So why Facebook groups module one, eight. So excited to be kicking this off. And the objectives of this module are to really understand why Facebook groups are currently the best place to build a community. And also to really understand how expensive they are and how many people can benefit from having a Facebook group. So underlying the fact that we're talking about Facebook groups, what we're ultimately talking about is talking about building community. So I have been in this space since 2013.

And I found that a lot of people get obsessed with the platform. So I started off talking about membership sites, and people are really asking me straight from the get go, which which, which sites should I use? Which software should I use? And actually, that's a secondary question. So we're looking at building community Essentially, and that's the first port of call. And currently Facebook groups are an amazing platform to be able to do that and easy ways.

And that's what we're going to be going through in this, this course. So, but why community, so all the top businesses are already building communities. So if you're in here and you're doing this training, you're already ahead of the curve. So in the future community will be the core of all businesses. And it's interesting, actually, when you look at graphics like this, so you can see advertising, and it's pretty much it goes up, but it's pretty much steady. And in terms of community, it's a long run metric.

So it takes longer to get going, as you can see from that graph, but actually then it will overtake appetising, and the exciting thing about community is is at that point, it will take less time because your community will take over and the members will start talking to each other and you won't need to do so much work and you don't need to keep pumping money into it in terms The same amount of money, you'd have to pump into advertising. So it's always good to have that graphic in the back of your mind as you go through the training. So examples of businesses using community include Apple, so they have their support communities, and they, they get customers to answer other people's questions, and they've got a worldwide support network. So if you've got a problem with your phone, and you put it into Google, you'll probably come up with an answer from somebody similar to you, as opposed to an apple representative.

So obviously, that's cutting down the costs, that app will have to pay out to employ someone to answer questions. So that's one example. This is the four this is a makeup brand. They have a community. They also have a shop where you can buy makeup as well, but because the community so lively people in groups in the community, and essentially if they're talking about a product, their first port of call is for her to buy it because they're already there. So that's another example.

Facebook group, you may have heard of digital marketer, they have a product, which is a membership product. But if you sign up for their membership product as part of being one of their customers, they give you access to exclusive group. And so you can see there's 11,000 members in there who have access to this group, there are a community helping each other out. And if you stop buying from them in terms of the membership product, then you lose access to this community. So it's a strong and powerful way to keep your clients and your customers staying with you. Because the there's a sort of FOMO fear of missing out.

So there's an example of that. Here's another example of a community. This is one that I helped build, and it's for women who want to stop drinking less. This community we set off at zero. probably done a few months back now maybe eight months, 10 months. And this is this community is amazing because through it lives have been changed.

It's being monetized. So it's had a massive business impact has also had great social impact as well. So. So there's a few examples. So what is it about Facebook groups? So the statistics are that there's over a billion people currently using Facebook groups, which is a pretty huge number.

And last year, it was an exciting day for me because Mark Zuckerberg announced that he's putting more resources and time into building out Facebook groups. And I like I said, I've been around the space since 2013. And I have been saying how important community building is and how it will be the future. And then when Mark Zuckerberg changed the mission statement of Facebook, and started saying is putting more money into building groups Real recognition for me that I was along and looking at the right and so the up and coming trends. So it was it was a cool day. I think I went live within about five minutes on facebook live to tell everybody I was really excited.

So as I say Mark announced the change to the mission statement, which is now Facebook's mission is really community based. And Facebook groups form part of that change. So exciting. And the amazing thing about community is the fact that it creates the opportunity to create and build trust with a community of people who are connected to your brand and they already like what you're doing, but it allows us ongoing relationships to keep going. And the most successful businesses like I was mentioning Apple for example. They already have them in place and they've seen the benefit in them for some years.

And this is another thing that's so cool about them If you set them up correctly, then they can grow organically without the need for paid advertising. So my group I set up in September last year, and it's grown. I haven't done any advertising each week, we get people just signing up. And it's a real, really engaged community. And I'm really proud of it. And equally, it's great to do it without having to pay to do that.

So you might be thinking, will this work for me? Well, who do Facebook groups work for? So community works for most businesses, if you can create content and discussion around your brand? So it's quite simple. Can you create content around your brand? And can you discuss that content?

I don't think there's many people who can't do that. So. So that's a big tick, if you can say that. And they also work if you want to keep in contact and build trust with your clients and if you want to sell more to them, Because going back to this element of trust, if they trust you, they are more likely to buy from you. So the second sale, somebody who's already bought from you is a lot easier than the first sale because they already have that ongoing relationship with you. So if you want to sell more to people, and if you want to build trust with people, and you want people to start recommending you, then yes to a Facebook group and building a community, if you want to learn what your clients like and dislike about your products and services, and so you can innovate and make them better.

Again, another tip for community because Facebook groups and community building, the essence of it is an ongoing relationship is long run metric, as I said, and it's a really great way to get to know your clients. So sometimes people pay for surveys to go out or do those kind of market research but actually why not talk real time to the people who buying from you and speak to them and say, What is it you like about our products? services or what could we change or What's missing? So it's a super opportunity to be able to do that. And community really works well as well if you'd like to create random visitors, and the beauty of brand ambassadors is you're creating and you're generating people who love you so much that they promote you for free. And referrals are much more likely to get people to come and check you out.

Because if you say to your friend, I've done this and it's really cool or I went to this hairdressers, I think you should go you're much more likely to go. Then if you just see an advert or Yeah, just walk past the salon. If your friend says it's really great in there, you're much more likely to go in and the stats around this ridiculously high. So yes, so they're great. So that's a great community. Or if you'd like to reduce the time you spend answering question And get your clients to do it for you.

So this is what I was saying to you about the apple support community, Apple's clients, who are the users like myself, we have issues with our phones. And actually we get the answers from others who are just like us and who aren't even paid to do it. So it means that they can have a smaller support team and really reduce those costs. First, my iPhone, see, I said Apple, and my iPhone is now talking to me. No, I'm not talking to you. I'm not knocking you.

Sorry about that. So professional. Anyway, so just to wrap up this module, before my friend starts talking to me, again from Apple. This These are examples of people who can build community through Facebook groups. So this is the list. not exhaustive, but it pretty much covers everyone.

So coaches and consultants, entrepreneur Small business owners, authors, affiliate marketers, artists influences online course creators, one three sector workers and local group leaders, EDP grips, schools, etc. So all those people are in my community. And they're all learning and really maximizing their Facebook groups by leaning into what they're learning from me implementing what I'm teaching them and growing really engaged and connected communities. So, so yes, so pretty much basically it's all for everyone, which is great news. So that's the end of module one. I hope you enjoyed it.

In fact, module one a will we get now moving on to Module One, B?