Grow Your Local Business Podcast: Episode 84 Summary
Title: MVP: How To Show up In Local Facebook Groups
Host: Leslie Presnall
Release Date: July 1, 2025
In Episode 84 of the Grow Your Local Business podcast, host Leslie Presnall shifts focus from Instagram to Facebook Groups, offering local business owners strategic insights on leveraging these communities to enhance their local marketing efforts. Drawing from her extensive experience as both a Facebook group admin and member, Leslie provides actionable advice to help entrepreneurs effectively engage and grow their client base within local Facebook groups.
1. Transitioning Focus: From Instagram to Facebook Groups
Leslie begins by reflecting on her recent emphasis on Instagram, highlighting the success of her three-day local Instagram formula challenge. She mentions how over 300 participants engaged actively, demonstrating the effectiveness of localizing social media strategies. However, recognizing the need to diversify, Leslie transitions the discussion to Facebook Groups, acknowledging their significant role in local marketing.
"I just came off a huge three-day challenge during June where I taught you guys the local Instagram formula... it is by far my most popular episode."
— Leslie Presnall [05:30]
2. The Power of Facebook Groups for Local Marketing
Leslie emphasizes the potential of Facebook Groups as a fertile ground for local business growth. She highlights that many of her clients have successfully found and referred clients through these groups. However, she also cautions about the challenges, such as the risk of appearing spammy and the tendency to become time-consuming if not managed properly.
"A lot of my clients have success inside of groups. They find clients inside of groups. They get referred in these groups."
— Leslie Presnall [12:45]
3. Selecting the Right Facebook Groups
Choosing the appropriate groups is crucial. Leslie advises businesses to research and join groups where their ideal clients are likely to be active. She underscores the importance of setting boundaries to prevent Facebook Groups from becoming time sinks.
"There are groups on everything these days... Maybe they are local networking groups. Maybe they are local moms groups... There's literally, literally a group for everything at this point."
— Leslie Presnall [16:20]
4. Optimizing Your Personal Facebook Profile for Business
Since many Facebook Groups require joining with a personal profile rather than a business page, Leslie shares strategies to optimize personal profiles to reflect business identities effectively. She outlines four key areas to enhance:
- Bio: Clearly state what your business does within the 101-character limit.
- Workplace: Tag your business page to create a clickable link.
- Links: Include a direct link to your website or a multi-link service like Linktree.
- Cover Image: Use a graphic that represents your business, akin to a billboard.
"There are four things that you can for sure add to your personal page so that when people do click over to your personal Facebook page, they instantly know what your local business is."
— Leslie Presnall [27:10]
Leslie also stresses the importance of using a professional and personal profile picture to build trust and establish the "know and trust" factor essential for local businesses.
"If you are going to be interacting in Facebook groups as a business owner, I would 100% make sure you are in your Facebook profile picture."
— Leslie Presnall [31:45]
5. Navigating Group Rules and Etiquette
Understanding and respecting each group's specific rules is paramount. Leslie advises members to familiarize themselves with group guidelines to avoid penalties such as post removals or bans. She suggests reaching out to group admins for clarity and building positive relationships by adhering to the established protocols.
"Make sure you are super respectful of their rules and I want to play by their rules and I want to have a really good attitude about their rules because they're the ones who have done all the hard work."
— Leslie Presnall [39:05]
6. Content Strategy: Posting and Adding Value
Leslie recommends leveraging existing content from other platforms when engaging in Facebook Groups. Instead of reinventing the wheel, businesses can reshare successful posts from their own social media channels. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of adding genuine value by answering questions and participating in discussions without a direct sales pitch.
"A great place for you to start right now is just by resharing what you're already posting on your regular social media or things that you know are already working really well for you."
— Leslie Presnall [44:30]
She underscores the significance of consistent value addition over self-promotion, fostering trust and positioning oneself as an industry expert.
"Sometimes I think this can be more valuable than even posting, just you going in and helping people when you can by commenting on their posts and answering their questions."
— Leslie Presnall [51:15]
7. Building Expertise and Trust Within Groups
By consistently providing valuable insights and assistance, business owners can establish themselves as the "local go-to person." Leslie highlights that this approach not only builds authority but also encourages organic referrals within the group.
"When you show up as the expert in these groups, you get to feel what that feels like... People are seeing me as the expert, they're seeing me as that local go to person, that local top choice."
— Leslie Presnall [55:40]
8. Maintaining a Genuine and Non-Spammy Presence
Leslie advises against being overly promotional to prevent coming across as spammy. Instead, she encourages businesses to focus on building relationships and offering support, which naturally leads to increased visibility and client inquiries.
"I'm just going to keep offering value because every post I comment on, every time I help someone, people are seeing my name."
— Leslie Presnall [59:30]
9. Conclusion and Next Steps
Leslie wraps up the episode by inviting listeners to join the LocalPreneur Academy for comprehensive support in crafting effective local marketing strategies. She reiterates the transformative potential of active and respectful participation in Facebook Groups for local business growth.
"If you want to make engaging in local Facebook groups part of your local marketing plan... then come join us inside the LocalPreneur Academy."
— Leslie Presnall [1:05:00]
Key Takeaways:
- Diversify Marketing Platforms: While Instagram is powerful, incorporating Facebook Groups can significantly enhance local reach.
- Profile Optimization: A well-optimized personal Facebook profile serves as a bridge between group interactions and business promotion.
- Respect Group Dynamics: Adhering to group rules and contributing positively fosters trust and avoids penalties.
- Value-Driven Engagement: Offering genuine assistance and sharing valuable content positions you as a local expert.
- Consistent Presence: Regular, respectful participation in groups leads to organic growth and client acquisition.
By implementing these strategies, local business owners can effectively harness the power of Facebook Groups to expand their reach, build meaningful connections, and establish a steady stream of clients within their communities.