The Epic Guide to Using Facebook Groups to Explode your Blog Traffic
Facebook groups have been one of the best tools I used to jump start my blog traffic and build relationships with other bloggers. And they can be for you too. If you know how to use them the right way!
There’s a way certain dynamic and etiquette in each type of group that you need to know before jumping in and participating. You don’t want to make a bad name for yourself unknowingly or even get kicked out!
There are also certain types of groups that offer different benefits to you and your blog. We’ll get to that in just a sec!
In this post, I’ll show you:
Why Facebook groups are great and why they’re not
The do’s and don’ts of Facebook groups etiquette
How to avoid getting flagged as a spammer by Facebook and having your comments auto-deleted!
The different type of Facebook groups you need to be joining
Hacks to help you manage all the great information you’ll gain from these groups
And over 20 of my absolute favorite Facebook groups divided into group type to make it easy!
If you're looking for a solid and effective strategy for Pinterest click here!
Why Facebook Groups are Great and Why They’re Not
When I first started joining Facebook groups, I lurked mostly. Shh… don’t tell!
I wasn’t confident and a newbie blogger so I watched instead of just jumping in. The truth is, there are bloggers in all blogging levels within each of these fantastic groups.
And let me just add that ALL bloggers are just regular people like you and me! And most of the bloggers I meet are super nice people too!
No need to stay in the background… jump in, participate, and instantly become one of the cool kids. Well, maybe you’ll just explode your blog traffic.
Facebook groups are great to help you make meaningful and lasting connections with other bloggers like you. Sappy I know, but so true.
Let’s face it, blogging can be LONELY and no one else in the world seems to understand blogging quite like other bloggers. So, you’ll find these groups a refreshing place to be in your own world with people like you.
Cool huh?
What Facebook groups are NOT is a place to drop your latest content and… run. That’s a finger waving NO-NO.
These groups are free advertising but not free entirely… you pay with your investment of time. If you join a thread… complete it. And if you scroll through and see that someone posted a question that you know the answer to… be a friend and answer it.
Now we all know how precious our time is! So, choose wisely where and how you choose to participate in Facebook groups.
If you do them the wrong way, they can become a huge TIME SUCK and you’ll see no results! Your business is your first priority, not being a participant in group discussions.
You’ll need to establish boundaries and set personal limits to stay on track.
The do’s and don’t of Facebook groups etiquette
Within each group, there are rules. You should find all group rules on the description page, or in a post that’s pinned to the top of the group feed.
#1 READ ALL THE RULES in every group before you start participating and posting!
Each group is unique and the host will have requests or DON’Ts the other groups may not. Reading the rules gives the host the respect they deserve for putting in the time to create and moderate such an awesome group.
It takes A LOT of time for a host and moderators to make sure the “rule-breakers” aren’t running amuck in their group. Sadly, that’s more work than the actual work of running the group.
Promise me here and now… actually repeat after me, “I your name will not be an intentional rule-breaker in my Facebook groups!”
I added “intentional” because we all make a mistake a few times… forget to complete a thread, or post in the wrong place. It happens because all the groups do things a little differently. When that does happen, apologize and find a way to not do that again.
#2 Read the individual share thread description thoroughly before posting.
Again, each groups does things a little differently and to prevent being tagged by a moderator, read the description IN DETAIL before you start posting.
For example, many groups have share thread where you’ll be allowed to post a blog post, a social media profile, or even a freebie you’ve created and have that link shared by the other bloggers in that thread.
Some groups require you to tag all the bloggers you’ve interacted with, others just ask that you like their comment, and others want you to do both. Or something else entirely!
Most of these rules and requests are there because of either getting dinged by Facebook for spammy looking posting or because of those rule-breakers making these more difficult for everyone.
#3 Don’t be a link dropper
I know I mentioned that earlier, but it’s worth repeating. If you drop a link to your own content even on the days it’s permitted and never stick around to help others or share other people’s content – you won’t be trusted.
Basically, you’ll be ignored by the group and maybe even removed by the host. That’s because your host thinks of her group like a legit networking party. It should be fun, laid back, and place where you can connect with other people like you.
No one likes the obnoxious no-it-all at the party who only talks about themselves the whole night! So, don’t be that guy… or girl!
