Review of Literature
Ways to Set Up Social Media for Small Groups
Experts on using social media to market small groups assert that people running small groups should research the best options and set up social media specifically for their group. In writing about ways to make small groups more noticed, Stephen Blandino who is a pastor and leader of small groups within his church says to, " Exhaust your tools to help you spread the word about groups" (para. 5). When Blandino states this, he means to use all the different social media and marketing strategies to your benefit when you are promoting a small group. James Scherer, an editor at Wishpond, agrees with Blandino about using your tools to help promote one's group. Scherer says, "Facebook is a fantastic way for businesses to drive quality traffic and engagement" (section 5). He says this because it helps to show that certain social media platforms are better to use than others and that they are great at promoting groups. These experts in social media and small groups seem to support the idea of using the marketing strategies that will best get your target audience's attention.
Ways to Grow Small Groups Through Social Media
Experts on small groups within churches have found that social media is a very important tool when trying to grow their groups. While discussing ways to grow small groups using social media, Tommy Carreras, a churchgoer, explains "our greatest advertising tool for joining a group is the story of a changed life" (para. 5). Carreras has experience with small groups, and he has found that sharing people's personal story on social media platforms is one of the most effective ways to grow small groups. Similarly, to Carreras, Dan King, an author, agrees that growing small groups through social media is more than just using it to advertise. King states "while it’s critically important to building relationships, it’s also hard to go really deep if you’re only connecting with each other for a short time once per week" (para. 7). King means that small groups are about sharing stories of each other's lives, but it also needs to be more involved than just once a week. There should be multiple meetings a week or communication between members throughout the week. These experts in small groups support the idea that these groups need to be about the stories of the members to grow, not just using minimal social media efforts to grow the group.
Importance of Finding Support Groups for Single Mothers
Experts on the psychology among single mothers claim that raising a child alone puts women at an increased risk for psychopathology. In writing about mental health in single mothers and their children, Sara Agnafors, Professor of Clinical and Experimental Medicine at Linköping University says, “The risk for psychopathology in single mothers and their children is increased. The increased risk for mental health problems in single-mother households has also been attributed to increased experience of stressful life events. Societal support for single mothers is needed to enable them to continue providing healthy parenting skills, an increased sense of empowerment, and a feeling of belonging.” (para. 27) Agnafors claims that these single mothers are at an elevated risk for developing mental health problems among themselves or their children due to events leaving them single. Dr. Marika Lindholm agrees with Agnafors that these single mothers are at risk for issues, as she says “Stressors can pile up and lead to a mental health crisis. Some women struggle with depression, anxiety disorders and PTSD. Sometimes they self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. Given the stressors single moms encounter, combined with the overwhelming responsibility of raising children on one’s own, a support group or counseling is essential.” (para. 15) According to Dr. Lindholm, women who end up raising a child alone is often a gateway to further issues in the household. Both experts support the idea that single mothers face the possibility of developing mental health issues due to their situation and agree that support groups are important to help avoid those issues.
The importance of putting effort into a Facebook group page.
Having a Facebook group page with good content is important to keep an audience engaged. All group posts will show up in the group feed, and the biggest emphasis is on interaction.” (Gotter, 2020). Ana Gotter claims that group-oriented posts have a big positive impact on social interaction among a page. Megan O’Neil agrees with Gotter by saying “Group content tends to inspire a lot of conversation. Communities on Facebook are becoming increasingly active and vibrant.” (O’Neil, 2018) The posts on the page are not the only thing that makes a group feel comfortable and encourages posts/discussions. “Having a closed group can make it easier to moderate the group and can make members feel safer posting in a controlled environment. This feeling, in turn, helps to keep the attitude within the group respectful and positive” (Hodgkinson, 2021). Neil Patel also agrees with Rivka Hodgkinson. “When someone gains access to a closed Facebook group, they feel a sense of exclusivity. Not everyone gets to join it. Not everyone is selected or accepted.” (Patel, 2019)
Why People Are Hesitant to Join Support Groups
Often, the first step in joining a support group is deciding to do so. Various reasons can potentially prolong this decision and cause individuals to become hesitant in joining social support or therapy groups. Dr. Revel Miller, a practicing psychologist specializing in group therapy, explains fearing judgment and holding the belief that members cannot help them are among the reasons that hold potential members back. He states, “Most new members also fear exposing their feelings of loneliness, alienation and inability to find supportive allies in the group” (Miller, 2019). When explaining the latter, Dr. Miller clarifies, “…over time, group members become trusted friends…Often, the other group members become more enabled to give us gems of insight and feedback than most friends, lovers, and family members” (Miller, 2019).
