Last week, the members of my Facebook Group got a kick in the butt from the Unbridled Content Marketing Tough Love Department. I asked everyone what platforms they use for their marketing. Twenty-three responded they use Facebook Pages, and only 7 use Facebook Groups for their equestrian blogs.
It is so much harder to get organic reach with a Facebook Page than it is with a group! Facebook Pages are valuable tools, and every business should have one. But, if you are just starting, and don’t have a lot of time and money, a group will get you a lot more bang for your buck.
At the end of April, Facebook held its big developer conference. Officials announced that they are pivoting the platform to focus on building real connections, fostering genuine, authentic interaction over engagement bait and sales blasts.
Facebook Groups are Authentic
Facebook groups are free. You invite people to come on in and learn more about you and your equestrian blog. You can use a group to do market research, give your audience live trainings, and promote your business.
A Facebook group should be a welcoming and safe community. I LOVE my Facebook community! My people show up to help each other. People, pop on and ask for feedback on their content. Often, by the time I get there, there is already a bunch of comments on the post with excellent feedback!
That’s why I’m creating a Facebook community. I’m creating a place for horse businesses to come together and learn from each other. To find out what’s working in equine marketing right now and collaborate on awesome projects together.
Provide a platform for your equestrian blog, where you’re promoting education and community. The members of that community will get to know you, like you, and trust you. When they’re ready to purchase, they’re going to think of you before a competitor.
Grow Your Equestrian Blog’s Audience
If you show up in your Facebook group consistently, you stay on top mind until the members of your community are ready to purchase. Remember, people on social media are at varying stages of readiness to buy from you. It doesn’t mean they’re never going to buy; some are just not ready.
I want to purchase about 10 training programs for Molly Jane and Quinn (my hubs). Quinn is starting Molly Jane under saddle. I’m just providing support. I just left my job for this business. Our income over the next few years is uncertain, so we are not buying a bunch of training programs right now.
But, I’m still joining the Facebook groups associated with the programs. Every group I join probably has a great program that would work wonderfully for Quinn and Molly Jane, but I’m a busy person. If someone isn’t showing up in their group consistently, I will probably forget about them. When it’s time to buy they won’t be the one.
Even if you only have 10 people in your Facebook group, you have two or three people that want to buy from you someday. They’re not ready but when they are they will come to you.
Do you Need a Facebook Page?
Every business should have a Facebook page. They are great for SEO (meaning they help you show up on Google’s first page). If you want to run paid ads, you have to have a Facebook page. You can connect your page to your group so your community can easily learn more about your business if they want to.
Start a Facebook Group! Come on into my
Facebook Group and invite my community to join yours. I’m never going to punish a member of my community for inviting people into theirs. Must Love Horses Small Business Social Media and Content Tips exists to help your equestrian blog.
I am a firm believer in community over competition, and you will see that in my group. If you are not headed off to create a Facebook group right not (meaning you are on the fence about it) fill out the form in the sidebar to grab my list of 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Have a Facebook Group.
