Facebook groups can be a great tool for Authors if used the right way.

In the general article about Facebook for authors, we looked at setting up your author page. In this chapter, we are going to look specifically at groups and how to use them as an author.

What Facebook groups are and are not

Facebook groups are distinct from pages and are designed for community interaction rather than a source of content to which users subscribe.

There are many Facebook groups that exist to support authors and writers. Each community has different rules about what is and is not acceptable content for their group. It is best to study the group carefully before you decide to share content.

How to share to a Facebook group

Some people make the mistake of copying and pasting content from their page into groups. This can quickly become spammy and misses out on some of the best benefits of sharing. Instead, use the share option on your page for the item you want to share.

Correctly, shared items contribute to the stats for your page. So interactions on page items shared to a group count as your page being more interesting. That means more fans are likely to see your content.

Find the right groups

There are millions of groups on facebook. Which is why it is vital to find a few really good groups where the content you share will be appreciated and where it is likely to reach people who might become readers.

Groups are also useful for moral support, advice, and networking with other writers (and agents too).

Finding groups

I compiled a lit of Facebook groups for writers for a writing blog on the Author Buzz network. This list might make a good starting point for authors looking to network on Facebook.