How-To: Utilize Secret Groups on Facebook

Here’s how you can use Secret Facebook Groups to create exclusive communities.

Facebook groups are a great way to connect like-minded individuals who share commonalities, interests, and beliefs. If you’re looking to build a community around your organization, brand or cause, it may be time to start utilizing them.

Public vs. Closed vs. Secret Groups

There are three different privacy options when creating groups: public, closed, or secret. For public groups, anyone on Facebook can enter the group and access posts and member information. Closed groups are searchable on Facebook, however you must be invited to see what members post in the group as well as stories. Secret groups are the most private, no component of these groups is visible to the public, only members can find the group on Facebook and see the posts. Secret groups are ideal for creating a niche group of superfans, protecting the privacy of members, or disseminating private information to a select group of individuals.

What are Facebook Pages?

Facebook Pages offer brands, publications, organizations, and public figures the opportunity to have a presence on the platform. Pages can be utilized in a variety of ways to meet the needs of the publisher and their audience. Facebook Pages are a great way to connect with fans, deliver updates, and publish content pieces.

How-to Create a Facebook Page:

1. Go to facebook.com/pages/create.
2. Choose a page type from the six options provided.
3. Enter the required information.
4. Select “Get Started” and follow the step-by-step instructions provided by Facebook.

What are Facebook Groups?

Facebook Groups are a place where small communities can congregate to discuss shared interests and express their opinions. They allow people to unite around a certain cause, organization or issue to share related content. This open forum encourages community and friendship building on Facebook.

How-to Create a Facebook Group:

1. Go to your homepage and click the dropdown arrow in the top right-hand corner of your screen, next to the question mark icon, and select “Create Group”.
2. Fill out the basic information about your group in the pop-up screen. Note: Here is where you’ll determine if your group is public, closed, or secret. Select “Create” once all of the fields have been complete.
3. Select an icon for the group from the options provided by Facebook.
4. Once your group is created, click the three dots below the cover image and select “Edit Group Settings”. Here you will enter the group type, description, tags, and location.

Connecting Facebook Groups and Pages.

A great way to ensure that your Facebook Group is discoverable is to add it your Facebook Page. To do this click the “settings” tab in the top-right corner of your page, select “edit page” in the left-hand navigation bar, then click “add a tab”. A pop-up window will then appear, locate the “groups” tab option and choose “add tab”. Once you’ve selected this tab, it will automatically update your homepage to reflect this change.

Now that you’ve added the Groups tab to your Facebook Page, it’s time to associate the two. Linking your company’s Facebook Group to your Page is a way to foster a sense of community and camaraderie among fans. First, click the “groups” tab on your Page’s left-hand navigation bar. Next, click “link your group” and select the group you are an admin of. Once you select “link” the Group will appear on your Facebook Page!

Secret Facebook Groups Provide Exclusivity & Privacy

Secret Facebook groups are a great way to create a sense of exclusivity to make members feel like they are a part of a “special VIP group.” In order to join a secret Facebook group you need to meet certain qualifications, determined by the admin, before your request for entry is approved. These types of groups are ideal for protecting the privacy of members, as the rest of the Facebook community won’t be able to see any posts or comments made within the group.

If you decide to create a secret Facebook group, stay consistent when accepting entry requests and set standards for if and when members are removed from the group. Establish these protocols within a Facebook group by posting rules and guidelines that new members can review before engaging with the community. To do this, simply upload a file to the Facebook group, or create a document within the group by following Facebook’s step-by-step instructions. Group rules and guidelines should be brief, informational, and give members a sense of security. Avoid creating an excess of “do’s” and “don’ts” which will only hinder audience engagement and community-building.