DIY: Promoting Organic Engagement
Truth be told, I wrote this schedule for myself. However, it turned out to be useful for one of my clients. And hell, it may come in handy to others as well. It’s not a complete guide on which writing groups to post what and when. It’s also more geared towards women (sorry bros).
Your guide to marketing yourself on Facebook on a budget
What it’s not: An easy way to bring in clients fast
What it is: An easy (not to mention free) way to put your brand out there. You’re welcome.
When you run a group on Facebook for small business owners or writers, it’ll either be another slow, dead-end group (like mine) or it’ll blow up (like some of the groups linked below). The problem with big groups is that everyone is itching to promo themselves all the time. Everyone has a talent. Everyone has a business. And everyone wants to shove it in your face. So what many successful groups (and unsuccessful, in my case) have done is enact a set of rules. These rules dictate exactly when the group members are allowed to promo themselves. It’s often one day of the week. Sometimes more, depending on if they reserve a certain day for promoting a certain social media platform.
And you better not miss that window! Otherwise you have to wait a whole ‘nother week. And while it’s definitely not the best way to promote your brand, it’s free. And it’s easy. And it’s quick. So why the hell not?
I mean, it sounds good, right? Free exposure to potentially thousands of people? You may be wondering if there’s a catch. There is.
The catch (read closely)
You can’t just waltz into these groups once a week, drop a promo, and bounce. No. Just no. I mean, you could, but that just isn’t proper Facebook group etiquette. I’m giving you all these direct links to great groups, but there is a catch. You need to participate in the groups more than just your two seconds of self-promotion time.
Don’t drop in on Friday, drop your links, and leave it at that. It’s called “pitch and ditch” by some, and it’s not a nice way to treat a helpful group.
Do get the most out of the groups, any day of the week! Read other peoples’ questions and answers. You might learn something. You may learn a lot of things. Take full advantage of the search function in the groups and find topics you like and could get involved in.
Don’t promo yourself and ignore all the other promos.
Do take a few minutes to read what other people are doing in the groups. Find out what they are promoting. You could end up meeting some new friends who are in a similar career as you. It could help battle the loneliness which is oftentimes so prevalent if you decide to take a risk and work from home.
Don’t make a whole new thread for yourself, your business, and your links. That is one super easy way to get the boot in many groups. Either that, or your post will just never ever get approved.
Do look for the specific thread on the specific day. For instance, one group may create a Friday promo thread on Friday afternoon. Post in that thread and that thread only. If you try to make a new thread to gain some extra exposure, the only thing you’re gonna get is removed from the group. Play it safe. Follow the rules.
Don’t sneakily promote yourself on other days of the week. Some of these groups are extremely strict. If you don’t follow their rules, there isn’t a second chance. You’re out on your ass and it’s gonna be a hard sell to get back into the group.
Do follow the rules! It’s simple. Some of the groups have varying rules. But most of them feel very strongly about self-promotion. Do it on the designated days, or don’t do it at all.
The exception
The only exception is if someone publishes a post looking to add someone to their team. Maybe they need graphics created, blogs written, or social media managed. If they post something and you can do it, talk yourself up! But only on their post. Don’t shove your skills in people’s faces if they didn’t ask for it. Keep it professional. Stay classy.
Monday
- Share business tip in Women Helping Women Entrepreneurs
- Share something motivational in Female Freelance Writers
- Promo brand in The Write Life
- Share Instagram page in Becoming a Blogger
Tuesday
- Share webinar or business tip in Women Helping Women Entrepreneurs
- Promote something Tweetable by brand in Freelance to Freedom
- Share something Tweetable by brand in Female Freelance Writers
- Share a post in #idratherbepaid
- Share brand’s Twitter in Becoming a Blogger
Wednesday
- Share Facebook fan page in Women Helping Women Entrepreneurs
- Promo brand in Female Freelance Writers
- Share blog post in Becoming a Blogger
Thursday
- Share product/service in Women Helping Women Entrepreneurs
- Promote brand blog post in Freelance to Freedom
- Share some insight in Female Freelance Writers
- Share Pinterest in Becoming a Blogger
Friday
- Share Instagram and/or Pinterest pages on Women Helping Women Entrepreneurs
- Promote brand in Writing Revolters
- Promote brand in Freelance to Freedom
- Recap on Female Freelance Writers
- Promo on “Flaunt & Follow” thread in Freelance B2B Writers
- Follow someone/get followed in #idratherbepaid
- Promo in Blogging for New Bloggers
- Promo Facebook page in Becoming a Blogger
- Promo brand in BLOGGER & BIZ BABES
Saturday
- Share anything in Becoming a Blogger
Sunday
- “Brag” about brand in The Copywriter Club
- Promo in Female Digital Nomads
Rinse and repeat.
Laurrel Allison is a runaway American writer. She has always loved writing things down. Stuff about her life, thoughts, and about the people around her. It’s important to share these sorts of things because it brings people together in a way. Laurrel runs Copy Fox Pro on her own and is the creator of Copy Fox Pros. Keep up with her by following her Instagram and Facebook.
