Facebook Fan Page Vs Group

Many of our clients want to know what the difference is between a Facebook Business ‘Fan’ Page and a Facebook group and which one they should use for their business.

To explain the difference simply:

FACEBOOK GROUP

A group is an unofficial page (like a club) where Facebook users can gather to discuss a common topic or cause, share ideas, communicate with others in a social environment and connect with likeminded people.  Anyone can create a group and it can be on any subject ranging from “Let’s stop dolphin massacre” to “Fans of Australian Country Music”.

FACEBOOK BUSINESS FAN PAGE

Businesses or public figures create a Facebook Business Fan Page in order to set up an official presence on Facebook and broadcast information to their fans.  Only an authorised representative of the company is legally allowed to set up a Business Fan Page.  Facebook Business Fan Pages allow Facebook users to communicate with and receive updates and information from businesses they are interested in.

To quote from www.mashable.com (an online guide to social media) :

“Groups are great for organizing on a personal level and for smaller scale interaction around a cause. Pages are better for brands, businesses, bands, movies, or celebrities who want to interact with their fans or customers without having them connected to a personal account, and have a need to exceed Facebook’s 5,000 friend cap.”

See below for a quick guide to the differences between a Page and a Group:

BUSINESS FAN PAGE

• visible to all members of Facebook (even if they are not a member of the page) and are also indexed by search engines.
• extra applications are available
• statistical reports are available on visitors to the page
• events can be created and advertised
• the page can be advertised and friends of fans can be targeted – more versatility
• advertising in general can be done and you can target what ages, cities, interests you wish
• when updating the business fan page it shows on each member’s daily facebook feed-> you become part of your fan’s conversation
• better for long term relations with your customers
• videos, photos, events, can be uploaded and you can also have a feed from a blog added to it
• no limits on number of members or ‘fans’

FACEBOOK GROUP

• no statistics available
• advertising is available but not as extensive
• updates are not posted on the group members’ feeds
• more viral use – members can message all the other members of the group at once
• limit on number of members – under 5,000 only

www.AllFacebook.com also recently published an excellent guide to the differences between a page and group – click here to view. –

http://www.allfacebook.com/2010/02/facebook-groups-pages

Let us know if we can help you develop a social media marketing staretgy for your business or personal brand including Facebook, Linked In, You Tube, Blogging, Twitter and more.