This last month, the two biggest tile-specific Facebook groups celebrated a birthday.
Tile Geeks celebrated 8 years of existence since its June 30, 2013 creation by former admin and current Ardex rep Jack Hamilton.
Just three years and two days later, on July 2nd, 2016, Jason McDaniel launched Global Tile Posse.
Total Membership
There’s no doubt whatsoever that Tile Geeks sports the highest membership numbers of any tile group on Facebook, period. Currently, they are knocking on the door of an astounding 20k members!
They were the first on the scene and have enjoyed a full 3-year head start over the next largest group, GTP, that just cleared the 12,000 member mark.
From here, the numbers get a little less clear-cut and a little more interesting.
What about engagement?
Now, membership numbers are one thing but what about participation rate? Which group do people prefer to post in?
Let’s turn to the numbers:
Here, GTP clearly has a higher number of posts in a 30-day period: 1701 vs 1131.
What’s shocking about this is although GTP only has 2/3rds of TG membership numbers, they generate 33% more posts!
Another way of saying it is:
- It takes 7 GTP members to generate one post
- It takes 17 TG members to generate one post
Additionally, it should be noted that this isn’t a new or a “one-off” trend. It’s been this way for the last couple of years, at least.
Time to 12,000 members
My final chart shows the number of months that it took Tile Geeks to get to the 12,000 member mark where the Posse is now.
- Geeks: 76 months
- GTP: 60 months
Conclusions
So, these are the numbers. Just like politics, it’s your job to skew them whichever way suits your argument.
For example, did the Posse get to 12,000 members quicker because they are a more engaging group or because the Geeks were the first to blaze the trail?
I’ll leave that for you to decide! However, I feel like I need to caution about one thing:
Warning! If you reference these charts, Facebook may filter your post and label it TOO MUCH TRUTH!
Finally, did you know Global Tile Posse stepped in when a woman had her bathroom destroyed by a contractor over a payment dispute? Or that someone we all know created a fake facebook account for some nefarious purpose?
Mike Sima says
Is there a way to see how many people who are in TG are also now in GTP?
That is also an important number.
Also, when the GTP admin posts several times a day that brings post counts up. Not that the TG admins couldn’t do the same thing but Jason does encourage group participation.
Love that they both exist. Both are great for different reasons.
grinderadmin says
There might be a way but that would take more thinking than I am capable of. But, it would be interesting to know.
Waddle (the flood test) Duck says
GTP admin really puts himself out there and has a strong positivity message as long as you don’t put pineapple on pizza or drive a suped up Subaru.
grinderadmin says
Yes. And the Coalition Supporting Pineapple on Pizza approves this message.
Antoniofup says
Tile setting can be an extremely lonely business. Starting the Global Tile Posse with Dave Bitton has been an amazing tool to combat that. We have done many fun competitions that have given people, like Angie Halford, the opportunity to showcase their talents.