7 Steps to Move Your Community Away from Facebook

You’ve made the decision: it’s time to move your community off Facebook.

Let’s be honest—what you have on Facebook isn’t a true community; it’s an audience with many fans and perhaps a few annoying haters. You know very little about them because on Meta, you're just a guest, not the homeowner. They have the data—lots of it.

If you’re still unsure, this post might help clarify things: Are you sure it’s worth keeping your “community” on Facebook?

Now that you’ve made up your mind and chosen SelfCommunity—a platform dedicated to online communities like yours—here are 7 practical steps to ensure a smooth transition:

1. Notify Your Facebook Followers in Advance

This isn’t something you can do overnight. Give people some time to know you're migrating to a more suitable platform. The duration depends on how engaged your users are. It might take a couple of months or maybe just a few weeks. You know your audience best.

2. Explain the Benefits of the Move

Changing platforms isn’t appealing to anyone, we know. But if you present it well, explaining how the change will bring only improvements and how easy it will be to get used to (it has an interface similar to what they're already used to on Facebook), people will be more inclined to follow you.

3. Be Clear and Direct

Speak directly: “Hi, I know I'm asking you to make a small effort. You’ll just need to create a new username and password, but I assure you it’ll be worth it!” Simpler than that.

4. Involve Your Most Active Fans

Among your followers, there are certainly those who are most active, who never miss a post. Inform them first about the change. They’ll appreciate being involved and will be the first to support you, helping make the transition easier for others. Trust me, their participation will be contagious.

5. Bring Your Superfans First

In addition to informing them, have your most loyal fans register first on the new platform. Make them feel part of the process, as if this new space is created together with them. They’ll be the first to populate the new community and will be as proud as you to provide a lively and active environment for other users who will join.

6. Set a Date for the Transition

Be clear about when the transition will be complete. If you don't set a specific date, those who are lazier will tend to postpone. Communicate a clear and definitive date, and you'll see that many will move just before that deadline.

7. Keep Both Open for a While

It’s advisable to keep both the old Facebook “community” and the new SelfCommunity open for a short period.

This will allow you to sort everything out and make a smoother transition. In the end, you'll realize even more the advantages gained by switching to SelfCommunity and will probably think: “Why didn’t I do this sooner?!”