Using Facebook Groups to Expand Your Reach

A practical, low-effort way to reach people who don’t already follow you

Facebook Groups are powerful because they let you reach hyper-local, highly interested people without paying for ads, and without relying on the algorithm to “bless” your post.

When used correctly, Groups can dramatically increase awareness and attendance, especially for weekly reminders like This Week’s Market.

Facebook Groups:

• Are built around shared interests or locations

• Often show posts more reliably than business pages

• Include people who may not follow your market (yet)

• Feel community-driven, not promotional, when done right

For farmers’ markets, this is gold.

You’re not interrupting people, you’re showing up where they already are.

Be helpful, relevant, and respectful, not spammy

Groups are not a dumping ground for every post you make.

Think of Groups as:

• A weekly bulletin board

• A friendly heads-up

• A “hey, just so you know” moment

If your post genuinely helps group members plan their weekend, you’re doing it right.

You’re not interrupting people—you’re showing up where they already are.

You don’t need dozens. A small, well-chosen list is more effective than joining everything under the sun.

1️⃣ Town & Community Groups

These are your bread and butter.

Look for:

• “Town Name Community”

• “Town Name Residents”

• “What’s Happening in Town Name”

• “Town Name Events”

Also include:

• Nearby towns without their own farmers’ market

• Neighboring communities within a reasonable driving distance

2️⃣ Shopping Local & Supporting Local Groups

Perfect fit for markets.

Look for:

• “Shop Local [Town/Region]”

• “Support Local Businesses [State/Region]”

• “Maine Small Businesses” / “New England Makers”

These groups already care about:

• Local food

• Small businesses

• Community impact

You’re speaking their language.

3️⃣ Food-Focused Groups

Use these strategically.

Examples:

• “Foodies of [Region]”

• “Maine Food Lovers”

• “Local Food & Farms”

Best posts for these groups:

• Vendor spotlights

• Seasonal produce highlights

• Prepared food vendors

• Special tastings or demos

4️⃣ Family & Kid-Focused Groups

Use only when relevant.

Share when you’re promoting:

• Kids activities

• Craft days

• Power of Produce

• Special family events

Look for:

• “Parents of [Town/Region]”

• “Things to Do with Kids in [Area]”

• “Family Fun in [State]”

5️⃣ Music & Events Groups

Perfect when live music is a highlight.

Share when:

• Music is prominently featured in your post

• You’re promoting a special performance or band

Look for:

• “Live Music in [Region]”

• “Local Events [Town/State]”

• “Weekend Events in New England”

Inside Facebook:

1. Use the search bar

2. Try keywords like:

• town name
• county or region
• “events”
• “community”
• “food”
• “local”

3. Click into the group and check three things:

• Is it active?
• Is it relevant?
• Do people actually engage?

👉 Always read the group rules before posting.

Some groups:

• Only allow posts on certain days
• Require admin approval
• Limit promotional posts
• Pro tip:
  Keep a simple note (or spreadsheet) with:
• Group name
• Posting rules
• Allowed days
• Link to the group

This saves time every week.

What You Should Share to Groups (and What You Shouldn’t)

✅ Best Posts to Share

Definitely share:

• “This Week’s Market” post (your #1 group post)
• Special events (festivals, themes, guest performers)
• Big seasonal moments (opening day, closing day, holiday markets)
• These posts:
• Are informational
• Help people plan
• Feel appropriate for community spaces

Avoid sharing:

• Vendor-only spotlights (unless very relevant to the group)

• Fundraising asks (unless the group explicitly welcomes them)

• Multiple posts in the same group in one week

Groups reward restraint.

During market season:

• ✅ Once per week per group is perfect

• ❌ Do not share every post you make

• ❌ Do not post multiple times in the same group in one week

Think:

Consistent, not constant.

Use a friendly, neighborly tone.

Examples:

• “Sharing in case this is helpful for weekend planning…”

• “For anyone looking for something fun to do this Sunday…”

• “If you’re nearby, we’d love to see you…”

Avoid:

• Overuse of emojis

• Hard calls to action

• Marketing buzzwords

You’re a community member first.

Bonus Best Practices

• Rotate who posts if you have a team—some groups favor personal profiles over Pages

• Reply to comments when people ask questions

• Don’t argue if someone comments negatively—stay calm or disengage

• If a post gets removed, respect it and move on

Groups are a privilege, not an entitlement.

The Big Picture

Facebook Groups extend your reach to:

• People who don’t follow your page

• New residents

• Families planning weekends

• Folks actively looking for things to do

When paired with:

• A strong weekly post

• Consistent timing

• Respect for group rules

…they become one of the highest-impact, lowest-effort marketing tools you hav

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Reaching Your Community