Short answer: I shared a story in someone else's Facebook group, a person who saw it reached out to me, and they became a $30k client. It worked because posting in the right groups puts you in front of an audience full of your ideal clients, and a story builds connection faster than a pitch. To do the same, pick three to five groups where your ideal clients hang out, set up your profile so visitors know what you do, post stories, value and wins (not ads) a few times a week, answer questions, and follow up with everyone who reaches out.

Posting in other people's Facebook groups is one of those things everyone has heard of and most people underestimate. It takes five minutes. It feels small. And then one day someone messages you because of a post you'd half forgotten about.

That's exactly what happened to me. We posted in one group, someone saw a story I'd shared and reached out, and they ended up becoming a $30k client. No ad behind it and no complicated funnel. Just a story, in the right room, in front of the right person. Below is the exact process to do it yourself: how to pick the groups, what to post (with templates), what to say when someone messages, and a 30 day plan.

This is part of my ultimate guide to getting coaching clients from zero, where posting in other people's groups is one of the fastest ways to borrow an audience.

Why does posting in other people's groups work?

Because someone else has already done the hard work of gathering your ideal clients in one place. When you show up with something valuable or relatable, you get visible in front of their audience, and some of those people will click through to your profile, see your content and start following you. Visibility leads to leads, leads lead to conversations, and conversations lead to sales. A group post is the very first link in that chain.

It's also how I grew in the very beginning. One of my first offers was teaching people how to grow a Facebook group, and I grew my own by engaging and posting in other people's groups.

Why did a story work better than a pitch?

Stories create human connection. When someone reads your story, it feels like they're getting to know you, even if you've never met. Stories create emotion, and people buy on emotion. And they make you memorable, so you're the person someone thinks of when they're ready to invest. A pitch in someone else's group is usually against the rules, and even when it isn't, it doesn't build any of that. A story does the selling quietly.

The benchmarks

How to get clients from Facebook groups, step by step

Step 1: Set up your profile before you post

When your post works, people click your name. What they find decides what happens next.

• Use your personal profile. We use mine a bit like LinkedIn. Many groups prefer personal profiles, and people interact more with a person than a page.
• Make it obvious what you do. Your intro and cover image say who you help and how.
• Have content that nurtures. Educational posts, stories and evidence, so a new visitor quickly sees you know your stuff. See the 6 types of content every coach needs. If keeping your own feed going is the bit that slips, the Content Creator in Ascendia OS plans your month, writes the posts in your voice and schedules them for you.
• Have a next step. A free resource or event in your featured section so curious visitors can become leads. No opt-in page yet? The Funnel Builder inside Ascendia OS builds your opt-in and thank you page for you, ready to go live.

Time: 45 minutes, once. Done when: a stranger could look at your profile for 10 seconds and know who you help and how to get your free resource.

Step 2: Pick 3 to 5 groups where your ideal clients actually are

• Look at the programmes, memberships and masterminds you're already part of. Are you an active member, or a lurker?
• Search Facebook for your ideal client's interests and problems, and check how active each group is (posts per day, comments per post).
• Ask AI for a list of communities your ideal clients are likely to be in, then check them out.
• Read the rules and note any promo days.

Pick a handful and show up consistently, rather than dropping one post into fifty groups and never coming back. A smaller group full of buyers beats a huge group full of people who would never buy.

Time: 30 minutes. Done when: you have 3 to 5 groups listed with their rules and promo days.

Step 3: Use keyword search to find hot leads

Here's a quick win. Use the search bar inside each group to search for the words people use when they need you, like "looking for a business coach", "recommend a funnel builder" or "struggling with sales". Anyone who's posted that is actively looking for what you offer. Reply with genuinely useful help. It's competitive, because other people are doing it too, so stand out by being the most helpful answer, not the fastest pitch.

Time: 10 minutes, twice a week. Done when: you have replied helpfully to at least 3 people actively asking for help.

