Apr
17

Difference Between a Page and Profile on Facebook

Every business is now rushing to develop profiles on social networking sites and jump start their marketing in Web 2.0. However, there are certain technical features about setting up a  business presence on Facebook which you need to be aware of before you jump in and start.  So, before you spend countless hours frustrated, take the time to learn about the difference between a Facebook business page versus an individual profile on Facebook.

Facebook is evolving to accommodate business pages vs. individual profiles. In its latest re-design, Facebook has made a clear distinction between profiles and pages. The bottom line is profiles are now only for individuals and pages are for business. Profiles and pages have different features. In fact there are certain features which are no longer permitted for business pages but are indeed available to individual profiles. Here are the major changes that I found from my research:

  • Businesses are only allowed to open pages NOT profile. A business which opens a profile page is in direct violation of TOS.
  • Business pages allow other users to become fans, but access to the individual profile pages are limited.
  • Business pages do not allow the ability to invite friends – in fact business pages cannot maintain a friends list – they can only maintain a fan list. In fact this feature is disabled on business pages.
  • Business pages do allow updating your status (which gets shared with your fans)
  • Business pages allow: pictures, videos, discussion board, application, wall posts, groups and other interactive elements.

This is from a section on Facebooks official policy (on difference between profile and pages):

Facebook profiles are meant to represent a single individual. Organizations of any type are not permitted to maintain an account under the name of their organization. We have created Facebook Pages to allow organizations to have a presence on Facebook. These Pages are distinct presences, separate from user profiles, and optimized for an organization’s needs to communicate, distribute information/content, engage their fans, and capture new audiences virally through their fan’s recommendations to their friends. Facebook Pages are designed to be a media rich, valuable presence for any artist, business or brand.

If you create a profile for your business, your account may be disabled for violating our Terms of Use. If you have questions about how to best leverage your Facebook Page, please check out our Insider’s Guide or FAQ.

Facebook’s policy in terms of how business can use their pages:

All personal site features, such as friending and messaging, are also for personal use only and may not be used for professional promotion. If you add a user as a friend, for example, this person will be invited to be a friend of your profile and not your Page. Using personal site features for professional promotion, or creating unauthorized Pages, may result in your account being warned or disabled.

Now that you know the difference, go ahead and open your account. Once you’re ready take a look at Stephanie Chandler’s blog post on “How to Use Facebook for Business: Social Networking 101 for Entrepreneurs, Authors and Speakers.”

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Posted by Shailesh Ghimire Facebook, Marketing, Social Networking Subscribe to RSS feed
  • Team Mak

    I love your article you really elaborate all the details between those two, kindly visit my video that I created, thank you so much.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... teammak

  • how do you message everyone in one click (does this mean you can add
    them all to an event in one click as well?) ? Also how do you transfer
    your friends from your profile to your fan page?

  • Okay, so I created a business page. If we are not allowed to invite friends from it why does it have a pull down menu at the top that says build audience and invite friends. Also, how is the correct way to let people know about the business page? Is that the same as a fan page? Can we tell people about our business page in our timeline? so confusing

  •  Really I appreciate the effort you made to share the knowledge. The topic here i found was really effective to the topic which I was researching for a long time.

  • Very nice explanation here, clearly define the difference btw both of them! Good job :) 

  • DE

    Question: My business Facebook page won't let me Search, Like or Message anyone!  Why can my competitors do it but not me? Does anyone have any tips or advice?

  • Is it better to use the "like" button for your actual site URL, or for the business page on Facebook?  I like the idea of people liking my page but I'd also like to have those people on my FB page so I can send them updates about the site. Anybody have an opinion on that?

  • I am really impressed that there is so much information about this subject that has been uncovered and you did it so well, with so much class. Good one you, man! Really great stuff here

  • Smssales

    As for twitter, all i can say is DITTO. What is mark doing to us...seriously? All of a sudden we require a 4 year facebook degree to get a simple page up to advertise our company, and maybe post weekly. this is going in the way of subscriptions. I'd start finding a new site to post your company on sooner than later.

