What's the difference between "All members" and "Members with things in common" (Facebook Groups)?

Reading time: 3 min

Quick summary: When importing a Facebook group in Novalya, you choose between "All members" (broad audience) or "Members with things in common" (audience with common connections). The "Members with things in common" option is recommended for better response rates.

Where is this choice made?

When you import a Facebook group as a prospecting source:

1. On the Facebook group page, click Import members
2. A Novalya window appears with 2 options:

• All members
• Members with things in common

What does each option do?

Option 1: All members

Novalya prospects from all group members (broader audience).

Characteristics:

• Maximum volume of available prospects
• No connection filter applied
• "Cold" audience (no pre-existing relationship)

Use cases:

• Small groups (< 500 members)
• Volume strategy on broad audience
• Specific tests requiring all members

Option 2: Members with things in common (recommended)

Novalya only prospects members with whom you already have connection elements.

Possible connection elements:

• Mutual friends or connections
• Visible shared interests
• Common groups
• Commonly followed pages
• Similar location

Characteristics:

• Reduced volume but more qualified audience
• Pre-existing connection (increased receptivity)
• More "natural" approach for Facebook

Why is "Members with things in common" recommended?

3 main reasons

1. Better response rate

• Members are generally more open to responding when a connection exists
• Presence of mutual friends creates initial trust
• Message perceived as less "spam"

2. More natural behavior for Meta

• Facebook is more inclined to let actions proceed when the approach is natural
• Reduced restriction risk
• Alignment with Meta best practices

3. Better business results

• Higher conversion rate on qualified audience
• More engaging conversations
• Optimized prospecting ROI

Can I change the option after import?

No, conversion impossible

Once a group is imported with an option, you cannot "convert" that import to the other option.

Alternative solutions

If you want to test the other option:

• Import the same group with the other option
• Both imports can coexist (distinct sources)
• You can launch separate campaigns on each source

If you no longer want to use an import:

• Delete the group source in Novalya
• This frees up space without affecting your other sources

When to use "All members"?

In most cases, we recommend "Members with things in common".

Specific cases for "All members"

Very small group:

• Group contains less than 100-200 members
• "Things in common" option would reduce available volume too much

Specific volume strategy:

• You need maximum volume for a one-time operation
• You accept potentially lower response rate
• You have a very relevant message for the entire group

Comparative test:

• You want to compare performance between both options
• Parallel import for A/B analysis

Impact on filters and campaigns

Filter compatibility

Both options are compatible with:

• Keyword filters (positive/negative)
• Standard Novalya targeting filters
• Identical campaign configuration

Final prospect volume

Concrete example:

"French Entrepreneurs" group: 10,000 members

"All members" option:
→ 10,000 potential prospects

"Members with things in common" option:
→ ~1,500 potential prospects (example)

With additional keyword filters:
→ Volume reduced in both cases according to criteria

Best practices

Recommended startup

1. Start with "Members with things in common"
2. Test on small volume (20-30 messages)
3. Analyze response rate
4. If satisfactory, continue with this option
5. If volume too low, consider "All members"

Continuous optimization

• Always prioritize quality over quantity
• 10% response rate on 100 prospects is better than 2% on 500
• Adjust your filters before changing import option

FAQ

Can I see how many members are available with each option before importing?

No, exact number is only visible after import. Facebook doesn't communicate this information beforehand.

If I imported with "All members", can I filter afterwards to have only "Things in common"?

No, this filter only applies to import. You'll need to reimport the group with the other option.

Do both options consume the same message quota?

Yes. Message quota depends on your Novalya plan, not the chosen import option. It's the number of actually sent messages that counts.

Is there a speed difference in import between both options?

Import "All members" can be slightly longer on very large groups (10,000+ members), but the difference remains minor.

Need help?

If you have questions about choosing the import option:

• Ticket Center: Available from your Novalya space
• Email: support@novalya.com

We typically respond within 2 hours during business days.

Updated on: 27/03/2026