Facebook is an omnipresent social media channel these days. There aren’t many people who don’t use Facebook to socialise and share snippets of their everyday lives. Facebook started off as a way to connect with close social circles and perhaps stay in touch with friends and family living too far away for a casual visit. However, since it began, Facebook has developed a whole lot, meaning there is so much more you can do with it than ever before.It’s become a powerful marketing tool for companies, an invaluable source of information, and a great way to make new connections. If you’ve not thought about using Facebook as a way to help you with your move abroad and new expat life, then it’s time to reconsider, and take a look at just a few of the way that you can utilise the social media behemoth.
Expat Groups
Check out some of our Expat Focus country groups. There’s a huge variety of groups to choose from, so you should be able to find one specifically for the country you intend to move to or already live in.
The groups are moderated so you won’t have to sift through loads of adverts and spam. The content is informative and friendly, so you can anticipate meeting and interacting with other like-minded migrants, find helpful tips and recommendations on anything from the best hairdressers to favourite brunch spots, and join relevant debates and discussions.
Groups like this are great for combatting the sense of loneliness you might feel after moving to a new country and are invaluable in helping you navigate some of the more complicated aspects of expat life!
Meetup Groups
If you want to go a step further than socialising online, you can use Facebook groups to join or organise meetups with both expats and local people in your area. Providing you are cautious, responsible and aware when meeting those you’ve connected with online, meetups can be an excellent and fun way to ease yourself into the social scene of your new home.
In this day and age, we’re all more well-connected thanks to the internet, so you’ve got the opportunity to meet plenty of people with the same hobbies and interests as yourself.
Job Boards
Another useful way Facebook groups can be used when you move abroad is to look and apply for jobs. You can use it for networking within a certain niche market that you’re hoping to break into, or you can join groups specifically geared for job searches. You may be surprised with what you can find on Facebook, as so many companies use it now.
You can even take matters into your own hands and contact companies with a pre-emptive jobs pitch or ask to be kept on their records in the event that something suitable should come up.
Property Groups
Naturally, renting or even buying your new home will probably be high up on your priority list when you make your move. There are plenty of groups, including house and apartment shares where you can find roommates or apply to be the newbie in an existing house share, as well as property companies that will post their latest listings to reach a wider range of audience.
Buying And Selling
Join Facebook buy and sell groups or use the ‘marketplace’ option to get great deals on all sorts of homeware, from sofas and tables to chairs and mattresses. You may find cars and bikes to help you get around when you first arrive.
Some groups even focus on offering free items for collection, so if you’re on a budget and looking to kit out your new home, this is a great place to start!
Local Events
Use Facebook to find, create or share local events. These can range from buzzing music gigs to experimental theatre shows. You can alter your settings to show events you might be interested in on your newsfeed, or create your own events if you’re planning something others will enjoy. This gives you the opportunity to meet others, since you can arrange a drink before or after the event.
We hope this guide has given you plenty of ideas you might not have necessarily have thought of on how to use Facebook as an expat. Social media is a powerful tool to use to your advantage when moving abroad. As well as Facebook, consider other sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Google Plus. It’s common to feel confused, overwhelmed and lonely when you start your expat journey, so do use the internet and social media to combat this. Not only do these sites help you connect and stay in touch with your loved ones back home, but they pave the way to making new friends and helping you settle into life in your new country.
What are some of the ways you use Facebook? Share your thoughts in the comments below!