Facebook groups can be a valuable tool for business owners. Online marketing for small biz requires using the best tools to get the most value and that includes Facebook groups. It’s free to join a group, and there are millions of them available on the social media site.

How to Find Relevant Facebook Groups

One of the great things about Facebook is that it will suggest groups to you, based on your likes. So once you’ve joined a few groups, you’ll start seeing suggestions for others that suit your niche. However, to get started, you have to find some on your own.
You can find groups for literally any topic under the sun, so look carefully at your target audience and figure out what groups they’re hanging out in. Then go join a few of these.
Many business owners join FB groups that are created for business owners. While this can be great to bounce ideas off other people, it’s not a good place to reach your audience (unless your audience is other business owners). You will see more results when you join groups where your audience is hanging out.
Once you’ve found and joined several groups, what do you do?

Making Use of Facebook Groups

The first thing you should do in any Facebook group is read the instructions and rules. Every group has these, either in the group description or in a pinned post on the group page. Make sure you understand what is allowed and what is not.
With the rules in mind, you can then begin to interact with the group and leverage the information you glean.
Introduce yourself: You should always present yourself as an individual on these groups, so introduce yourself, not your company. Most groups allow for a link in the introduction post, but be sure to read the rules to make sure. Then post an intro that explains who you are, any relevant information in regards to the niche, and what you do.
Ask questions: Go ahead and ask people questions in the group. It’s a great way to interact, but it has the added bonus of helping you glean information. Use the questions to build up a better avatar for your target audience.
Read posts and take notes: You will quickly notice that many people post about their problems in these groups, hoping someone can shed some light on things. You should be careful not to promote your solution in these cases, but make a note as to what everyone is looking for. This information can be invaluable when planning your own services.
Participate in threads: Become an active part of the groups you join. Gradually, people will start to notice your comments, and if you’re adding value, they will begin to see you as an expert in your industry. For example, if you post ideas for woodworking in a group on carpentry and frequently offer creative solutions, people will begin to look for you when they have questions.
Promote when allowed: Many Facebook groups allow you to promote your business on certain days or in certain group threads. Make sure you take advantage of these opportunities and present the members of the group with an offer they’ll love. It’s a great way to increase email subscribers or to gain clients.
Facebook groups aren’t the first place most people look when they’re planning on promoting their business, but if you’re already on the site, it makes sense. With a well-thought-out plan, you can easily interact in groups with just a few minutes of your time each day.

Conclusion

Facebook is an integral part of online marketing for small biz, so learn to put it to good use. Take advantage of the many options for marketing that the site provides and watch your business grow.