Description

Why spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a private forum for your staff or organization? Facebook lets you do it for free!In this video, Eric Spellmann explains how to set up an area for your group to share photos, posts, files, and ideas without worry that other Facebook friends will discover them. Eric also lists the three levels of security you can apply and why you would use each.

Finally, he gives you his favorite tips and tricks to ensure that your first private Facebook group is a success.

Transcript

Note from Eric: Below, you will find a word-for-word transcript of this video. I provide this as an aid for the hearing-impaired and for those who might just want to read it rather than watch the video. This conversational style is not reflective of how I write. Be nice! Hi I am Eric Spellmann with EricSpellmann.com. And today we’re going to be talking about how to create a private group on facebook? Now private groups are amazing and most people have no idea what they’re useful for! Let’s go over it.

First of all a private group is invitational only. The main thing you need to remember about private groups is that the only way to become a part of one is to get invited to one. The neat thing is you can create one for free. So whatever group you want to create, you can create it.

And then the only people who get to it, and in some cases the only people who can even see it, are the ones you allow! It is perfect for a kids sports team or school or even a private group at your office. Like in intranet, where just employees only can get together and discuss things.

Choose your privacy level as the key. Most people get this part wrong, because there are basically 3 different levels. First up is the Secret level. Now this is the ultra sooper dooper level. Ands basically in a secret level, only members of the group can even see the group that it exists.

Only members can see whos in it. And only members can see any posts that are in it. So, you have to be invited and even then only people who are invited get to see anything. Everyone else on the internet has no idea this group even exists, even if they do a search for it.

The second level is a little easier. It’s called the Closed group and I recommend that most people do this group first. In a closed group, anyone can see the group. Anyone on the internet can see that the group exists. Anyone can even see whos in it. But only members see the posts. In other words, only members can see pictures or anything posted within the group.

The final level is the Public Level or the Open Level. And basically anyone can see whos in the group and anyone can see posts that are in it. But remember, the only way to post is to be a member. And the only way to become a member is to be invited. I don’t see many people using the Open version. Usually it’s Closed or in many cases, Secret.

So how do you create one? It’s very simple actually. Go to “http://facebook.com/groups”. Now you need to be logged in, of course and type in this address at the top and it will take you straight there. Then click on create group, give it a name, invite the friends you want to come into it and choose the privacy level. It’s that simple!

Now there are some tips and tricks I’ve learned in doing this. Some things you don’t wanna do and some things that definitely speed things along. For instance, secret groups are private but they are tough to join. In other words, if you send the URL to someone to a secret group, they can’t get into it. The only way is if you type them in. And unfortunately, the only people you can type into that blank that’s there, are your personal friends!

So, if you don’t wanna have to invite everyone as your personal facebook friend in order to invite them to the secret group, the best way is to set it up as a Closed group so that anyone can see it. And then send them the URL and when once you’ve got everyone as a member, then switch the group to Secret! That way you don’t have to make all these random people you’re going to have in that secret group your personal facebook friends.

Groups are a great way to share private photos. I know a lot of families who create private groups so that they can share family photos without worrying that everyone on the internet can see them. It’s wonderful. And remember it’s totally free. The best way to play with this is to play with it! Create a test. Go out there and create a group and add a couple of people to it and then see how it works. Remember this is totally free!

Well as always I am Eric Spellmann with ericspellmann.com and if you have any questions just let me know. I’ll see you in cyberspace.