Let’s chat a little bit about your day and how much time you spend on Facebook.
Too much time, right?
All of us are in so many Facebook groups and as direct sellers, it is important to have a direct sales Facebook VIP Group of your own.
Different from your Facebook Business Page, a Facebook VIP Group is your unique community of customers, hostesses, friends, and family.
Many of us have a rockin’ start with our direct sales Facebook VIP Groups and slowly over time, we begin to notice a decrease in likes, lower numbers of comments, and generally just lower engagement overall.
That’s ok!
This is normal and what helps is to know the best ways to lift yourself up and get your Facebook VIP Groups rocking again.
Why Shouldn’t I Add People to My Facebook Group?
You may have done a contest or giveaway early on and the more friends and family added others into your group, the more entries they got to potentially win a prize.
It is true, adding people to a Facebook Group is an easy and quick way to boost your member numbers, but in reality, you are doing 2 things.
- Potentially irritating those people being added to a group they did not have any interest in, in the first place.
- Your Facebook Group looks HUGE numbers-wise, but the engagement of your members is super low.
So stick with me and resolve to never add members to your groups going forward.
Only invite others who would be interested in your group and encourage your members to do the same.
Slow, organic growth is beneficial in the long run.
How to Provide Purposeful Content to your Facebook Group Members
Ug, what?! It’s ok to not quite understand what the heck purposeful content is.
Once you see, your mind will be filled with new and creative ideas so let’s take a look.
When you communicate with your direct sales Facebook VIP Group members, most likely you are providing them with information about your direct sales products and your business.
But, let’s think about this.
If you were to change things up a bit and provide some really useful, valuable information which relates to your direct sales product, think about the comments you will get from your member.
Still scratching your head?
Let me give you some ideas.
Purposeful Content Idea #1
Show your community how you ORGANIZE your products. Take this simple picture for example:
This works for any direct sales company.
Go outside the box and share a “behind the scenes” look at how you manage to store and keep track of all your (leggings, jewelry, cookware, makeup, essential oils, etc.)
Purposeful Content Idea #2
Share some ideas with your Facebook VIP Group on how to CARE for your products.
Again, this can be used with any direct sales company.
- What is the best way to wash and dry clothes?
- How best can I keep makeup brushes clean and sanitized?
- Can I put my Pampered Chef Pan in the dishwasher?
- What can I use to clean my Origami Owl locket?
Purposeful Content Idea #3
Reveal UNIQUE & ALTERNATIVE ways your direct sales products can be worn, used, or displayed.
Share photos and videos sharing out of the box ideas and your community will go nuts for more.
Ask Your Facebook Group Members To Share Their Experience
Whenever you want to get your Facebook VIP Group hoppin’, post something that prompts your members to share a story, a photo, or just a funny meme.
As a member of many Facebook Groups, I love the opportunity to share my personal view of things and you will find your own members will love it too!
Post a Poll in your Facebook Group
Like I mentioned above, people love to voice their opinion and sometimes, the easiest way to achieve that is by creating a poll in your Facebook VIP Group.
- Ask your community which outfit you should wear at your next vendor event.
- Have your members decide what you and your family will have for dinner this weekend. (Subtle product placement is perfect when you reveal the results of the poll)
- Daytime makeup vs. Nighttime Makeup
- Which nail strips should you use for your next manicure?
Take a minute, think about it, what would you ask your members to decide on?
Build a Relationship with your Facebook Group Members
Building a relationship with your group members is essential to a successful direct sales VIP group.
Your community will love special events or things that enhance their customer experience. Here are some ideas on how you can do this:
- Set up a Birthday Club and send a special note in the mail on their birthday
- Play a game and the winner receives a one on one Zoom Call with you to help with styling or using your products
- Start a monthly Book Club
- Create fun challenges for your group to participate in
Again, think a little outside the box and your community will love it.
Remember slow growth is GOOD!
It does not do any good to have a Facebook Group with over 3,000 members where each post gets a handful or likes or comments.
Now that you have mastered connecting with your direct sales VIP Facebook Group, you will want to continue growing that group month after month.
How Can I Grow My Direct Sales Facebook Group?
As your Facebook group settles, there may come a time where you are nothing the same members commenting and your engagement overall is slipping a little.
