Facebook groups are a great place to find clients as a freelance social media manager. But doing so without being spammy can be tricky.
However, with some pre-planning and consideration, there are some easy ways you can get clients without annoying other members or being kicked out by the Facebook group owner. In fact, by following these rules, you’ll become their go-to person when they need your product or service!
How to find clients in Facebook groups
#1 Join the right Facebook groups
Not every Facebook group is a good place to find clients, and this is one of the biggest mistakes we see social media managers make.
By joining the wrong kind of groups, you will waste valuable time broadcasting about your services to people who are disengaged and never going to work with you anyway.
You’ve probably joined a local selling group at some stage in the past, maybe to get rid of an old sofa or something. And you probably didn’t spend time looking at other posts in that group as you were so focused on getting rid of the sofa. Guess what… other members are probably acting the same way! So avoid selling groups at all costs.
Research the Facebook groups you want to join and be strategic in choosing the ones you spend time in.
If your niche is small eCommerce businesses, look for groups supporting Etsy sellers for example. Find women's business groups if you only want to work with women. Understanding your niche and ideal client is the key to uncovering the right Facebook groups to find clients in.
#2 Don't put off potential clients by being seen as a spammer
There’s nothing more off-putting about someone than seeing them constantly pitch or share posts from their page into the group without adding any value.
No one wants to be sold to, and Facebook is probably where people like it least. So from now on, stop selling or link dropping!
#3 Starting conversations is the best way to find clients in Facebook groups.
Instead of being Spamela Anderson inside Facebook groups, focus on adding value. Ask yourself why the members are in the groups you have joined, and then provide useful and relevant conversation to build meaningful relationships. Check the rules before sharing your content in someone else's group.
#4 Join other people's conversations.
When other members ask for advice, feedback or opinions, make sure you add to the conversation. By sharing your knowledge and expertise, you will become known as an expert in your field, and people will remember you when they need your product or service.
Getting involved in group conversations is a sure-fire way to get people to notice you, and you can start building relationships. Don't only reply when there's a direct link to your business, be helpful and chatty at other times too.
#5 Don’t hijack other people’s posts.
Don't be tempted to sell your products or services when adding value to your competitor's posts. We've seen this happen in groups, and it's ugly; responding to people's comments suggesting your own business instead is not just rude; it’s bad business sense.
By hijacking someone else’s post, you may get a few quick wins, but you will end up losing respect from the majority, and that's not how to get clients from Facebook groups! You'll probably lose more potential customers than you gain.
Remember that people read comments even when they aren’t replying and first impressions can be really long-lasting. How do you want to be thought of by the group members?
#6 Be mindful of the group owner.
People don't just set up groups for the fun of it. Most Facebook groups form part of the owner's sales funnel, and they've probably spent a lot of time, and money, growing that audience.
You are not entitled to sell to someone else's audience even if they are your ideal clients, so be respectful and don't break the rules when you are trying to find clients in a Facebook group.
If you aren't in direct competition and can offer something useful to the group members, then consider approaching the group owner directly to see if there's a way to collaborate. But do that after you've already built a relationship and added value to their group.
#7 Be in it for the long game.
Using other people's groups to grow your business isn't a quick fix. It takes time and patience and quite a lot of work. But it can be a lot of fun if you always prioritise relationship building above selling.
Looking for more advice on how to find social media clients?
➾ GUIDE: The ultimate guide to being a freelance social media manager
