How to Build a Huge Group
Building and maintaining a large group can add 10,000 visitors to your profile page and website a month.
Guideline #1: Create an Appealing Group
Look at the Groups, and create a group that is somehow related to your industry. Look for an opportunity where there is not already an existing group. If there is an existing group that your new group would be competing with, make sure the existing group is beatable…in other words, that it doesn’t have strong momentum (few members, little activity, group creator not effectively monitoring quality of comments and discussion posts).
A good example of a “demographic” group is Women Entrepreneur
A good example of an “occupational" group is Search Engine Marketers
A good example of a “marketing medium” or “website-based” group is Twitter for Internet Marketers
Though you are a group creator, make sure to also use the group as a member of the group. As you create intelligent and stimulating discussions and comments, people will naturally want to check out your Sta.rtUp.biz profile. On your profile page, they will see your business website link and go there. This way, you are not pushing them to your business, but pulling them through the quality of the reputation you are creating by showcasing your expertise.
Guideline #2: Promote Your Group Through Welcome Comments
Read the forum post Getting Massive Traffic Through Value Added Commenting for templates on how to effectively promote your Group to get members to join and maximize your traffic. Hint: Emails and comments which say “Join me on ABC! Join us on ABC" are NOT effective and typically are regarded by members as spam).
Guideline #3: Nurture Your Group Daily
Visit your group daily to monitor the discussion and comment posts that are being left in your group. You want to delete irrelevant posts and anything your members may perceive as spam. If you maintain your group integrity, you will avoid members from “tuning out” valuable messages from your group and leaving your group.
After deleting off-topic messages, you could educate the poster of the comment/discussion by reminding them that the “Introduce Yourself & Promote Your Business” section of the Biz Forum, and the appropriate category of the Marketplace are places for self-promotion. Also, a HUGE way to get traffic is through welcome comments. You can let them know about the templates in Getting Massive Traffic Through Value Added Commenting.
Visit your Admin rights. Uncheck the ability for members to send everyone in the group an email with one click. You, as the creator, will still be able to do so. But you don’t want members joining your group, spamming your members, and then members leaving your group.
Guideline #4: Great Group Comments and Discussion Posts
Post an interesting discussion relevant to your group.
Then post a discussion that is survey-style and invites participation from your group members. It could be something like “What is your business and why are you interested in ABC Group?” Or it could be something like “Have you used ABC and if so, what did you think?”
The key to great comments and discussion posts is to keep them “on-topic.” If you have an e-book that you want to give away, spend some time to tailor the title and contents to target the demographics of the group specifically so that you can deliver value. The more the members of the group perceive you to be speaking directly to them, and not just posting something carelessly that you have attempted to post everywhere else, the more traffic you will receive and the more you will prosper. People quickly tune out canned posts they have seen elsewhere. So not only are canned posts not effective, they reflect poorly on your online reputation and image, and risk spam complaints.
Feel free to ask any questions here on how to tailor your comments. This is about your success!
Guideline #1: Create an Appealing Group
Look at the Groups, and create a group that is somehow related to your industry. Look for an opportunity where there is not already an existing group. If there is an existing group that your new group would be competing with, make sure the existing group is beatable…in other words, that it doesn’t have strong momentum (few members, little activity, group creator not effectively monitoring quality of comments and discussion posts).
A good example of a “demographic” group is Women Entrepreneur
A good example of an “occupational" group is Search Engine Marketers
A good example of a “marketing medium” or “website-based” group is Twitter for Internet Marketers
Though you are a group creator, make sure to also use the group as a member of the group. As you create intelligent and stimulating discussions and comments, people will naturally want to check out your Sta.rtUp.biz profile. On your profile page, they will see your business website link and go there. This way, you are not pushing them to your business, but pulling them through the quality of the reputation you are creating by showcasing your expertise.
Guideline #2: Promote Your Group Through Welcome Comments
Read the forum post Getting Massive Traffic Through Value Added Commenting for templates on how to effectively promote your Group to get members to join and maximize your traffic. Hint: Emails and comments which say “Join me on ABC! Join us on ABC" are NOT effective and typically are regarded by members as spam).
Guideline #3: Nurture Your Group Daily
Visit your group daily to monitor the discussion and comment posts that are being left in your group. You want to delete irrelevant posts and anything your members may perceive as spam. If you maintain your group integrity, you will avoid members from “tuning out” valuable messages from your group and leaving your group.
