Size does not matter. How one Facebook group is able to feed members with engagement
It’s not the biggest nor the smallest, but the Food with Friends — Recipe Share + Swap! Facebook group is an up-and-coming group that knows how to engage members with its sweet and delicious content.
The group was created in July by Michelle Rossignol in hopes to connect friends and family from all over the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic who are passionate about cooking, baking, and food in general. According to the group’s about page, members are encouraged to share photos and other content pertaining to food, recipes, and success stories and failures in terms of cooking and baking.
The private group launched with about 20 members and now has grown to 75 foodies. Despite the group being smaller than other Facebook groups, it makes it up with the mouth-watering engagement the community creates.
I’ve learned and observed that a successful Facebook group must have the following:
- Define the group’s purpose
- Set the example as a moderator
- Go with the flow
Food with Friends — Recipe Share + Swap! possess those three qualities which explains the quality of engagement it achieves. Let’s take a look:
Define the group’s purpose
From the get-go, it’s important in any Facebook group to inform members the group’s purpose. This can be stated in the about page or a post that it pinned at the top of the page. The food content and engagement seen in Rossignol’s group shows that members understand the group’s purpose based on the about page and the content that is shared.
Most of the engagement seen are photos that members share of their baked goods and other delicious dishes created in the kitchen. Members also share links to articles that contain recipes that they want to try. From time to time, members will ask other members advice on the right recipe for certain dishes.
Members are pretty responsive to polls and questions asked by other members, and proactive sharing dishes created with its recipe or article.
Set the example as a moderator
A moderator in any Facebook group is technically the leader of the tribe because they are growing and guiding members. So, their presence is imperative. Rossignol is the only moderator who oversees the group and accepts new members. However, she makes her presence very well noticed.
She engages with every post that is shared — that be reacting to it and commenting — creates polls to engage members in conversation, shares dishes she’s created, recipes and links, and creates virtual events for members to partake in such as cook-offs. She also ensures that there’s fresh content in the group once or twice a week.
Members feed off from Rossignol’s engagement. In turn, members understand the role they play in the group: content creators and engagers. The amount of original content created by the members is engaging and yummy. This allows members to create conversation and learn from one another.
Go with the flow
There are no set guidelines implemented in this group besides describing the content that should be shared, however, I’ve learned that sometimes you have to go with the flow depending on the group dynamics. Rossignol does that.
Events she creates will be based on polls she creates or observing the group’s dynamics. She’ll then lay down the rules pertaining the event. The members follow whatever direction she points to.
I’ve learned that people in general do not like to be told what to do. Rather, they prefer to be told what they should do. Rossignol hits the mark with that.
In conclusion…
What we all can learn about the Food with Friends — Recipe Share + Swap! Facebook group is that the size of the group does not matter. If you clearly define the purpose of the group from the get-go, then the group will be engaging and there will be longevity.
Also, as a moderator of the group, be the example. Post the content that you would like to see. Encourage members to be engaging as well.
Last, go with the flow. When anyone creates a Facebook group, there may be guidelines set that might need tweaking because the group dynamic may change. This will allow the momentum of the group to carry on. You don’t want to discourage members from sharing new content.
Anyone got yummy recipes to share?