#4 Don't leave the same link or pin in every group in the same day
There are so many bloggers who are in many of the same groups. If you decide to leave the same blog post in every single group that day, you're hurting your chances of getting your post selected from the many, many others in that thread.
Think about it, if you're wanting to get re-pins on your latest post and you add that pin to 7 other pin share threads, once a blogger re-pins that pin – she's done. Even if they see your post over and over. They've already re-pinned it!
If instead, you shared a few different pins, then you have the potential to get several of your amazing pins re-pinned that day.
There's also another powerful reason you don't want to share the same links over and over. I've explained in detail below.
How to avoid getting flagged as a spammer by Facebook
There's a bit of a new development in Facebook share threads that are happening more frequently to bloggers. That is being flagged by Facebook as a spammer and having your comments (your posts) automatically deleted by Facebook.
Let me first say that spammers are gross and make our jobs of creating honest and helpful content so much harder. Facebook works very hard (and should!) to protect all readers from being targeted by these disgusting and lazy individuals. Sorry, got a little carried away there!
When Facebook's algorithms sense there's spamming going on… they spring into action. Sadly, you an honest blogger, can become a victim and put in a virtual timeout of sorts.
I know this because it happened to me. I participated in a number of share threads the previous day. And when I woke up the next morning to work on them, I noticed that after finishing 3 threads (yes I know, I'm a slow learner) my link wasn't even in the thread anymore. At first, I thought I forgot to include it or was losing it!
Then I went through all of my threads and saw they too were all gone. #SadMoment
I quickly took to my beloved groups and asked if over bloggers were having this problem too. And I received a resounding YES.
So here's how I put myself on Facebook's naughty list.
Normally, I put sprinkle a variety of different post links in my groups throughout the day. In case you scanned through, I talk about that in the section right above this one.
However, this particular week, I was in the middle of posting a series for 7 days straight and wanted to get those posts out there. So, I posted the same exact blog post to all of the groups I shared in that day.
I was apparently flagged as a spammer and all my posts were deleted. Poof… gone!
To remedy the situation, I took a few days off from posting in the groups. And went back to my regular process with no problems.
The types of Facebook groups you should be joining
There are four main types of groups you should be joining if you want to grow your blog. And don’t forget, I’ve listed my favorite groups down below in this post separating by these group types, so you can start joining right away!
#1 Networking and Support Groups
This group category is mainly a means for you to join and get help, support, ask and answer questions, get feedback, and share your victories and frustrations.
These groups are SOOOO valuable! And, again I’ve shared my favs below.
There aren’t a lot of sharing or promo days in these groups, but some do. But the main purpose is to find your tribe of bloggers and connect.
You’ll find some groups you join just won’t be “your people.” And that’s OK! When you find your group(s) that you love… you’ll feel like you’re finally home. And can let your hair down and put your yoga pants back on!
When you find your favorite groups, jump in and provide value where you can. Even if you’re a new blogger and you feel like you don’t have anything to add, let me tell you… you do!
You can post an encouraging word on a post where someone is struggling. But honestly, even in the very beginning, we all know some things that others don’t. And when you see a question that you know the answer to – post away my friend!
That’s a fast way to gain trust and relationship in your tribe.
#2 Share Thread Groups
The main purpose for share groups is to share your latest and best content with others so it can be shared by the group members. And in return, you agree to share theirs.
There are literally endless combinations and types of threads happening every day in these groups. Just participate in the threads you want and be sure to follow the rules and complete them on time.
Share threads are a great way to increase your blog’s traffic and get your content in front of new eyes and shared to a completely new audience. #Winning!
Let me just give you a word of caution. As you jump into each group at the start of your day, it can feel like Christmas as you scroll through all the threads imagining your post going out to the ends of the earth.
But wait! You don’t want to jump into too many threads in one day and can’t finish them all. That’s bad.
You also don’t want to participate in share threads without a plan.
You need to understand your current blogging objectives and only join in threads that will help with that objective. Everything else will be a waste of your precious time.
For example, if you’re working on building up your Instagram following, you may choose to stay focused on all the Instagram threads instead of the Twitter threads.
Think of these threads like a Las Vegas buffet… it’s yummy and you want to dive in but you remember how you felt the last time you tried EVERYTHING. Aghh.
I love share threads, but I’ve gotten super specific in my strategy and ONLY participate in the ones that help me meet my goals.
