It’s a question we frequently hear from our medical and legal clients: What exactly is the difference between a practice’s Facebook Business page and a personal page? Although the answer may seem simple, the difference between the two is critical for managing and optimizing your practice’s social media presence.
Simply put, a Facebook Business page represents a business or brand and showcases the services it provides. On the other hand, a personal page represents a singular social media user and is used to share updates about the user’s personal life and to connect with friends and family. Your personal page should not be used to promote your business in any manner; in fact, it is against Facebook’s policy to use a personal page for business.
How to Spot a Business Page
There are also numerous differences in the layout between the two Facebook page types. A Business page typically has a list of tabs underneath the profile picture that include additional information about the business, including About, Services, Reviews, Photos, Videos, and more. A Business page also gives you the option to Like or Follow the page.
A personal page does not include these tabs. Instead, you’ll see an intro of the user with their personal details, a grid of photos they are tagged in, and a list of their Facebook friends. A personal page only allows you to add the person as a friend.
Business Page:
Personal Page:
The Importance of a Business Page
A Facebook Business page should be included in every business owner’s digital marketing plan. With more than 2.7 billion active Facebook users, it is the best (and cheapest) way to communicate directly with current and potential customers. By sharing relevant content about your business to your page, you can create a community where your page Followers can learn more about your services, provide feedback, leave reviews, ask questions, and build brand loyalty with your business.
Facebook also provides specific tools exclusively for Business pages to help improve results. You have the ability to create events, manage appointments, hire employees, and even sell your products directly on your page. There is also a setting called Page Insights which helps business owners understand the people who are following and taking action on their page. This tool can help provide additional insight into who your target audience is and the type of content they respond to.
How to Set Up a Business Page
In order to set up a Facebook Business page, you must already have a personal page created. If you do not have a personal Facebook page, you can easily create one by visiting www.Facebook.com and entering your information under Create a New Account. Once your personal page is active, navigate to your Newsfeed and click on Pages on the far left-hand column.
Then, click on Create a Page. You will then want to select the category of page you are creating. Facebook has endless options so find the category that best fits your business.
From here, Facebook will walk you through all the steps needed in order to get your Business page up and running, such as uploading a profile picture and cover photo. Keep in mind that the information on your page can be edited at any time.
What’s Next?
Once your Business page has been published, you can begin customizing it to show off your practice’s personality. Start growing your following by adding your friends, family members, colleagues, and customers, and encourage them to invite their connections, too. You can also promote your page and grow your following by linking your Facebook Business page to your website and in your email signature. Begin posting relevant, authentic, and personalized content on a regular basis to help increase engagement and interest in the services your business provides.
We Can Help
Need more help with your social media? Social Power is the answer. It makes managing and planning your social media strategies easy. Contact one of our digital marketing experts for a complimentary consultation today.
