Changing your Facebook page from a community page to a group is a simple process that can be done directly within Facebook. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to convert your community page into a group:
Difference Between a Facebook Page and a Facebook Group
Before changing your page to a group, it’s important to understand the key differences between a Facebook page and a Facebook group:
| Facebook Page | Facebook Group |
|---|---|
| Used by businesses, brands, organizations, public figures etc. to broadcast information publicly | Used to facilitate more private discussions and interactions among a group of people |
| Content is visible to everyone on the internet by default | Content is only visible to members who have been approved to join the group |
| Page admins post content, fans/followers can only comment or react | Any group member can post content, not just admins |
| No privacy settings – all content is public | Admins can make the group private, public, or secret |
As you can see, Groups offer much more privacy and interaction capabilities compared to Pages. Groups are better suited for things like hobby clubs, support groups, sports teams, neighborhoods etc.
Step 1: Backup your Facebook Page
Before deleting your Page, it’s highly recommended to backup all of the content on it. Here’s how to backup your Facebook Page:
- Go to your Page and click on the Settings menu in the top right
- Scroll down and click on the “Download a copy of your Page” link
- Choose the resolution you want to backup posts at
- Click on the “Request Download” button. Facebook will prepare an archive.
- Once ready, you’ll get a notification to download your Page archive. This may take a few minutes.
- Save the downloaded .ZIP file containing your Page content to your computer.
This will give you a copy of your Page’s posts, photos, videos, events and more that you can access even after deleting the Page.
Step 2: Create your new Facebook Group
Now you’re ready to create a new Facebook Group to replace your existing Page:
- Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/create/
- Fill in your new Group’s name, purpose, privacy settings etc.
- You can keep the group name similar to your Page name if you want.
- Choose closed or secret privacy if you want a private group.
- Click on the “Create” button to make your new Group.
Customize your new Group’s cover photo, invite people to join, and set up your admin roles. You now have a Group ready to use!
Step 3: Post in your new Group
Now it’s time to start posting content and engaging with members in your new Facebook Group:
- Write a post introducing your new Group to members
- Notify members when you’ve posted new discussions or information
- Engage with members by replying to comments and answering questions
- Post any updates or news relevant to the Group
- Share photos, videos, and links just like you did on your Page
Monitor the discussions and provide guidance as members start interacting. Appoint some trustworthy members as moderators to help manage the community.
Step 4: Delete your old Facebook Page
Once your new Group is up and running, you can safely delete your old Facebook Page:
- Go to your Page and click Settings in the top right
- Scroll down and click “Delete Page”
- Choose a reason for deleting the Page
- Click “Permanently delete this Page”
That’s it! Your Page will be deleted. Members won’t be notified but they will no longer be able to access the Page.
Step 5: Invite people to your new Group
To let your existing community know about the change:
- Go through your Page’s follower list and invite relevant people to join the new Group
- Post about the Group change on your personal Facebook profile and ask connections to join
- If you have an email list, notify subscribers to look out for a Group invite
- Share the Group link on related Facebook Groups and Pages to spread the word
- Post an announcement about the change on your website or blog if you have one
With some promotion, you’ll be able to rebuild your community in the new Facebook Group.
Key Takeaways
Here are some key tips to recap on changing your Facebook Page to a Group:
- Backup your Page content before deleting
- Create a new Group with similar name and purpose
- Post regularly in your Group to engage members
- Delete your old Page once the Group is active
- Promote your new Group to rebuild your community
By following these steps, you can seamlessly change your Facebook presence from a Page to a more interactive and private Group. Maintaining strong engagement and moderation will be key to managing a thriving Group community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I revert my Facebook Group back to a Page?
No, once you delete a Page and convert to a Group there is no direct way to convert back to a Page. You would need to create a new Page from scratch and rebuild your following.
Will my Page’s followers automatically join my new Group?
No, a Page’s followers do not get automatically added to a new Group. You will have to individually invite followers to join your new Group.
What happens to my Page content after I delete it?
All of your Page’s content will be deleted and inaccessible once you permanently delete the Page. This is why it’s important to backup your content before deleting.
Can I temporarily deactivate my Page instead of deleting?
Yes, you can temporarily deactivate your Page if you may want to reactivate it later. Deactivating pauses your Page but retains all content.
Will my Page domain name be freed up if I delete my Page?
No, when you delete a Page the custom username/URL is not made available to be claimed by other accounts. Facebook retains ownership of deactivated usernames.
Conclusion
Converting a Facebook Page to a Group enables you to leverage more of Facebook’s community features like private discussions, member posts, moderators etc. Follow the steps above to smoothly transition your existing community over to a new Group that can better serve your needs. Maintain open communication and take time to rebuild your following to ensure continued success.