Facebook Pages VS Profiles: What You Need To Know
For businesses the use of social media is essential for reaching new and existing customers, but when it comes to Facebook there are a few do’s and don’ts that you need to be aware of. Most people have a Facebook “profile” but not many people know that this is very different to a Facebook “page.” For a business, it is the page that is going to bring you more benefit in the long term.
A Facebook “profile” is a personal profile for an individual. This is where individuals can post photos and status updates as well as keep in touch with and interact with friends. A Facebook “page” is for a business account. On this page you can promote your company, special offers and encourage other Facebook users to interact with your company or brand. And unlike a Facebook profile, there is no limit to how many followers you can have (personal profiles are limited to 5000 friends).
You cannot use a Facebook profile for business – this is expressly forbidden in Facebook’s terms of service. However, if you do not have a Facebook profile you cannot set up a page. You can convert your profile to a business page if you wish.
So what happens if you choose not to make use of a Facebook page for your company? First of all you may be disappointing a lot of customers and potential customers who are spending time searching for your business online. Creating a page is easy and does not take up a lot of time so it’s worth the effort. With so many businesses taking advantage of this technology you do not want your company to be perceived as out of touch with the modern world.
Remember that on a Facebook page, a person only has to ‘like’ the page in order to be able to interact and follow updates. This is very different from a profile where you need to send a friend request and have that request accepted before you get to communicate properly with others. Your page should have a link to your company website. Share content that encourages users to interact with your company or brand, helping them to get to know your product or service.
A Facebook page also means that you have access to Facebook Insights where you can track the success of your social media work. Analyze the performance of your page and this information can help you to plan your social media strategy.
With billions of accounts in use all over the world, Facebook offers lots of potential. For more tips on utilizing Facebook refer to our last post, Top 5 Facebook Tips for Businesses. If you have any social media or online marketing questions, please feel free to email me, Amy Grishman at amy@socialfocus.com.