In the digital age, simply having an official website on the internet doesn’t count as your business’s online presence. This is especially true if you’re hoping to attract a wider audience and spark conversations that revolve around your products or services. For that, you’ll need your own virtual community.
The Pros and Cons of Using Facebook Groups
Arguably the biggest advantage of using Facebook groups for your business is that it’s free, which means your target demographics may already be using it. Since Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms to date, it’s unlikely that you’ll find consumers who don’t know how to use it.
That’s why Facebook groups have become the go-to communities for most organizations and businesses around the world. Besides being free to use, it also makes connecting with thousands of users more accessible because consumers can relate to and engage with other users within the groups.
However, this free platform doesn’t come without cons of its own. The fact that the platform is free is like a double-edged sword because although it makes your community more accessible to many people, it also means that you don’t own the platform you’re using. And this makes you vulnerable to policy changes.
There’s also a limit to what you can do within the group because you’ll have to abide by the stringent regulations and terms of service on Facebook. This means that you’ll have very minimal control over the tools, organization, customization, and management of members inside your own community.
And this is not limited to Facebook alone. In fact, this applies to almost every free platform available on the internet, such as other community spaces on social media. Because you’re not paying to use the virtual space, you will always have to bend the knee and adjust to their fast-changing circumstances.
Is there an Alternative Virtual Space You Can Fully Manage?
Fortunately, free platforms aren’t your only options for establishing a community for your business. It’s just that using avenues like Facebook groups were the easy option, and everyone else simply followed suit. But if you no longer want to succumb to the rules of social media giants, you can find better alternatives for a virtual space.
Benefits of Using Your Own Virtual Platform
Nowadays, it’s easier to find an online community platform that you can manage according to your preferences. You won’t have to be afraid that your own platform will be pulled out from under you without so much as a notice. Here are three other benefits that you can enjoy from having your own platform:
1. You’ll Have Full Control
From customizing the interface and layout of the platform to managing the membership, you will have full control over all these varying elements that make up your community. This means that you can finally grow and manage your community however you want to use it for your business.
You will be able to set your own rules and regulations for the content posted, interactions with other members, and engagement with the moderators within the community. You or your community managers will make all final decisions, not some outside entity that knows nothing about your business.
2. You Can Enjoy the Monetization
Since Facebook is a free platform, anyone with an account can have access to your group. But that’s not the case if you have your own platform because then you’ll be free to monetize your membership. You can ask for minimal membership fees from your users in exchange for providing the platform where they can interact with other members in the community and gain access to member-only content.
Aside from that, you can sell online courses or subscriptions on different topics of interest to your members. This means that your platform will not only be a place that brings like-minded people together, but it can also be an alternative source of income for your business, albeit in small amounts.
3. You Can Create Unlimited Groups
One of the difficulties of Facebook groups is that you can’t segment your members into different groups within one community. This means that if you need to separate your members for various purposes, you’ll have to create an entirely different group and modify it to fit the requirements of your business.
However, with your own platform, you’ll have the chance to create unlimited groups. This means that you’ll not only be able to cater to an endless number of members and, therefore, increase your profitability, but you’ll also be able to manage your community better.
This is not to say that you should forego all social media groups for good. But if you want a virtual space for your business wherein you’ll have full control over all the elements within it, you’ll have a much easier time managing your own platform. In the end, what matters is that you’ll do what’s best for your business.
