4 steps to consider when launching a Facebook group
I recently created a Facebook Group to connect those born in the ’90s but shaped by early ’00s culture. We’re not Millennial, we’re not Gen Z, and we deserve a name: Zillennials.
#1 – Defined your group’s purpose
Before I launched the group, I needed to define my purpose. Once I had a working definition, I needed to include it in the group’s About section so potential group members could read it and decide if they identified with the group’s purpose or not. Below is a snippet of how I defined my group’s purpose in the About section.
#2 – Set clear and reasonable expectations from your group members.
With a defined purpose in mind, you now need to set expectations for your group members so they engage with the group appropriately. This can be done in several ways. As shown above, I set expectations for group members before they join by giving them a feel for the group’s purpose and the type of content they’ll see if they choose to join. Another way to outline expectations is through the Group Rules section. Facebook offers a few general guidelines, but it’s best to tailor your rules to be group-specific. As your group grows, these rules may change!
Another way to set expectations is through Membership Questions. Potential members have to answer these questions before being accepted into the group. This set of questions prepares members for the type of engagement they can expect from the group, but it also helps the admins better understand the members that are joining. Below are the Membership Questions I created for my group to better understand who wants to join the group. For my target audience, I’d assume they’re born somewhere in the ’90s; they think of Shirley Temple as the drink, not the child actor; and their first phone was definitely not an iPhone.
#3 – Get the word out and RECRUIT!
This part can be tough, but not impossible. Don’t be afraid to share your group on your own social media platforms and encourage close friends to join (if applicable). I shared the group with a brief description of it on my own Facebook group and gained 7 new members within a few hours.
Other ways to recruit can be done by including relevant hashtags or sharing your group with other groups on Facebook and other social platforms (if allowed by their respective community guidelines). One goal I have for this upcoming week is to share the group in other Facebook groups that may have members who would be interested in joining. For example, the UF Class of 2018, class of 2019, and class of 2020 Facebook groups.
#4 – Plan your content to actively engage members.
Now that your group is live, you have to start thinking about the content you can create that aligns with your group’s purpose. My group is celebrating their one week birthday, and the content is only beginning to flow.
Here’s a snippet of my first post to the group that reaffirms the group’s purpose and invites new members to engage in the comment section. I included the Urban Dictionary definition of “Zillennial” to see if they think it accurately reflects the group we’re creating.
For future content, I plan to create several weekly posts that members can look forward to and actively engage with. For example, I’m going to be posting the Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 songs of the week from the years 2005–2010.
Not only can members comment which songs were their jam, or which elicits a fond memory, but I created a Spotify playlist for them to go and relisten to their favorites.
In general, this group is a place for collective nostalgia. With hashtags like #LifeWasGood, a play on the iconic brand, LifeIsGood, that we all grew up wearing, #GoldenAgeofMusic, and #Zillennial, I’m hoping to attract new members as well as reinforce the initial purpose that prompted members to join.
I’m excited to continue recruiting more members, creating engaging content, and fulfilling my purpose of connecting those who can relate to being #BornZillennial.
