It started with just five of us.
We were a small group of indie musicians trying to stay connected, share our work, and support each other. I created a Facebook Group one late night thinking, this will be easy. Just post updates, welcome new members, and keep the spam out. Right?
Wrong.
The moment we hit 500 members, everything changed. Approve requests. Deny spammy posts. Remove comments that violated our community guidelines. Pin important announcements. Track engagement. Analyze growth metrics. I was overwhelmed. That’s when I realized: I couldn’t do it alone. I needed help.
And that’s when I truly understood the difference between a Facebook Group Admin and a Moderator.
Why I Needed a Moderator… and Not Just Another Admin
At first, I thought giving someone else admin privileges would solve all my problems. But I hesitated. Admins can remove me, change the privacy setting, even ban people I trusted. They have full control over group settings, tags, and even description edits. And let’s be honest I wasn’t ready to hand over the keys.
That’s when I looked deeper into what moderators could do. And honestly, I was surprised. Moderators can:
- Approve or deny member requests
- Remove posts and comments
- Pin or unpin posts
- Block users
- Respond to messages
- Help with contests and post scheduling
- Welcome new members
- Keep the group spam-free
All without changing admin-level settings. It felt like the perfect balance of control and support.
How I Actually Added My First Moderator
Here’s how I did it and yes, it’s simple, but still easy to mess up if you’re not paying attention.
- Go to the group from the News Feed
- Click Members under the title
- Find the person, hit the three dots
- Choose Make Moderator
- They’ll get a notification, and once they accept, they’re in
No need to stress over full admin power falling into the wrong hands. Moderators help maintain your group without accidentally deleting everything you’ve built.
One Annoying Thing I Didn’t Expect
Here’s what I didn’t love Facebook doesn’t save membership questions once a member is approved. If you asked for an email or something valuable, it’s just… gone.
That’s when I discovered Groupboss, a third-party tool that automatically saves answers to Google Sheets and syncs with email marketing autoresponders. I could even track how many leads we generated from new member requests. It was like giving my group a dashboard. I still use it today.
What Makes a Great Moderator (In My Experience)
Adding just anyone as a moderator is a mistake I made early on. One guy ghosted after a week. Another approved every post without reading them. So now I look for three things:
- Love: They care about the group’s cause and genuinely want to help
- Credibility: They’ve earned members’ trust through previous interaction
- Commitment: They show up consistently and stay involved
This isn’t just about removing spam or managing posts. It’s about building a community.
Why I Don’t Regret Keeping Admin Control
Yes, moderators can help with content, events, and group moderation but only admins can:
- Remove other admins
- Manage privacy settings
- Edit group description
- Create membership questions
- Access advanced Facebook group features
So when it comes to things like testing out new Facebook tools, experimenting with Instagram or WhatsApp integration, or analyzing firmographic data for competitive research, I still love having that top-level admin access.
But I let my moderators handle the day-to-day.
The Coolest Features I Discovered by Accident
I didn’t even know you could:
- Add a note when removing someone’s post
- Schedule posts directly inside the group
- Create a separate admin-only group for behind-the-scenes talk
- Track post approvals and rejections for moderation training
- View a mini dashboard showing weekly growth metrics
It’s wild how many features are buried until you need them.
Top 5 Things That Saved Me as an Admin
Looking back, here are the things that changed everything:
- Creating clear guidelines and pinning them
- Choosing the right privacy setting from the start
- Hiring reliable moderators, not just handing out admin badges
- Using Groupboss to capture membership answers and emails
- Having a private admin group to plan things
These simple shifts made the group smoother, stronger, and far less stressful.
Should You Use a Moderator or an Admin?
If you’re just starting out, and the group is tiny, you can probably manage it alone. But once you start seeing serious engagement comments, event signups, even complaints you’ll need help.
Ask yourself:
- Do I need someone to just moderate posts and clean spam? ➝ Choose a Moderator
- Do I need a partner to run and manage everything with me? ➝ Assign an Admin
And if you’re really serious about growth, use tools like Groupboss, experiment with Telegram or WhatsApp for engagement, and analyze what’s working for competitors.
Final Thoughts: Moderation Isn’t Optional It’s Power
Managing a Facebook Group isn’t just about running a page. It’s about leadership, strategy, and creating a space where people feel heard.
And while I still love having full control as an admin, I’ve come to respect and depend on my moderators more than I ever expected.
Together, we built something real. And with the right tools, the right team, and the right strategy you can too.
So, what’s holding you back from leveling up your Facebook group today?
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