Don’t get shut down on Facebook!

Should a business be setting up a Facebook Profile, Group or Page?

Facebook has different options available:
- You should set up a personal PROFILE as an individual.
- Your business would then have a PAGE.
- If you want to bring together people who have a common interest or cause you can create a GROUP.

What is the difference?

'Profiles' are a collection of information about you as an individual. Having this set up enables you to invite users to be your friends and share information, pictures and videos with them.

'Pages' are visible to everyone on the internet (not just Facebook users) and are indexed by search engines like Google. They are used to keep customers and prospective customers up to date with news, events and offers, share information and respond to feedback, comments and suggestions. To set up a business page you need to have a personal profile but there is a personal-professional distinction in that the names of the administrators are not displayed unless you want them to.

'Groups' can be created by anyone and about any topic for people to share their opinions and interest in that subject. Groups can be kept closed or ‘secret’.

Why does it matter?

The reason it is important to know this is I have seen that some businesses have been set up as profiles. Please be aware that Facebook’s terms of service for profiles states, “Profiles represent individuals and must be held under an individual name, while Pages allow an organization, business, celebrity, or band to maintain a professional presence on Facebook.” If your business’ profile gets shut down by Facebook for violating this rule, your contacts list and your content will vanish with it.

Accounts have been shut down! Don't let it happen to you.

If you do need any further advice regarding this or need to convert a profile to a page, let me know: sarah@socialmediaspice.co.uk