Facebook Groups are a great way for healers and intuitive workers to meet new people, network professionally, and learn about new resources.

Many healers who are entrepreneurs have formed Facebook groups to counteract Facebook’s algorithm changes which has resulted in less business page views for many. Before you jump to this step, however, be sure that you know how to be a good group member. You can do this by following the tips below.

1. Read the group guidelines and rules before posting. Yes, some group guidelines can be on the long side. Read them anyway—they were important enough for the group’s owner to post, and knowing them could keep you from getting egg on your face. Then, draft clear and concise rules when you create your Facebook group.
2. Play well with others. Most group admins will post a thread for new members to introduce themselves and explain what they are looking to get out of the group. This is a great time to say hi (no need to sell) and connect with anyone else who posts in the thread. If this doesn’t happen, start a new thread and introduce yourself. As time goes on, be sure to thank other group members who have been helpful to you, either in or out of the group—that’s just good karma!
3. Be positive. Don’t agree with a post? Ignore it and keep scrolling. Do not add your two cents unless it is to say something constructive. If the post really bothers you, hide it. If someone replies rudely to your own post, ignore it, delete them, or alert the group’s administrator if the comment is truly beyond the pale. If you feel you must reply, try to remain civil. Be sure to clear any negative energy afterwards.
4. Offer value; don’t “always be selling.” When someone asks a question, give helpful advice (if you’re knowledgeable on the topic)—and be sure to read previous comments so that you don’t repeat what’s already been said. Link to reliable sources. Offer an occasional freebie without asking people to opt in; this will be greatly appreciated. Check the group guidelines—some groups do not allow any promotional posting whatsoever. Others restrict it to certain days of the week. Conversely, beware of taking advantage of other members’ free coaching calls and other offers without giving something in return.
5. Manage your time well. Here are some strategies to make your Facebook life easier to manage. 1) Check groups at predetermined times of day and for predetermined amounts of time. For example, ten minutes in the morning at 6:30 and ten minutes at night at 9. 2) Use a physical timer to track yourself (the kinetic action of putting down your phone to turn it off is more likely to keep you offline). 3). Turn off all of your group notifications (from your group, click on the gear symbol in the upper right and click on Notifications and click Off. If you comment on a thread, click Unsubscribe to prevent future notifications. 4). Don’t like posts unless you mean it—because you will notified every time someone else likes the same post. 5) Don’t join every group under the sun. It’s so easy to get excited about a group and click Join without thinking about it. Soon you’re receiving tons of notifications and clicking on dozens of posts. You can also hide groups (this means they are listed at the bottom of my Groups page, and that I don’t receive notifications from them).
6. Be easy (like Sunday morning) to reach. There are few things more annoying than clicking around on someone’s Facebook business page and getting little information. Include a link to your Facebook business page on your personal profile page. Then, on your business page, provide a link to your website. If you don’t have a business Facebook page, people you don’t know may read some of your group posts and then try to “friend” you on your personal profile. If this makes you uncomfortable, then activate the Follow button on your profile. This allows others to keep up with your public posts, but not your restricted posts to your friends (in order to keep these posts separate, create lists on Facebook).
7. Have a website. Remember that Facebook, and other forms of social media, are the digital equivalent of rental property—they are not yours. Servers can go down, sites can be hacked, and rules and algorithms can be changed at will. Your domain and website demonstrate that you are a professional and a force to be reckoned with. Your site also allows potential clients to discover you, your expertise, and your services in one location.
8. Know your privacy settings. Postings in open groups can be read by everyone. Postings in closed groups can only be read by group members. However, the names of closed can still be seen by your Facebook friends. The coolmomtech blog recommends that for Facebook groups with sensitive topics, the secret setting should be used so that groups are “totally off the radar, visible only to members, and by invitation only.”

Facebook groups are a fun, non-threatening way to network with others in your field. Mastering groups as a member will allow you to create effective groups as your career progresses. Keep track of what works and what doesn’t work in other groups before striking out on your own.
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About the Author

Yvonne Mulhern is a board member of the Texas Social Media Research Institute, and a fan of crystals, oracle cards, and energy healing. She helps educators and entrepreneurs perfect their social media presence. Find her at @yvonnemulhern on Twitter. Visit her website yvonnemulhern.com.