Buzz
Did you just join Facebook and realize the exciting possibility of creating your own personal group? Follow these simple steps to create your own unique space on the Facebook platform.
Steps
Creating a New Group on Facebook
Come up with a unique concept for your group.
Log in to Facebook or create a new account if you don't have one yet.
Type a few keywords about your group's idea into the "Search" box (located on the left column). You’ll want to find out whether your idea is truly unique before starting a group. Also, make sure it's something people are actually interested in and not just an inside joke for your circle.
Click on "Profile" at the top, then select "Info" from your personal page.
Scroll down. On the right side of the Groups section, click on "See All".
Click on "Create a group" at the top of the page.
Choose a group name. Make sure the name is clear and simple, because if it's too complex, people will have trouble finding it, limiting the number of members who can join.
Invite friends by selecting them from your current list or typing their names into the available field. Then, click to proceed.
Provide a group description in the "Description" box. Be as specific as possible, since keyword searches will match anything you write here.
Enter contact information. You can choose to add details like your address and phone number in the description field, or just set up a Facebook email for the group.
Set privacy preferences. By creating a public group, anyone on Facebook will be able to view posts and join. A closed group allows only invited members to see posts or participate, but anyone can still find the group. A secret group is completely private, with only invited members able to see posts and join.
- You can also take your time to select member approval settings and posting permissions.
Click "Save" to confirm your changes.
Hover your cursor over the top bar of the group. Click on the image labeled 'Photo' at the top-right and select "Upload photo" to begin the process.
Choose your network connection settings. This step will only appear if your Facebook hasn't switched to timeline mode yet.
- Is your group intended to be accessible only to people within the same region or school? If so, select your region or school from the listed network options.
- Would you like your group to be available to everyone on Facebook? If yes, choose the "Global" option.
Select a main category and a sub-category. Keep in mind this is only available if you haven’t switched to timeline mode. Be precise, as your group will only be found by visitors if it's listed in the correct category.
Invite others to join your group on Facebook
Provide as much information as possible. Include details like location, contact information, website, and phone number. This helps group members connect the group to a real-life entity.
Make your page a community page. Allow anyone to post on the page’s wall, start discussions, and upload photos/videos.
Transform your group into a community group. This enables anyone on Facebook to join your page. Once you've gained key members, you can adjust privacy settings if necessary. You also have the option to remove members from your group if needed.
Use your current Facebook friends. Finding a few of your existing friends on Facebook is an obvious way to start building the initial member base. This also increases the likelihood that your page will spread information. When friends see that they’ve joined your group, they might click on the group and decide to join as well.
Search for contacts via email. Facebook lets you send group invitations to friends on Outlook, Yahoo, Hotmail, and Gmail.
Keep your content as up-to-date as possible. People enjoy participating in a dynamic Facebook group. Regularly update images, videos, links, and news on the page. You can also respond to and comment on posts made by others in the group.
Advice
- Inviting friends to join a group is normal, but only occasionally. Be cautious with "spam invites" (repeated invitations with the same message that are annoying) – this refers to creating multiple groups in a day and inviting all your friends to each one. Instead, take the time to think about who would genuinely want to join before sending invitations.
- Another way to create a group is by typing "groups" in the search bar, and the "Create a Group" button will appear.
- Only fill in personal information if you are CERTAIN you want that information visible to others in the group, such as your home address.
