Happy Social Media Monday! Today we’re going to talk about the difference between Facebook Profiles and Pages. As UnFranchise® Owners, you already know that social media is an essential tool that can help you build your business. But have you ever asked yourself, “should I have a Facebook Profile or a Facebook Page to represent my business?” Before you make a decision, here’s what you need to know.
Friends vs. Fans
When you set up a personal Facebook profile, you will use it to connect with “friends.” To be friends with someone, you must first send them a friend request. Many people will not approve a friend request (or send one out in the first place) if they do not know you. While they may be interested in what you do and your business, they may not feel comfortable connecting with someone (and allowing them access to all their personal posts on their profile) that they have never met. However, when you have a Facebook Page, anyone can access and view the content you post. Unlike a Facebook profile where being friends with someone is a two way street, anyone can “Like” your Facebook Page to subscribe to your Page’s updates.
What kind of content should I post?
Personal updates (like info about your family vacation, photos of your kids, and comments about the weather) should be kept strictly to your Facebook profile. Talk about your business and the products you sell on occasion, but your focus should be on building relationships, connecting with old friends, and sharing interesting tidbits about your life with the people you know. For example, if you’re trying to establish yourself and your business as a leader in the fitness industry, share interesting fitness articles and post information about the health benefits of your favorite ma® branded supplements.
On a page, your goal should be to engage your audience and provide them with valuable content that they will want to engage with. When it comes to your Business Page, keep your focus on the products and the business opportunity. Let’s say you just completed your fist 5K race and you want to share something about it on your business page. Rather than posting a photo of you and your family at the finish line (too personal), share a picture of your race number alongside your favorite Isotonix® products you took before the 5K. Include a caption that focuses on the products and their health benefits while promoting an active lifestyle that your audience can relate to.
Scheduling Content
When you share content on your personal profile, you have no choice but to post it immediately. However, that’s not the case with a Facebook Page. As the manager of your Page, you have the option of posting content immediately or scheduling it to post sometime in the future. This is helpful for when you put together a lot of great content, but don’t have time post it (or are afraid you will forget) during the peak activity times on Facebook.
Adding apps to Page tabs
Another benefit of having a Facebook Page is your ability to add apps to the tabs at the top of your Page (see below). Whether you choose to link to your business blog or incorporate an app like StoreYa into your Page, apps are a great way to showcase different aspects of your business and provide your audience with additional information. We will be talking more about Facebook apps and tabs next week, so stay tuned for more information!
Have you created a Facebook Page for your UnFranchise® Business? Tell us why or why not in the comment section below!