We are aware that Facebook enables brands and companies to have connectivity to their customer sets respectively. With the recent announcement on Groups from Facebook quarters we know that Facebook Groups was in news in a big way. Facebook Pages has been around as well. Given this scenario I have been asked many a times that if we already have Facebook Pages then when do we need the Facebook Groups?
A justified query, the reason being that if you have put in time and energy in developing the Page then are we to dissolve everything and start getting people on-board onto Groups? And why so. The introduction of Facebook Groups is not done with any intent to dissolve the Facebook Pages. Infact Pages become more stronger with Groups as add on.
Groups can be used primarily for varied purpose. Like for instance:
- Have family based Groups: so when you put up photos and messages not all of your Facebook friends / list can be disturbed and interfered with.
- Have closed friends Groups: here you will have your privacy and just have your gang / group of friends communicating without the world really interfering onto your team.
- Have colleagues team up on a task / project: If your work environment suggests that you have a team then enable the Groups to have updates and status reports come up on the Groups wall for all to view at same time; comments will be seen and interacted / acted upon as well.
- And so on, Facebook Groups have a reason to exists.
Coming back to the question – when we already do have Facebook Pages then why should we have Facebook Groups? To understand this we need to step back and recap on what is Facebook Pages. Add to this, we are to understand that Pages have people, I repeat all people, from all walks of life connecting to you via a single Page. Now lets assume [or maybe you have already experienced] a situation wherin your Facebook Pages has a broad value. Say for example if your Page philosophy / intent / purpose / reach is broad based and people who have joined your Page get very involved. You may now see that there is a reason to bifurcate into smaller groups. The reason being that certain people are addressing a particular issue. For this you need not create another Fan Page what you need now is to create small Facebook Groups.
So in business you need to create Facebook Groups strategically. Such that while you have your main Facebook Page as umbrella, the various Facebook Groups could be created to address more in-depth conversations / issues.
Share in your reasons as well to let people know how you use Facebook Groups and Facebook Pages.