#3 Hybrid Groups
These hybrid groups have done a great job of building community and support, but also have created weekly share threads to support each other by sharing each other’s creations.
These hybrid groups usually have less share threads than the all share thread groups – usually 3-5 times per week. I love these type of groups because there’s so much value jam-packed in each group!
#4 Course or Blog Specific Groups
The final category is groups that are either by invitation only or groups that you can join once you enroll in a course, mastermind, or even an affiliate program.
Most of these groups require you to have purchased their actual program, course, or book but not all of them.
These Facebook groups are usually smaller and totally focused on every member meeting certain objectives. I love these groups because you tend to really get to know the other members and relationships and even collaborations are born through genuinely trying to help one another.
Hacks to help you manage all your Groups
Finally, if you’re like me, you’ll probably go a little crazy joining all the groups you can find. That’s cool… just don’t get overwhelmed.
I’ve learned a few hacks to help manage all the information and keep track of my share threads each day.
I wish Facebook would create more organizational tools like folders for groups… a girl can dream, right?
In the meantime…
Hack #1
The first thing you need to do when sharing in threads or even in a discussion you want to continue to follow is to save that actual post. You do that by clicking the triple dot button at the top right of the post and click save.
You can then retrieve all your saved posts by clicking the Saved tab on your left sidebar from your home page.
Hack #2
I add my favorite groups to my favorites. This simply adds them to a top section on your actual group's page. I use this function to keep all my networking and support groups up top so I can scroll them when I’m ready.
I do this because these groups are so fun to scroll through and jump into discussions, but can quickly become unproductive for me. Sad, but true.
This way I keep them on my group's page where I have to physically click to get to them.
Hack #3
I also have my favorite share threads and you need to stay on top of those so you can try to post as close to the top of the thread as possible. This helps you get more shares.
To give me super easy access, I pin all my favorite share groups to my shortcuts. You can do both of these functions by clicking the triple dot button at the top of the group’s page.
Hack #4
Finally, I have a tip for getting more shares on your posts. There are many threads that require you to share a certain number of posts in a thread verses all the posts.
In this case, you need to stand out! You can do this by always typing a brief but compelling summary of your post right before your link. In fact, you should do this anytime you post!
Related: Awesome automation tools for bloggers
Hack #5
Have a plan before you start networking and sharing in Facebook groups! If you are planning to network in Facebook groups, set a timer for 20 or 30 minutes and scrolls through your groups to see any questions you can answer or any opportunities you may want to join.
When your timer goes off – it's time to get back to your other work. If you see an interesting thread you want to follow or check back to later, save it per the instructions in hack #1.
If you're planning to share your blog posts and/or social media accounts with share groups – try focusing on one type of activity per day. For example, on Mondays do only Instagram shares and/or likes, Tuesdays do blog comment threads, Wednesday do Pinterest re-pins, etc.
This makes it easy to focus on one type of activity at a time and feels less overwhelming. Jumping back and forth into various task types every day can be very draining and slows you down.
My Favorite 20 + Facebook Groups to Join!
These are ALL groups that are currently active and I’m an active member. I belong to many more groups, but these are simply the ones that I love the most!
Hybrid Groups:
Blogging with Passion and Purpose
Hosted by: ME!!
I have to be honest – I LOVE THIS GROUP! (I know I'm totally biased.) I created this group to be a place where passion-focused bloggers could meet up and help support each other in our shared quest to make money doing work that we LOVE! I go LIVE in the group once a week to teach and share on different blogging topics and have awesome share threads every day! Join Here
Pinterest Ninjas
Hosted by – Megan Johnson @ LoveFamilyHealth
This group has regularly scheduled share days, but the community is very active and helpful for all blogging questions and support and not just on Pinterest. Join Here
Connect & Cultivate with Ivory Mix
Hosted by – Kayla Bulter @ IvoryMix
Kayla herself is a branding expert and created a great group about making your blog beautiful and valuable. Join Here
Blogger Insights
Hosted by Eden Fried @ EdenFried.com
This is a VERY active and friendly group where almost no questions remain unanswered by several members! This is awesome! There are also a few share threads throughout the week. Join Here
Ladies Blog for Business
Hosted by: Kristi File @SplendidBlogger
This is a smaller group but has a lot of interaction within each of the threads. Not just on the share threads, but the question and collaboration threads too. That’s an engaged group! Join Here
Blogging with Heart
Hosted by: Terryn Winfield @Blog with Heart
This is another very active group with tons of helpful posts and bloggers jumping in to answer questions. The share threads are great and Terryn also has a Pinterest Group Board thread to get more contributors to your group boards! Join Here
Blogging Newbs
Hosted by: Mckinzie Bean @MomsMakeCents
This is mostly a networking group, but her share and promo threads are hugely popular, so I put it in the hybrid category. This is a fun and super active group! Join Here
Blogging with a Smile
Hosted by: Chantel Arnett
This is a very large and well-established group that has great support and regularly scheduled share threads that are super popular.
