video content, share relevant content from other sources, and hold real-time conversations with your followers, you’ve got some highly effective ways to do it!
Provide relevant and helpful information so members like you; share information about your authentic self so they know you; and be vulnerable with them so they trust you.
Once you’ve gotten into the groove of doing that, you can start selling with ease and monetizing the heck out of this enthusiastic group of followers!
Your group members are the perfect audience for your sales pitches because they’re already convinced that you’re brilliant, and primed to buy.
You’ve created a little spot on the Internet where your superfans can gather, and all you need to do is nudge them toward purchasing your next class, book, guide, or workshop.
But first, you need to put some energy into nurturing the group itself.
How Can You Build a Facebook Group That Drives Revenue?
Wondering how you can attract potential customers and keep them engaged while selling?
Start by making sure that your free Facebook Group is always brimming with activity and discussion.
In other words, engage, engage, engage! Ask questions, post polls, reply to conversational threads, share articles and videos from other sources and encourage your group members to weigh in.
If the group is just a dumping ground for your own content and sales pitches, it’ll never become a hotbed of sales. So create a plan to keep the content and discussion flowing, or hire a community manager to help you out.
Sharing your own story should be part of your content strategy since you want everyone in the group to like, know, and trust you. Find ways to remind them that you have things in common, and that you’re “just like them” in important ways.
You need to maintain your status as a subject matter expert, of course, but you also need to be relatable and accessible. And whenever you have a sales pitch to make, you need to be able to tie it into the problems and pain points that you SHARE with your audience!
So build that community by being open about your struggles and triumphs.
Finally, don’t rely on organic growth. Promote your group and invite people all the time. You may reach a point where your group snowballs enough to attract new members all on its own, but that will take time.
And until it happens, commit to reminding followers on other platforms about your Facebook Group and inviting strategic adds on a regular basis.
If you follow these three pieces of advice consistently over time, you’ll cultivate a community that isn’t just willing to buy your products, they’re excited for new launches and promoting your offerings to their friends.
