I belong to 28 Facebook groups — and I don’t actively participate in any of them.

Here are the two main reasons why:

  1. Lack of compelling content. The initial flood of posts to a new Facebook group typically drops off to a trickle after couple of weeks. Essentially, a bunch of people rush to join a group, say hello, and then disappear.
  2. No RSS. Even when there are new posts to a group’s wall or discussion board, I can’t monitor them through an RSS feed. I have no way of knowing what, if anything, is being said in a particular group without manually checking its page from inside of Facebook. To be honest, that’s just too much trouble. (I admit: RSS has spoiled me.)

And I’m not just throwing stones from a glass house here. I acknowledge that I haven’t done much to keep my own Facebook group — the New Comm Road Travelers — active and thriving.

But you tell me: Is my experience with Facebook much different from yours? Is there a magical component I’m somehow overlooking? If I put a little more effort into my Facebook group, would the collective membership suddenly be moved to do more than make a sporadic posting?

I’m hoping you’ll share a success story or two to erase my doubts. I want to hear about a Facebook group you lead, participate in, or know about that is working well.

Either drop a note in the comments section below, or shoot me an e-mail to bperson - AT - gmail - COT com.

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