This means that you need to find fresh faces for your group to continue its growth.
To do this, you’ll have to use a little bit of funnel strategy. Specifically, using 3 social media channels:
- Facebook Business Page
Using Your Facebook Business Page to Grow Your Facebook Group
Let’s talk about the difference between a direct sales Facebook group and your Facebook Business Page.
Your business page is your window-shop view to the public.
Anyone can see your posts, anyone can find you and message you.
With a Facebook group, it is usually a closed group where you control who joins and it is your own little community where your customers get to know you.
Here’s how to get those who view your public Facebook business page over to your direct sales Facebook group.
Make sure to include your link and a fun message in the description section of your business page. This ensures that anyone who stumbles upon your business page knows where to join your fun Facebook group community.
Frequently invite your Facebook Business Page followers to your group and you’ll find your member levels growing.
Using Instagram to Grow Your Facebook Group
This is SUPER simple and a no-brainer, but it needs to be said because many direct sellers on Instagram forget this important tip.
Anyone in direct sales should be taking advantage of the link section of your Instagram profile.
You may be compelled to put your direct sales replicated website in that spot.
Think about this, if you do and a follower clicks on your link, you have lost them into the ether of the internet with no way to grab their attention or get them back.
Update your link to your direct sales Facebook group and make a note in your Instagram posts to have your followers navigate to your profile to have them join your awesome Facebook community.
This simple change will have you noticing more members in no time.
Using Pinterest to Grow Your Facebook Group
Ah, Pinterest. My absolute FAVORITE social media channel.
Why?
Because just like Google, it is a powerful way to search for things. As a direct seller, you have the power to use Pinterest to direct followers to your Facebook group community.
Just like Instagram, Pinterest has a profile section where you can also include a link to a website.
Use Pinterest to advertise your direct sales Facebook group link. In your profile description, add a fun snippet of what future members will get out of joining your community.
Also, make sure to create your own original pins that direct the pinner to your Facebook group.
To find out HOW to do this, watch the short video below:
Any of the 3 funnel strategies outlined above will grow your direct sales Facebook group organically over time.
Ready for more direct sales tips?
Read Next: Social Media Tips for Direct Sellers
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Hi Kristy! Thank you for taking the time to share tips & tricks in your blog. I am going to look at more of your entries/topics, so I guess you’re doing something right 🙂
See you on IG @vandas_nail_nv 🙂
Vanda Peacock
Thank you, Vanda! You can always reach out to me as well at kristy@foreversparkly.com. See you on the IG feed!
Hi Kristy, I found you on Instagram and I have just started my group. One of the first things I did was create my rules and tell people not to add others because I want to have an organic growth. I introduced my group to others by playing a little word game where they needed to hunt for letters and to get to the next, they could choose to opt in to my group. It was fun to do and I know the people are there because they chose to be there.
Hi, Ami! You have some great ideas for your Facebook VIP Group! Fabulous!
I absolutely love this idea
Hi Kristy,
Love these tips! I have a love hate relationship with VIP groups. I love that my customers are in there but it’s not always easy to get the interaction. Can’t wait to try these content ideas.
I don’t think you are alone with the love/hate relationship! I hope these tips help and be sure to read how to grow your Facebook group. You’ll learn how to set up funnels so there are new people organically joining your group each month!
I loved reading your ideas but I have a question for you, is it better to start a VIP group or a facebook page for your business?
Great question, Jane! It is beneficial to have both a public business page and a closed VIP Group. Your business page would be your window to the public and from there, you would lead your followers to your closed group where they would find more value and more details about your business. A closed group is also the best place to grow an online community for your business. Good luck!
I had been searching to find the answer about a FB business page vs a VIP group on my business page. Your information was excellent! One question, “When I set up my VIP group, should I invite all of my business page followers?”
Thank you!
Happy the article has helped! To answer your question, yes. Your business page is public whereas your group is closed. Frequently mention on your business page what people can find when they join your group. Post things that entice them to join the group to find out more. For example, post a quick video of the beginning of an unboxing video then at the end, tell the follower to join the group to watch the full unboxing. This creates the incentive for someone from your business page to join your group. Hope that helps!