Step 4: Post stories, value and wins (never ads)

Always follow the group rules. Then rotate these:

• Stories that inspire: where you've come from, what you've overcome, what you learned.
• Value and top tips: one genuinely useful idea someone can act on today.
• Behind the scenes: I've shared a normal day as a mum that also happened to be a big sales day. People relate to the normal bit and get curious about the sales bit.
• Celebrations: when we've celebrated a big month in a group, people comment congratulations, then want to know how. That curiosity leads them back to my profile.
• Promo day posts: share your free resource, podcast or event when the group allows it.

Time: 10 minutes per post, 2 to 3 a week. Done when: you have posted at least twice this week and replied to every comment.

Step 5: Answer questions properly

When someone asks a question you can help with, give a properly helpful answer, not "DM me". This is one of the easiest ways to show you know what you're talking about, and the people reading the thread see it too.

Step 6: Have the conversation when someone reaches out

Thank them, ask what made them get in touch, and ask where they are now compared to where they want to be. Listen. If your offer is right for them, talk about it in their words. If not, point them to something that helps.

And follow up. People get busy. A lot of sales happen after a few gentle follow ups. I go deeper in getting in the DMs without being salesy.

Time: 20 minutes a day. Done when: every message is answered within 24 hours, with follow ups scheduled.

Worked example: 30 days in 4 groups

Example: a business coach selling a $5,000 programme spends 10 minutes a day in 4 groups.

• She posts 10 stories, wins and tips over the month and answers 15 questions.
• Those posts bring 60 profile visits a week. If 10% grab her free resource, that's around 24 new leads in the month.
• Six people message her directly. She has a conversation with each and follows up twice.
• At the 3% average, 24 leads is less than one sale. But direct conversations convert far better than cold leads, and one yes at $5,000 pays for a year of 10 minutes a day many times over.

Example numbers to show how it adds up, not a promise. My own $30k client came from a single post, but it was built on showing up again and again.

Common mistakes (and the fix)

• Dropping links and running. Fix: no links outside promo days, and stay to reply.
• Every post is a pitch. Fix: stories, value and wins, and let your profile do the selling.
• Posting and disappearing. Fix: reply to every comment. Replies are conversations waiting to happen, and keep your post visible longer.
• The wrong rooms. Fix: go where your ideal clients are, even if the group is smaller.
• Being a stranger. Fix: a few minutes most days, so people start to remember your name.
• Relying on it alone. Fix: pair it with guest speaking, collaborations and engaging with ideal clients. My full plan is in visibility without ads.

Your action plan

Today

• Update your profile intro, cover image and featured free resource.
• List 3 to 5 groups and read their rules.

This week

• Write one story your ideal client would relate to and post it in one group with no pitch.
• Search each group for 2 keywords and answer anyone asking for help.
• Reply to every comment and message the same day.

Next 30 days

• Post 2 to 3 times a week across your groups, rotating stories, value and wins.
• Use every promo day to share your free resource.
• Track profile visits, new leads and conversations each week.

Turning group visibility into leads, conversations and sales is a big part of my course Content To Clients®. For every other way to find your first clients, go back to the ultimate guide to getting coaching clients from zero.

Frequently asked questions

Can you really get high ticket clients from Facebook groups?

Yes. I got a $30k client from someone who saw a story I shared in a group and reached out. It works best when you're in groups full of your ideal clients and you share stories and value rather than pitches.

Is it OK to promote my business in other people's groups?

Only where the rules allow it, such as on promo days. The rest of the time, share value, stories and wins, and let people find your offer through your profile.

How often should I post in Facebook groups?

A few minutes most days, with 2 to 3 posts a week across a handful of groups. Consistency in a few good groups beats a one-off post in lots of groups.

Should I use my business page or personal profile in groups?

Your personal profile. Many groups prefer it, and people are more likely to engage with a person than a page.

What kind of story should I share?

One your ideal client can relate to: a challenge you faced that they're facing now, what you did about it and what changed. It doesn't need to be your deepest, darkest moment, just relevant.

Laurie Burrows is a UK-based marketing and sales strategist who has built a business that's generated multi-seven figures in sales through social media and digital marketing. Today, Laurie helps business owners use social media, content and digital marketing to get seen, attract more clients and make more sales. She's also the founder of Ascendia OS.