A group isn't really an obvious book promo tool in the exact same way that a Facebook advertisement is. A group lets you be familiar with people who share your interest. For authors, that need to be something related to your book or its genre (for instance, a group for people who read BWWM-- black women/white guys-- love books).
While you are familiar with them, they learn more about you, too. Maybe you share snippets of your writing, use advice associated to your competence, or assist people make connections.
The point is: When you produce a group, you develop the foundation for a community developed around a shared interest in something associated to your book.
That's a fast overview of the "why." What about the "how?".
Creating A Facebook Group
Before producing your group, I recommend you a join a few Facebook groups related to your interests so you can see how they work. Observing a variety of groups for a while will assist you figure out what you desire to attain with yours, and perhaps even how to do that.
When you're familiar with them, the process is pretty simple. I'll stroll you through the process using screenshots I got when I created the Build Book Buzz Facebook group two years back. (To see a larger variation of any of the images below, simply click on the image.).
Login to your Facebook account. On the best side of your newsfeed where you discover your activity choices, select "Develop Group" under "Groups.".
A window pops up that asks you for the group name. I want you to understand this in advance so that you currently know exactly what you wish to name your group. This is essential, right? You wish to be thoughtful about the name. There's no need to agonize over it, but it must communicate what the group's about.
In that same window, you need to pick your group's personal privacy-- open, closed, or secret. If you're not exactly sure already, read this article, "Exactly what are the privacy settings for groups?" The Build Book Buzz group is "closed," which means that it can be found in a search, however exactly what occurs in the group remains in the group.
Remaining in that window, now you need to welcome members. My response to this was, "What??? Currently? I haven't even seen my group on the screen yet!".
Yeah, regrettable. This is how they roll on The Facebook.
I invited simply one pal at this point just since I needed to. I invited others later, after the group was established.
Click "Develop" and you relocate to a screen that lets you choose an icon for your group. The icon appears beside the group name in members' groups list on the left side of the timeline. I picked a book for the Build Book Buzz group. (That was a no-brainer.) You can also skip this action if you want.
Select "Okay" and like magic, your group appears in front of you!
Now you upload a cover photo. It works the exact same way as it provides for your profile-- simply choose "upload photo" and select one that's waiting on your computer.
Idea: Now that you understand you have to do this, have your image pre-selected.
With the group cover image set the way you want at the top, relocate to the best side of the screen to explain the group and add tags.
Discover the "Description" section on the right and choose "Add a Description.".
Your description should inform people what to anticipate from the group and why they will wish to be a member. Exactly what's in it for them? Consist of any group rules, too.
Then add the "tags" using that choice just below your description. Tags are words associated to the group subject that help Facebook users discover your group in searches or through Facebook recommendations.
Next, you determine your group's Facebook web address-- the URL you will send out people to when you're sharing information about your group-- and the email address connected to it, which, by the method, I have never used.
To do this, click the three dots beside the word "Alerts" at the lower right of your cover image. Select "Edit Group Settings.".
On the next screen, beside "Web and Email Address" select "Personalize Address." This will let you create a URL for your group with the official group name instead of a string of numbers.
Enter your group name (or whatever you want in the web address). Select "Customize Address" at the bottom.
While still in the settings, you can pick preferences for membership approval, posting authorization, and posting approval.
In my group, everyone can publish and what they share goes live immediately-- it doesn't wait on my approval. If somebody posts something that's counter to the rules, I erase it. If they do it repeatedly, I remove them from the group. Select preferences that work for your group goals. If one of them is conversation and engagement, then don't put any limits on that.
Your group is now all set to show the world! Select "Conversation" in the upper left under your cover picture to go back to your group's house page. Include people utilizing the "Include Members" box on the upper right under the cover image or by sending them the link to the group and asking them to join it.
And one more thing please don’t forget to share this awesome trick to use the Creating A Facebook Group with your friends.