Well, because Facebook is so popular, we would be more likely to obtain more views of our group than we will just by having this website alone. Additionally, it is easy to advertize for this site on Facebook, which might generate more members.

 

For how our group is set up, I would think that it would be the best to start a Facebook Group where you can announce computer facts or tell all of the members about an upcoming meeting on your "Wall", which is basically like a forum in itself where people can comment and ask questions about your posts. You can also add pictures and videos to demonstrate things about our group that might entice new members. There is an application called "Discussions" that you can add to your group so that you can have people generate topic questions to be answered--this is more like the NEOPC FORUM format.

 

It is easy to set your group up as a "closed" group, meaning that nonmembers can view the info of the group, but cannot view the Wall or post in the discussion application. People may request to become members and will have to be approved by the administrators of the group to join.

 

The only real problem with a Facebook group is that anyone that wants to join will have to create a Facebook profile and be able to understand how to use Facebook well enough to find the group and to ask questions, etc. Although this is relatively simple, it may be worth while to either have a class similar to the "ebay workshop", or have a page on the NEOPC website to explain the process, or have it explained during one of our FUNdamentals SIG meetings.

 

I think that it would be worth while to try a Facebook group out in addition to the FORUM if for nothing else than extra publicity.

 

There are indefinitely more PROs to a Facebook Group than I'm mentioning; if I think of anything in addition, I'll be sure to add it!

 

I hope this helps,

 

Molly