  • Smssales

    Because it's stupid as hell....Facebook Pages CAN NOT be searched...
    can you believe that???? how are you suppose to promote your business.
    i've been trying to creats something feasible my organization can use to promote themselves and facebook is not the place to do it. it's like advertising in a newspaper and hope that someone picks it up to read...good luck

  • CCHESSER

    I created a page for an non-profit organization, however, when I try to search for it, the page cannot be found. Any suggestons? HELP

  • Enlightening. Thank you for sharing. 

  • pink

    I created a page for an non-profit organization, however, when I try to search for it, the page cannot be found. Any suggestons?

  • Sylwiafiga

     i have exactly the same problem, i converted a private profile into a business one and now it cannot be found... it's so frustrating... can anybody help?

  • This article really helped to disabuse me of a few misapprehensions I was laboring under.  Thanks for that, and we'll see what else I can learn here!  

  • Perfect ideas for your story and great food for thought.

  • compaq6720

    Fantastic site, thanks for the detailed information
     and looking forward to learning more form you in the future.

  • thanks for sharing this article

  • Harrisonblue

    You have to actvate thru text...

  • Robins

    We have a profile page that was created for business and then a fan page.  Can I delete the profile page and keep the fan page?  Right now people are finding our profile easier than our fan page and I really want to eliminate the profile or at least make it harder to find.
    Thanks for your help.

  • gigi

    Hi Robins,
    have you ever figured this out? I'm in the same boat.
    Gigi

    email me if you have 
    gigimartini@comcast:disqus.net

  • gigi

    sorry, that email was incorrect...just respond through this forum

  •  This post made a lot of very good points - ones I haven't even considered before.  For that reason, my views on this matter are going to have to be revised. 

  • This is an excellent information forever. 

  • Garry_1

    I am trying to help a local company in England that created a facebook business page. They want their status updates to be also tweeted to their Twitter account. I'm a newbie to facebook so I tested doing this on my own facebook profile to my twitter and it works. However on their page I don't get the options to link updates to twitter or to add the "facebook to twitter" app. I am an admin for their page but cannot see the same options that I have on my own facebook. I would be very gratefull is someone can help or just tell me if it cannot be done.

  • Luis Sytsma

    hey garry im curious do you charge for your services?

  • Garry_1

    On this occasion I am not charging anything as I feel it is to my benefit to gain more experience in these areas. I can fix networks, remove viruses and rebuild PC's as well as helping with software problems - for this I do charge a small fee.

  • Sam

    I am trying to convert a brand new profile to a page (didn't know that was availabe until after we created the profile) anyway....it says I need to use the same computer I have previously browsed the page on. I created it on the computer I am using but we never browsed anything because it was brand new.  What can I do?

  • personal profile is kept with u only and business related information or any other details will be provided onto the separate pages

  • agreed to u mate

  • Trevor Leffingwell

    How do I keep my personal likes from showing up on my business page?

  • Aneesa23

    if i delete my facebokkk fan page, would my profile be deactivated also?

  • Aneesa23

    how do i delete my fan page and keep my profile?

  • No u have to manually deactivate it by sending request to admin

  • Tnmnwr

    Can I be an admin to a fan page if I only have a business account? For example when they "add admin" and enter my email  - should my business facebook account already set up by then? because when i tried to add an admin to a group I made as a business account, it did not NOTIFY them by email because they didn't have an account yet? does that make sense? thanks for ur help

  • I already have a facebook profile page that I created for my business years ago; now recently created a like page for the buisness. Am I able to delete the actual profile page for the business without it deleting my LIKE fan page? thank you

  • Thanks for the good information i got through in this site..

