Hola, Hola Mi Gente,

Let’s jump right into what is going on in Facebook Groups news. There were a handful of updates last week for Facebook Groups, Pages and Instagram. But for the sake of this write-up and what you can expect to hear more from me, I am going to cover Facebook Groups in this post.

Are you ready? I am going to give you a rundown of the updates plus my thoughts on how to implement the new updates.

What you need to know:

Facebook announced last week during the F8 Live Keynote that they are making changes that put Groups at the center of Facebook, plus they shared about new ways Facebook can help bring people together offline. Today, more than 400 million people on Facebook belong to a Facebook Group that they find meaningful.

So, what does this mean for your business, should you also have a group? Well, during my Social Media Week presentation last week on “How To Monetize A Facebook Group,” I said no. Hear me out. Groups are a place where people come together to share meaningful conversations and find people who share a common interest; they want a safe place to interact with one another because of cultural restrictions, a shared interest like professional advancement, gaming, or support around a global issue. This leads me to the types of groups you can start.

Types of Groups + Privacy Settings

There are four main types of groups

General: Grow and manage your group with the standard set of group features
Buy and Sell: Create and manage sale listings · Specify currency in a post
Gaming: Link group to a game · Host tournaments for members
Social Learning: Organize posts into a unit or series of units that members can see

Privacy level for your group:

Public group - Only Admins and members can post to the group and anyone can see the groups’ post
Private - Only members can view the post. Members’ posting can be turned on or off or set to Admins only.
Secret - Only members and admins can see group activity and invite other members.
Sub-groups - Can be created within an existing group.

Visible changes, algorithm, and Messenger :

The most visible changes were made to the Facebook color scheme and navigation. Among the changes is a new Groups tab that will now show a personalized feed of activity across all the groups you're a member of, while also recommending more, similar groups related to your interests. There was also mention that more Groups’ content will also start appearing in News Feeds (likely implying an algorithm change), while it's also adding an opt-in 'Meet New Friends' feature which aims to help people start friendships with members of their shared communities - "like a church, workplace or city".

As a Social Media Strategist and Facebook Group Admin, this is my favorite feature for groups. Initially, you could form a private member chat. But, this latest feature will make it easier for members of larger groups to form relationships with those in their city. It can also serve as a way for Admins to segment groups of people and further connect with them in an even more private setting. Think O’ the places you will go! (via messenger that is)

New Tools for Specific Groups:

As communities across the world grow stronger it’s important to accommodate the needs of communities online. Think of the communities you are a part of both on and offline and how you interact with them. Last week I was asked about Health Groups and privacy features that are in place to protect members. Well, I am happy to share the feature is now available in a subtle way and one that I have used often in the Latinas Think Big Group.

"Different communities have different needs, so we’re introducing new features for different types of groups. Through new Health Support groups, members can post questions and share information without their name appearing on a post. Job groups will have a new template for employers to post openings, and easier ways for job seekers to message the employer and apply directly through Facebook. Gaming groups will get a new chat feature so members can create threads for different topics within the group. And because we know people use Facebook Live to sell things in Buy and Sell groups, we’re exploring ways to let buyers easily ask questions and place orders without leaving the live broadcast."

As a community leader or Admin, this feature has the potential for you to invite members of your community to share a post in a safe environment. For those who are in groups of professionals or domestic violence, this feature will help secure their privacy in keeping their profiles hidden.

For businesses, the Facebook Live feature will enable viewers to buy directly from the Live without leaving the broadcast. This will assist in the purchasing journey. It’s going to help provide businesses a better way to connect with their audience through a Facebook Live. For those groups that are buying and selling, members could ask questions regarding the purchase directly in the Live and assist in any questions someone may have before they place a purchase.

These features are a mirror of the Facebook Page ones made to help you monetize. Facebook Groups will also be here to help you not only monetize but connect and understand the behaviors and needs of your community. One of my greatest joys in leading the largest Latina community of professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners has been being a part of what helps women in this community thrive in their businesses, careers and helping them find support.

I said it back in 2017 and I will say it again here, “Communities are built by the leaders and people who nurture & believe in their purpose.”

To your community success! Nos Fuímos!

RitaVee

Everything you need to know about using Facebook Groups TODAY