Before the internet came, there were three ways to learn about caring for Fishes: asking a local neighborhood breeder, talking to a pet shop staff member, and reading books.
Among the three, reading books was the hardest because of their limited availability, not to mention their hefty price tag. I remember having to visit National Bookstore regularly just to read the Fish book on display.
Meanwhile, other people who had Fishes at home were hard to find; it was quite difficult to coordinate schedules to share what we knew. Things became easier with the advent of the mobile phone, what with the texting system proving itself effective for information sharing. Then, the internet became a thing, and with so many apps now available, the once-scarce information became an instant overload — so many sharers, bloggers, and bloggers.
Sources of information, including the community, are the foundation of my journey to establishing my pet academy. One of the best platforms for these is Facebook, as FB groups play a vital role in information exchange.
CREATING A FACEBOOK GROUP
My current Facebook group “Goldfish for beginners” has been growing daily and has reached more than 75,000 members as of writing. Below are some of the things that have helped add credibility.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The Facebook group creator, and by extension the group administrators, should follow the platform’s terms and conditions; otherwise, Facebook will take the group down.
The Goldfish group I created was taken down twice because of live selling. It was quite difficult to moderate posts. It helps if posts had to be approved first.
WHAT FACEBOOK HATES
Due to scammers and spammers, Facebook has been strict about their features. The following violations get the most attention.
- VIOLENCE
- NUDITY
- SPAMMING
- BULLYING
- RACISM
- SELLING OF LIVE ANIMALS
- PROFANITY
CLEAR OBJECTIVE
I created the Facebook group for the purpose of a pet academy, which caters primarily to beginners. Learning how beginners ask questions and comprehend answers helps me become more effective in achieving the group’s goals.
I decided to create both digital and print infographics, because the effort put into them provided legitimacy. They were also more shareable in other platforms. For the print versions, I used laminated prints and placed them alongside my tanks or ponds.
PROFILE PHOTO
I created an animated icon of myself and the FB page I represent. Many contributors are open to sharing their actual picture, but I am the backstage type of person, so a simplified icon works well.
GROUP MODERATION
This includes daily moderation and the removal of certain members.
WHEN IT COMES TO PRIVATE MESSAGES, I DISCOURAGE THEM FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
- ONLY ONE PERSON BENEFITS FROM THE INFO
- SOME MEMBERS USE INDIVIDUAL MESSAGING FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES
- NO OTHER PERSON CAN CHECK IF THE INFORMATION GIVEN HAS A SOLID BASIS
- SCAMMERS ABOUND
PROS AND CONS
We all have negative experiences related to Facebook. There will always be people attempting to spam, scam, bash, or even hack our accounts.
However, I believe it is still the best platform for fellowship and information dissemination at a global level. With the right tools and systems to meticulously implement rules, everyone interested in caring for their own Fishes can learn a lot, make friends, and enjoy while they’re at it.