Similarly, when speaking about why more people show a reluctance in joining Alzheimer’s support groups, Dr. Robert Santulli, a visiting associate psychology professor at Dartmouth College, claims that the most common reasons tend to be that individuals feel like they cannot make time or that they simply do not need the support. To this, he responds by explaining, “You may feel you are not able to leave your loved one home alone while you attend a group, and don't want to hire someone, or to ask a friend to help so you can attend a group. But going to a support group is one of the most important reasons you can have to ask a friend or family member to spend some time with your loved one” (Santulli, 2015). Further explaining, “Many people don’t like to acknowledge their need for support, for a variety of reasons. If you don’t want to concede that you need this, it is okay to tell yourself, and others, that you are simply going to the group to learn the best ways to manage the illness” (Santulli, 2015). While not explicit examples of single mothers' support groups, both experts cite similar reasons as to why people are hesitant to join various support groups. Individuals hold beliefs such as fearing judgment for seeking support or claiming they do not need it and feeling guilty for using valuable time attending a support group. The experts consider similar ways to address these concerns with reluctant potential members.
Ways to Market and Grow Single Moms Ministries
Experts on marketing churches and single mothers' ministries have found that incorporating events and relevant series will profoundly affect growing membership within a support group and keeping existing members returning. Dr. Rick Warren, pastor, author, and founder of Saddleback Church, one of the largest churches in the U.S., claims that implementing sermon series on relevant topics builds positive momentum and creates excitement surrounding a topic. He explains, “In a series each message builds on each other. Your congregation begins to anticipate the next sermon…Preach on a topic that touches the lives of your congregation, they’ll tell their friends” (Warren, 2013). Comparably, Jennifer Maggio, award-winning author, speaker, and founder of The Life of a Single Mom Ministries nonprofit, emphasizes the importance of teaching relevant topics. She also adds that much like a sermon series, planning an “event” gets single moms in the church and community excited. Maggio shares, “Single mothers need help in parenting, finances, and overall emotional & spiritual growth…two out of three single mothers are not attending a local church. This means, we need to teach things to resonate with them…” (Maggio, 2013). She emphasizes the importance of creating an “event” for single moms by saying, “There is no better way to attract some new faces (and regain some old ones) than to have a single moms’ conference, night of beauty, night of worship, game night, or something similar…Planning an event is a great way to forge excitement throughout your single mom’s ministry and even have a “relaunch” of sorts” (Maggio, 2013). Both experts agree that covering topics that meet the group's needs is critical in retaining interest and drawing new individuals. Additionally, both believe that creating an event or sermon series generates excitement and draws in new members.
Ways to Market Business
Having an organization you want to get out there can be a hard thing to do if you do not have any idea on how to get it out in the first place so that people can hear about it. You might now know where to start but in an article by Katy Cowan it states "Don't ever leave home without your business cards. You never know who you might meet. Make sure your business cards contain all your relevant information, including your website address and any social media accounts you might have." (Katy Cowan on 12 July 2011, & Written by Katy Cowan. (2011, July 12) In doing this, you are able to give out information in a more kindly and professional manner. You can give them out to store so that other people can see your card and take one or you can give them out to people as they go. If you see someone who you think might be interested in your business you could quickly give them your card. Furthermore spreading your business. Kristen McCormick also shares the same idea as Katy Cowan, in her blog she states "If you are considering promoting your business through print ads or any of these offline strategies, the key is to make sure you are tracking everything so that you can know the effectiveness." (McCormick , Kristen. “The 30 Best Ways to Promote Your Business in 2021-With or Without Money.” WordStream, 2 Nov. 2020, It also gives you the chance to introduce yourself to the person and make a connection. In a world with having to wear masks all the time and not really getting the chance to talk to people, giving them your business card would be a great ice breaker. Both of these authors believe that promoting your business through print outs is a good way to get your business out there and known.
Why some people might not join or be hesitant about joining.
There are a lot of reasons for people being hesitant to join a support group. They might not feel like it is for them or that they need it. They might worry about what others think and think people at the support group will talk behind their back and negatively about them. Those were some initial thoughts in this article. "In fact, I had some ideas about support groups that weren’t true. I thought I would have to share everything I was thinking. I thought that others might judge me. Perhaps they would talk about me behind my back or tell others what I had said. Maybe the other members of the group wouldn’t like me."(Support Groups: A Powerful Wellness Tool. Wellness Recovery Action Plan® (WRAP®) Literally all the reasons why a person might go. Those thoughts or stigmas about the group will eat at you and be the reason why they won't go. It is the fear in them that will not allow them to go. In an article by Revel Miller, he states " Many of their fears, opinions and beliefs may be faulty and they certainly limit their own experiences and lives. It is sad to know that people limit themselves so much and by doing so they often prolong their pain and problems." (Miller, Revel. “Why Are People Reluctant to Join Group Therapy? Part I.” Revel Miller, Ph.D., 6 Dec. 2019,) Making the first step to commit to joining a group is extremely difficult if all you are doing is feeding the negatives of it and that will keep a person from going. It takes a lot of courage and until they have built that up to be able to go, they won't.
How to Make Group Members Feel Like they Belong
Experts on small groups and organizations have asserted that retained members are more important than new members. In Association Management: How to Attract, Engage, and Retain Members, Anna Duin, discusses how to engage and retain group members and says "create[ing] opportunities for interactions'' and "staying relevant" are the best ways to keep the attention of the members (Duin, 2018). Interactions of any type can influence attendance during meetings. Relevancy allows for new topics and ideas to generate throughout the group. This helps to keep others' interests at their peak. However, with some of these new topics and ideas that would be discussed, a feeling of uncomfort might sink in. According to Kevin Hall, meetings should be "both safe and practical" (Hall, 2020). If one of the group members feels uncomfortable during a discussion, then lean to a different subject. There must be boundaries so every member can feel included. Both of these articles explain that groups and organizations need to be both interesting, but fair.
