I took the advice of someone about 3 months ago, to join a series of new Facebook groups focused on areas of interest to my work and business development. I thought why not, its not too difficult and should provide me with some interesting content and new connections I might learn from. Well little did I know of the aerial bombing that was about to commence.
I found about 6 new groups related to Business Development, Entrepreneurship, and Coaching (Not sure why I chose that last one but I thought it looked interesting). Most had over 8k members, with the biggest being 75k members strong (actually the smalled was just under 1k membership). I was excited and ready for engagement. I knew there would be some content that would not be directly relevant to me, which was fine so I was expecting some content I would simply steer over, but nothing prepared me for what happened within the first 48 hours of joining several groups in particular.
The first 48 hours saw me receive messages for the following:
- Becoming a Coach - 56
- Digital marketer - 39
- Crypto Trading - 29
- SEO expert - 11
- MLM Driver - 7
That's right. I received 142 completely separate invites to learn more about how "I could become a...", or how it is "Vital for your livelihood to take a course in...". there were a number of other messages or requests to connect that were of genuine interest which was great but the bombardment I received was astonishing. Now do not get me wrong, some of these messages were interesting but sadly none were unique or even remotely linked to what I was looking for. Not a single one of them had even tried to get to know me first. This was a shame as I was not opposed to listening to their offer, but after this, I vowed to steer clear of promotional programs like this.
I did come across 4 or so people who were really interesting and I have consequently had some great conversations with them. The best group though turned out to be the smallest with less than 1k members. Their content is concise and informative.
The two I would highly recommend are:
Australian Entrepreneurs and Startups is by far the most appealing and enjoyable to be in.
Entrepreneurs Australia is an excellent platform for conversations and sharing knowledge.
My advice would be to be careful when first entering a new group and follow these 6 simple steps:
- Check History: Go back through the previous posts for about 12 months and see what is being talked about. If it's all about promoting themselves and asking for "likes for likes" then run, run very fast.
- Talk to Admin: Ask what the main objectives of the group are and if they feel this is being met by current members. It is interesting to see what people write back and will give you a good understanding as to the development and commitment to the group.
- Be ready to say No: You will get people asking you if they can promote your business, book, idea, or product.
- Watch out for SCAMMERS and POST HIJACKERS: Be careful. These people are more often than not, looking for quick Fiver Turnover jobs. They will promise the world and deliver an Atlas. If they do infiltrate your posts, report them. Admin needs to know so they can be kicked out.
- Engage and Be Engaging: Once you find a good group, engage with people. Do not sit on the sidelines and just watch. respond to posts, even if it is a few words. People want to hear what you have to say, so Engage Engage Engage.
- Share useful content: Don't just use them to promote yourself. Most of these groups are business people like you, so they are not looking for customers in these groups. They are looking for hints, tips, and assistance with problems or answers to questions. You will be surprised what you get back.
Have fun and good luck.
Ok, You can go now.
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