How I Grew My Facebook Group For Writers – Podcast Interview
Are you a member of the Shortcuts for Writers Facebook group and curious about the behind-the-scenes of how I run the group? Or maybe you’re thinking of launching your own reader community on Facebook so you can connect with your fans on an ongoing basis. Perhaps you have an author service, like cover design, and want to know whether it’s worthwhile to launch a Facebook group. How often should you post? How do you get members to engage?
Anna Gray is the go-to expert on Facebook group marketing and she recently launched a podcast devoted to the topic: Banana’s Mastering the Art of Groups. I was honored to be interviewed on Episode 3.
During the interview, we discussed how I started the Shortcuts for Writers: Editing Made Simple group on Facebook in April 2019. Over the past year, it has grown to more than a thousand members. I launched the group around the same time that I was designing the Shortcuts for Writers website. At the time, I was also creating the lessons for my online course Book Editing Blueprint: A Step-By-Step Plan to Making Your Novels Publishable.
Through the group, I wanted to raise awareness about the importance of self-editing and to connect with writers seeking tips. I also wanted to create a positive, inspiring community where beginner authors could learn from experienced authors.
During my interview with Anna, (whose nickname is Banana) we talked about why I started the community and how I try to keep the members engaged. For example, I have a secret strategy for finding creative content to share and scheduling the posts. We also talked about how discussions in the group have influenced the creation of my online courses, writing tip blog posts, and Shortcut Snippets videos on YouTube.
The interview was recorded a few months ago, before the March launch of Book Editing Blueprint. One funny side note is that my curious cat vaulted up the back of my desk chair and landed on my shoulder, shocking the heck out of me a few minutes into the interview!
You can hear the interview (which includes me losing my train of thought because of the claws digging into my shoulder!) on Apple Podcasts.
I’ve learned a lot from Anna over the past several months, and if you have a Faebook group or are considering starting one, I highly recommend that you check out her website and subscribe to her podcast. She offers one-to-one coaching as well as online courses about Facebook group marketing. She has lots of free resources as well, including the Facebook Group Success community on Facebook.
If you haven’t discovered the Shortcuts for Writers Facebook group yet, be sure to check it out. There are lessons on writing your book blurb, a line editing unit that ties into my free course Line Editing Made Simple – 5 Days to More Polished Pages, guest workshops, daily discussions, and lots more.
Hi there! I’m Stacy Juba, an author, freelance editor, and the founder of Shortcuts for Writers. I’d love to connect. If you’re a writer, here are a few ways we can work together:Â
Enroll in my Book Blurbs Made Simple mini course for just $9
Sign up for my free, on-demand self-editing masterclass
Check out my courses and workshops