How to Effectively Lead Groups
Experts in small organizations and groups discuss successful ways to retain group members. In the article "How to Lead Groups Effectively", Jessica Notini says that in order "to effectively lead a group, start by building trust and goodwill among the group members" (Notini 2021). Some specific ways are by performing ice-breaking activities such as having the members introduce each other and why they are there. Another thing that groups can do is give each other their phone numbers in order to contact the members closer. This helps the members have opportunities to support one another. In another article named "Five Ways to Keep Members Engaged", Phil Hall mentions that group meetings should "stay focused, but friendly" because if they were professional all the time, the attendees would lose interest. One way groups can fix that is by having in-person and online meetings. A change of scenery can impact a group's attendance. Another way to keep group members interested is by hosting some type of annual event such as a dinner.
Having Effective Leadership in Groups
Group leadership is a vital component in ensuring that support groups fulfill their purposes, and thus, in the end, they can maintain their group following. According to Thomas G, Martin R, and Riggio RE, who are professors of social psychology, point out that, "Anthropological evidence suggests that people have always lived in groups in which leader-follower relationships quickly and naturally emerge. Such leadership is viewed as an adaptive solution to the problem of how to coordinate collective actions in the service of group goals". Without coordinated action in a group, single mom support groups would have difficulty maintaining their members since there would be a lack of leadership that guides them to solve their problems. Joshua B. Wu et al., professors at the University of Miami Arizona State University, agree that effective leadership is essential since "differentiated leadership within groups diminishes group effectiveness through creating divergence in the leader identification and member self-efficacy, and lowers group collective efficacy. " The lack of self-efficacy which is the core of ensuring that single moms stay in support groups is essential. Ensuring effective leadership is vital since single moms staying in support groups depends on the group's leadership effectiveness.
Monitoring Group Size, Group Development, and Group Productivity
Group dynamics of a group are essential in ensuring that groups are thriving. During group processes, the entry, and exit of members in between different timelines can affect the group's effectiveness, thus preventing new members from joining since they can feel like they cannot catch up with the rest of the group or the old members feeling dragged backward. Susan Wheelan, the creator of the GDQ (the Group Development Questionnaire), points out that "there is a massive impact of small and large workgroups on developmental processes and group productivity." She further points out that groups need to be sizeable to make individuals feel cared for since large groups can be hard to manage, and behaviors such as absenteeism and exits from large groups are common since individuals feel that their needs are not getting the attention they need. Peter E. Mudrack of Kanas State University adds to Wheelan's idea on the importance of groups dynamics ensuring that single moms stick to support groups by suggesting that group cohesiveness plays a vital role in its productivity and, in the end, ensuring that it becomes harder for already existing members to exit the group. Both authors agree that group dynamics play a vital role in keeping single moms in support groups.
Collaboration with groups that have similar goals
In order to establish a long-lasting and resilient community, it sometimes is necessary to anticipate financial downturns and look to alternative funding strategies. Thomas Paul Batson’s thesis in the Doctor of Ministry projects explores the benefits of coming together with other churches in the community that provide similar resources. In his thesis, he concludes that, “a shared small group experience between two churches can be a catalyst for the development of fruitful, interchurch partnership” (Batson, 2018, p.9). Similarly, Rosario Picardo explores the need for alternative funding practices as general reception of institutions change. In the book, Funding Ministry with five loaves and two fishes, Picardo says, “effective ministry looks to other churches, nonprofits, community leaders, businesses, and even the local government for possible partnerships. This saves resources and can multiply the influence of a church, so long as the partnerships line up with vision and mission.” (Picardo,2016, p.40). Both of these sources consider alternative ways to support a ministry, especially looking to other groups and supporting each other to better help the community.
Expanding Budget
When budgeting, it is important to consider fundraising and money allocation. Scott Morton's Funding Your Ministry explores the integration of a deeper analysis and inclusion of aspects such as social media and networking to expand the budget. Concepts such as reflection within the ministry are discussed in the book. Morton, a funding coach, asks the ministry leader to reflect on "What specific obstacles keep you from reaching 100 percent of your approved budget?" (Morton 2017). Similarly, Covier asks the organizer to assess what possible internal factors can affect them from reaching their funding potential, "The single most important factor affecting the success or failure of your fundraising plan is ownership. Bring together a planning team .... staff, board, volunteers, patrons, donors, etc. Their participation will help set realistic goals, clarify responsibilities, and identify the resources necessary to support the plan." (Covier 1997). Finally, in Funding ministry with five loaves and two fishes Picardo urges the budget organizer to consider cultural influence in people donating money, "The church’s traditional practice of asking its congregants to donate to a general fund that is divided up to pay staff salaries, maintain facilities, and fund community outreach is no longer palatable in today’s culture." (Picardo 2016).