For those looking to find the next great app or campaign idea on Facebook, turning to what Facebook users are already doing on the site with the basic tools Facebook provides can often be instructive. So, what can we learn from the 25 Facebook Groups that have reached at least 1 million members?
- Facebook users love to be a part of a group that’s about breaking records. Two of the largest groups on Facebook, including the largest at over 5.8 million members, are simply about forming the largest Facebook Group, and nothing more.
- Facebook users love genealogy. Groups based on “social experiments” to see who’s related are very popular – much like some of the largest Facebook applications.
- Facebook users love to use Facebook Groups to protest Facebook. Ironically, whenever there’s a big change on the site, most users use the site itself to protest the site, presumably because it offers the best functionality for building a movement.
- Facebook Groups can be effectively used to promote causes.
- Brands can subtly use Facebook groups for promotion. For example, Portaflores.com and Tramp Magazine both have groups with more than 1 million people. Users have also started Facebook Groups either supporting (1,000,000 Strong for Stephen T Colbert) or “against” (I Dont care How Comfortable Crocs Are, You Look Like A Dumbass) brands, too.
With the new Facebook redesign, Facebook Groups don’t have nearly as much visibility on the home page stream. This could be a great time for creative marketers to borrow some best practices for their campaigns. So, without further ado…
The 6 Facebook Groups with Over 1 Million Members
1. Let’s break a Guinness Record! 2010! The Largest Group on Facebook! (5,894,904 members)
3. Feed a Child with just a Click! (4,206,122 members)
4. We Will Not Pay To Use Facebook. We Are Gone If This Happens (4,163,024 members)
5. Facebook Developers (3,352,805 members)
6. Let’s set and break a Guiness Record!!!! Approved by guinnessworldrecords.c (2,730,202 members)