Networking/Help Groups:
Blogging Like We Mean It
Hosted by Carly Campbell @ Mommy on Purpose
This is legit my favorite! Carly is the creator of the successful course on manual pinning – Pinteresting Strategies. She’s created a highly engaged and supportive group of bloggers on all blogging lever, especially newbie! Join Here
Boss Girl Bloggers ✨
Hosted by Ell Duclos
This is a very large group that’s very active and current. Here you can simply post your questions, struggles, or frustrations and the bloggers in this group will jump in to help you out! Join Here
Women Winning Online™
Hosted by: Jen Synder @Women Winning Online
This is one of my absolute favorite groups! Jen is so involved in the group and is so helpful and downright nice. She also goes Live in the group and shares a lot of great wisdom. Join Here
Start A Money Making Blog
This is a great group, especially for new bloggers. You can get help and feedback on logo design or other bblogging-related content. This is a very engaged group! Join Here
Blogging 101
Hosted by: Nicole Floss @ Uniquely Women
You can jump into this group anytime and see helpful posts and questions being answered by the group members. If you’re new to blogging, this is a perfect group for you! Join Here
Mom to Mompreneur
Hosted by: Elna Cain @Twinsmommy
Elna has managed to rapidly grow her group while still keeping her group wildly engaged. This is mostly a networking/support group, but she also has share threads as well. Join Here
Boss-Moms®
Hosted by: Dana Malstaff @Boss-Mom
This group is one of my favorites and is full of experienced and very helpful bloggers who are ready to answer questions and provide feedback to bloggers and business owners of all levels. Join Here
Women's Business Accelerator For Female Entrepreneurs Who Hustle
Hosted by: Nancy Elizabeth
This is a smaller sized group but is definitely NOT small in engagement, wisdom, and support. Sometimes the best groups are the ones with less members so real relationships can be forged and real hustle can happen! Join Here.
Redefining Mom®
Hosted by: Monica Froese @ Redefining Mom
This is a group that focuses on moms building their businesses from home. There is tons of support and engagement in this group! Join Here
Share Thread Groups:
Growing Social Media for Bloggers
This group is bright and fun with lots of share threads to participate in. I love the cheerful vibe I get every time I jump in the group!
Join Here
Pinning Ain't Easy
Hosted by: Jenn Leach @Millenial Money Mama
Don’t let the name fool ya! It’s a share group that full of share threads in all social media platforms with great engagement too! There are plenty of blog click through and comments threads also. Join Here
New Bloggers Support Group
Hosted by: Lisa Roe @ Lisa Designs Life
This is very active share thread group with less common threads like share your Bloglovin profile, getting subscribers to your email list, and sharing your Pinterest and Facebook profiles! Join Here
PS. Brand Beautiful
Hosted by: Alicia Powell @ Pixie Stock
This is my latest gem of a group! Alicia is extremely active and helpful in this group. That's hard to find! This is a Must-Join, you won't be sorry. Join Here
Influential Mamas
Hosted by: Inez Bayardo
This is a share group that’s mostly focused on mom bloggers, so if that’s you… this group is your jam! There are a lot of threads to choose from, so you can come to one place and have fun sharing! Join Here
Blogging for New Bloggers
Hosted by: Lucrezia, Marina, and Emma @ Tiny Love Bug
This group is beautifully designed and inviting to scroll through, and their share threads are unique and extremely helpful to bloggers wanting to grow their blog. Join Here
So what are you waiting for? Go join some groups, follow the rules, make some friends, and EXPLODE your blog's traffic!
Do you have a favorite group you'd like to add to the list? Go ahead and mention it in the comments below!
