Six Important Reasons Your Business Should Use a Facebook Fan or Like Page

by Frederika Angus

I get some really awesome questions about how to use social media as a business in the most productive and profitable way. Honestly, some lessons I’ve had to learn through trial and error. When I first started business activity on Facebook a couple years ago, I was in a direct sales organization. I’d already been on Facebook personally for years. I’d seen friends post their business links and websites in every other post to motivate people to “buy their stuff.” Although I had never actually seen any success with that method (big clue), I tried it too. That lasted about 2 days. It just didn’t feel right to me to spam my friends, family and acquaintances with my business stuff.

As I began to better understand the correct way to build a brand and be social with social media, I started a business fan page, also known as a like page. This requires people to actually like your business and want to receive updates from you. This is greatest business invention ever! You’re actually able to talk to the people that want to learn more about your products and services.

Here are 6 important reasons to use a Facebook Business Page (also known as like or fan pages) for your business activities.

1. Facebook frowns upon business activity on your personal profile timeline.

Facebook’s official stance is as follows:

Timelines are for personal, non-commercial use only. They represent individuals and must be held under an individual name. Pages are for professional or official use, and allow an organization, business, celebrity or band to maintain a presence on Facebook. You may only create Facebook Pages to represent real organizations of which you are an authorized representative.

This means if you are currently using a personal timeline to promote, and perform business activities, you are in violation of the Facebook Terms of Service, and could have your account completely shutdown.

2. Data, data, and more data

With over a decade of experience in project management, I have learned, If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it! Using a Facebook Page opens up a whole new level of reporting and statistics that personal timeline profiles do not have. Using the insights provided by Facebook, you can determine, what content your ideal customers like, how many of the people who like your page are actually seeing your content and how far your reach is beyond those that like your page. This allows you to stop guessing who your target demographic might be, where they are located and even their age!

3. Branding

Fan pages offer a great opportunity to provide a customized look with the large cover image, the ability to add and customize apps and utilize your logo, if you have one for brand recognition. Bringing the same styling to the graphics you use across your online presence is made easier with a Fan page.

4. Unlimited Fans

Personal profiles have a 5000 friend limit. Fan pages allow for a limitless amount of people. The choice here is simple. You want as many of your ideal customers to be able to interact and obtain your updates as possible.

5. Google and Search Engine Optimization(SEO)

This is one of my favorites. Did you know that Google searches Fan Pages and indexes the information? So as people are doing searches on information and keywords that relate to your business, your fan page could be included in the information! Facebook is the 2nd ranked website in the United States with Google as number one! The personal profiles do not get the same google ranking effect. Facebook Fan pages should absolutely be a part of your SEO strategy.

6. Advertising opportunities

You’re a business owner so marketing should be a big part of your business. Facebook allows for some ridiculously affordable, highly targeted marketing. Remember there are over a billion users on Facebook. While all 1 billion of them are not likely to be your ideal customer, you can certainly find a subset to market yourself to. In addition to the advertising, there is the option to promote posts to reach the fans of your page and their friends. Getting your business in front the right people has just gotten easier!

Have you had reservations about switching from using a personal profile to using a Fan page?

Let me know in the comments below if this has helped you make a well-informed and wise change!

Talk to you soon!

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