After deleting off-topic messages, you could educate the poster of the comment/discussion by reminding them that the “Introduce Yourself & Promote Your Business” section of the Biz Forum, and the appropriate category of the Marketplace are places for self-promotion. Also, a HUGE way to get traffic is through welcome comments. You can let them know about the templates in Getting Massive Traffic Through Value Added Commenting.
Visit your Admin rights. Uncheck the ability for members to send everyone in the group an email with one click. You, as the creator, will still be able to do so. But you don’t want members joining your group, spamming your members, and then members leaving your group.
Guideline #4: Great Group Comments and Discussion Posts
Post an interesting discussion relevant to your group.
Then post a discussion that is survey-style and invites participation from your group members. It could be something like “What is your business and why are you interested in ABC Group?” Or it could be something like “Have you used ABC and if so, what did you think?”
The key to great comments and discussion posts is to keep them “on-topic.” If you have an e-book that you want to give away, spend some time to tailor the title and contents to target the demographics of the group specifically so that you can deliver value. The more the members of the group perceive you to be speaking directly to them, and not just posting something carelessly that you have attempted to post everywhere else, the more traffic you will receive and the more you will prosper. People quickly tune out canned posts they have seen elsewhere. So not only are canned posts not effective, they reflect poorly on your online reputation and image, and risk spam complaints.
Feel free to ask any questions here on how to tailor your comments. This is about your success!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by GeekGirl on -
Thanks for the knowledge! This site rocks and is an amazing nurturing ground for new ideas and positive business interaction. I've been so welcomed here, and now you've given me tips on how to use the groups feature to grow my profile and become a networking queen.
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Permalink Reply by SUp.biz, CEO on -
I agree. The members on this site have a wealth of talent and knowledge, both individually and cumulatively. Used correctly, networking can lead to new ideas, fresh takes on old ideas, and profit for all. A properly nurtured group can be an incubator for such a setting.
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Permalink Reply by Desiree Richardson on
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Thank you for the tips. I have learned something new or made a great connection on sta.rtup.biz. I feel a group should be interactive and that group member's should support eachother. I have promoted my group on google ads, my network, traffic swarm, and squidoo. This helps me to increase traffic to my websites and my member's benefit with more exposure. I work each day to drive traffic to the network and my group and it's my idea of true networking.
Desiree Richardson
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Permalink Reply by SUp.biz, CEO on
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I agree. Group interaction and support of other group members are key for a strong group. An absent moderator can lead to a group's demise. You have great ideas for promoting groups and obviously have a lot that others can learn from. I hope people realize the wealth of knowledge to be found in members like you.
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Permalink Reply by STRAIGHTALK --> www.151years.com on -
Words of inspiration is one thing, but your words of wisdom has left me mazed... I read your article and I must say it was refreshing... enough for me to want to say thanks for the great words!
STRAIGHTALK
Norman Flecha
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Permalink Reply by Dorinda on -
Love the gorilla. Looks like my Dad watching the news and thinking how it will all affect his life!
A sense of humor is key when you are self directed (not just self employed!)
Cheers,
Dorinda
www.sendoutcards.com/bymail
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Permalink Reply by SUp.biz, CEO on
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Thanks, Norman. I appreciate the positive feedback. I hope it helps people create and sustain groups that are beneficial for themselves and the community.
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Permalink Reply by Barb Sibbing ~ Add Me as a Friend! on -
WOW great article thanks so much. I have learned so much from this great site.
Barb Sibbing
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Permalink Reply by SUp.biz, CEO on
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Thanks, Barb. Let me know if you have any questions about creating or managing groups. There are some tricks to the trade to growing strong groups and using them to promote your business.
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Permalink Reply by STRAIGHTALK --> www.151years.com on
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Cool article keep up the Motivation.. I read it just few minutes ago and I re up from it.. and I know You did too. This is why you read it Silly. So now go ahead, and try leave this page with out posting a comment!
come write some thing! You are The Only one who lost time reading, if You don't comment!
STRAIGHTALK Norman Flecha
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Permalink Reply by Lanky Levy on -
Norman,
I find it difficult to understand your posts. What has happened to the English language?
Everything is now so truncated and abbreviated that it takes a long time to figure out what the author is trying to say. It doesn't take a lot of time to type out the full words and sentences. The worst is when you get words like PLMK and TTYS!!! (Had to work out that it means Please Let Me Know and Talk To You Soon!! Far too exhausting!)
Please make it easier to read, otherwise people will just gloss over your posts.
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Permalink Reply by Workathomemomblogs on -
Thank you for the great idea, want a great way to get business tips on this network. This a great idea I will use the information to build my network.
Let's Get Growing
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