1. Post Group Guidelines.
No Facebook Group is successful without rules. As you think through your guidelines, consider your church’s mission statement. How does that affect the culture of your Facebook Group? Also, decide whether you will let other people post or only admins and moderators. If you do allow others to post, do you want to approve every post, or do you trust your group to follow your guidelines?
People love to use Facebook Groups to ask for suggestions on service providers or products. Consider who you want to answer these posts—if you want to allow them at all.
Other common rules in most Facebook Groups prohibit offensive language, hateful comments, links to sexually explicit material, attacks on specific groups and commercial solicitations. You also must explicitly state that spam of any kind is not warranted or allowed.
No matter what your guidelines are, respect your audience. They are coming to your group for news on the church and to be involved in making a difference with the church—so be picky about what gets posted and what doesn’t.
2. Create Weekly Topics.
Posting weekly discussion topics never goes out of style. You could ask:
• How can we be praying for you this week?
• What are you most looking forward to this weekend at church?
• What did you think of the sermon?
3. Use Facebook Live.
If you’re scared of getting started with Facebook Live, start reading the Bible. You don’t have to break it down, just read. Other ideas include:
• Have your pastor address, take questions on and extend the sermon throughout the week.
• Have guided prayer.
• Offer devotions.
• Share a member’s story.
• Interview a guest.
• Recommend a resource.
4. Use Your Group For Internal Marketing.
Your group is the perfect place to post a study, but your church’s Facebook page might not be. You have a limited amount of organic reach with your church’s page, but your reach within your group is much higher. Your group also should probably be set to “closed,” making it easier to keep a handle on who is seeing what.
5. Provide Exclusive Church Content.
If you have a major church announcement, why not share it in the group? Schedule a time to make the announcement. Once you start announcing church events, your group will grow organically. People don’t want to be left out.
6. Remember What Your Group Offers.
• A sense of community
• A way to meet needs
• A place to start conversations