How to schedule posts to Facebook Groups (via push notifications)
Facebook Groups
Unfortunately, since Meta discontinued the API for Facebook Groups, you cannot publish your posts directly through Publer, and there are a few limitations compared to the other social networks.
However, we have a workaround that allows you to share posts to the Facebook Groups via push-notifications/reminders, with the help of the Publer Mobile App.
Once you have connected the Facebook Group to Publer, you can proceed with creating, scheduling, and publishing posts with the help of push-notifications.
Posting to Facebook Groups
1. To schedule and post to the Facebook Groups, after you have already connected your Facebook Group accounts and installed the Publer Mobile app:
Go to Publer.
Select the Facebook Group account you want to share the post to.
Start creating the post. Alongside the caption, you can add a video, a GIF, a link, or a photo.
This means you will have finalized the first part of the scheduling process with the semi-automated system. Once the time comes, you will receive a push-notification/reminder from the Publer mobile app, letting you know that your post is ready.
In order for this step to work, you need to make sure that you have turned on all your notifications from Publer. Learn more about that here.
2. To finalize and publish the post:
Click on the notification sent by the Publer mobile app.
This will lead you to the post, where you can see the post preview.
Make sure you have installed the Facebook app in your mobile before hand and then, click on Open in Facebook.
Make sure to log in to the correct Facebook account.
You will be redirected to the Facebook app, where you will be able to create the post -- upload the media, paste the captions/posts, and finalize the post.
3. When you are redirected to the Facebook app:
Depending on what device you are using, the media or text will be pasted accordingly. The different scenarios are:
iOS
For every scenario, when you click on Open in Facebook:
Go to Menu and click on Groups.
Choose the correct Group you want to post to and click on "Write something..."
The text needs to be manually pasted.
The media will be saved in your device's library, and it needs to be manually added to the post.
Android
If your post has media, like a photo or video, and you click Open in Facebook:
A window will pop up asking you to select where you want to share the media. Tap on Facebook Group, choose the specific Group you want and the media will be pasted automatically when the app is opened.
The text, such as caption and follow-up comments, needs to be manually pasted.
If your post does NOT have media, when you click Open in Facebook:
The text, including links and follow-up comments, will be pasted automatically when the Facebook app is opened.
Note: An in-app video tutorial will show up accordingly, explaining what steps you need to take to finalize the post in the Facebook app.
Keep in mind:
Publer won't be able to gather insights, or sync posts, given the lack of an official API. However, you will always be able to find all the posts you share to your Facebook Group under the Posts > Posted tab.
The main post can contain a link, a video (can't exceed 20 minutes), a GIF, or a photo.
You can't use specific post options, such as adding a Location, Auto-Delete or Auto-Share, due to API limitations.
When posting using the Owner's API credentials, the owner is the one who will receive the push notification on their phone.
Written by: Brikena Cani
Updated on: 03/10/2024
Thank you!