Facebook Page vs Facebook Profile – Which One is Right for You?

The terms Page and Profile are used interchangeably when talking about Facebook or FB, as many people call it. However, these two terms are not the same, and they even differ in several functionalities.

Here is an overview of a Facebook Page vs Facebook Profile:

#1 People vs Entity

When you create a Personal Account or Profile, it is supposed to represent you as an individual. Therefore, it should be registered under your real name as it is intended for non-commercial use.

A Fan Page or Page is designed to be used by artists, brands, causes, companies, and organizations to establish presence on various social media channels. If you head over to the homepage and look below the sign up button, there is a Create a Page link, which specifies that it be for celebrities, bands, or businesses.

Also, in order to start a Fan Page, you must have a personal account. And by creating one, you become its administrator. But you can also share this responsibility with other users given that they also have their own accounts.

#2 Friends vs Fans

A Profile on Facebook represents an individual user, and your contacts are referred to as your friends. On the other hand, a Page represents an entity and has fans instead of friends.

#3 Add vs Like

If you wanted to add somebody, you would have to go to his or her profile and click on the Add Friend button. Depending on the privacy settings, you might have to wait until your Friend Request is accepted.

But this is entirely different when it comes to Pages. All you have to do is click on the Like button and the business’ or group’s posts will appear on your news feeds. Also, page owners cannot view updates from the people who have Liked them.

They do, however, have access to other information that they can use for Internet marketing SEO purposes such as the Facebook Insights, which provide analytical data.

#4 Friend vs Fan Limits

Facebook allows a person to have as many as 5,000 friends, a bit limited if you compare it to Twitters’ allowance for millions of Followers, a fact that many celebrities and businesses consider a disadvantage. However, Facebook Pages do not have this kind of restriction. Once you amass 5,000 friends though, you can migrate your Profile to a Fan Page.

#5 Profile vs Fan Page Features

With a Personal Account, you can upload pictures and videos, invite people to become friends, and update your status. With a Fan Page, it is basically the same. You can post photos and videos, update your status, and invite people to become your Fans. You may even share your Page over other social media accounts.

Additionally, administrators of FB pages can gather metrics on user activities, including the number of people who clicked Like and shared a post. Through the information they have gathered, Page administrators can formulate marketing ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if you set up your page the wrong way?

It is important to point out that using your personal account for commercial purposes is a violation of the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities set out by Facebook. You run the risk of losing your account if you fail to comply with their terms.

The good news are that you can correct this issue by immediately converting your Profile to a Fan Page using the site’s Migration option.

What if you want to maintain a private profile while allowing followers (not your friends) to read your updates?

There is a feature called Subscribe that allows you to do that. People who want to see what you’re up to without the need to add you up can click on the Subscribe button on your profile to view the content, which you share, on their feed.

This is useful for those who do not want to create a separate page but still want to have limited interaction with their fans.

What is the difference when advertising through profiles vs pages?

Anyone can run a Facebook ad, but you are limited when you use your Facebook Profile. For example, you can talk about your business as it relates to your personal life, but you cannot ask people to spend money, nor ask them for anything else.

It’s not that bad, right? After all, subtle marketing works wonders when done properly.

With a Facebook Page though, you can go all out with your ads – videos, special offers, banners, photos, event invitations, etc. Just don’t let your page be filled entirely with ads, unless you want to irk your fans and lose their loyalty. Although advertising options on pages are less strict, you should still focus on what your fans want to read/see, not on what you want to say.

What other perks can you use?

Ever heard of apps? Well, Facebook Pages allow you to use them for better access and interaction with your fans. Some of the most used apps are Facebook Notes, Blog RSS Feed Reader, Twitter App, Static FBML, and Posted Items Pro. These give you more flexibility in using different ads and campaigns.

Additionally, Facebook Profiles allow you to use interactive Social Plugins. These show what your friends like, what statuses they have commented on, and what updates they have shared from sites across the world.

Hopefully, this info has helped clear your mind regarding the differences between Facebook “fan pages” and “profiles”. Don’t have any of these yet? Set up one right now and enjoy social networking.

How do you promote your business on Facebook?
Do you use your Facebook Pages or your Facebook Profile for that?
Share your thoughts, ideas and tactics in the comments!
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