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  • Muhammad Tariq Muhammad Akram

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  • Cannabis Country

    I am having trouble with Facebook. Made a account as a brand. I am unable to ad a picture to my admin. So when I post on other peoples walls its blank and doesn't have a name. Its only a silhouette. I do have a user name and profile picture but that doesn't show when I post. Also unable to like anyone. Only can like there posts on there wall. I also cant show my likes. I don't have a fan page. Only those who like me.

    I also just connected my twitter account to facebook and i slicked allow tweets to show on profile, but not the wall. But I only have a wall. I don't seem to have a profile. Because my tweets don't show anywhere nor does it show I have my twitter account connected. Facebook is the most user unfriendly thing I have used in a Looong time. And if you seen my blog you would see I am no "Nube" when it comes to this type of stuff.

    Any help would be appreciated. You can find my contact info on my blog. My blog is called Cannabis Country. Yes I am in the medical marijuana niche. And my blog address is. Cannabis-Country.blogspot.com

    Please help!

  • Dsgb819

    If i had a personal profile then created a page from that profile can i delete the personal profile without deleting the created page

  • gigi

    I have the same concern...any answers?

  • Question 1001

    Howdy.  Did you ever get an answer to this question.  I have the same question.  Let me know.  Thanks!

  • Bob Gilbert

    And I have the exact same question.  Appears that others do also.  Wish someone knew the answer.  I'm guessing that you can add another admin to the business page, remove the old admin (the one from your personal page), then deactivate the old personal page account.  But this is only a guess, I haven't tried it.

  • Slynch

    Help...I created a business Facebook page before making a personal page...it wont let me make a personal one now...how do I now make a personal profile now.
    Slynch@summittherapygroup.com

  • Mscusoon

    Hi, Did you ever receive and answer to this question? The very same thing happened to me! Thanks

  • rossitek

    Even we 2 done same. how can i increase no of likes to my fan page. if i have personal account then i can send them a message. but i have not created persoanl account. Guys plz suggest how do i increase likes ? or do i need to create personal profile? rossitekapps@gmail.com

  • Hm interesting.

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  • harrywhite121

    Hi...Nice post.Appreciate your which usually information and facts.

    Facebook fan pages provide businesses a way to advertise and market
    their businesses at the same level as their much larger competition.
    With a simple click of the like button, you can have all kinds of
    potential customers arriving at your Facebook Fan Pages. Get this or you
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  • Businesses are only allowed to open pages NOT profile. A business which opens a profile page is in direct violation of tos.

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  • Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

  • Amazing blog, I am regular visitor of this website, keep up the good work.

  • Daniel P Goetz

    If I transfer my facebook profile to a fan page do all my friends become fans?

  • jfullerart

    I'm sure you've found your answer already, but just in case....
    you can add your page and suggest it to your friends. I've had pretty good response to mine, but some haven't followed up. I believe my initial problem was not making a clear enough connection between my page and myself. I'd make that clear.
    The good thing is that I have people all of the time who like my page without friending me on my personal page. It's possible for total strangers to find your page and start getting your newsfeeds, etc.
    Hope that helps.

  • David Morgan

    When it comes to Social Media Marketing, I firmly believe that "fan" pages are the way forward for businesses.

    Even though I have a regular profile page, I decided a while back to create a "page" for my Web Design portfolio and I believe this is the way forward for businesses and organisations, of all sizes and reputations.

  • Thanks for this article.  I didn't know this when I set up my page.  I have a profile with business info.  How do I convert my info from a profile to a page?  And, do I lose all my info.

  • Pizza isterim :/

  • Thanks a lot, this is a good post. I have a FB profile and now I am about to start a page for business.

  • I run a small taxi company in Penzance. The advantage that we have with a profile for our business is that with most iphones, androids or blackberrys will automatically have our phone number etc in it. When they want a taxi, they have our contact details already in their phones. It takes no pre planning. 

    For me, this is the main reason that we won't switch to a fan page. 

  • I eager to learn more and more about Facebook.. I could get nice info from this post.. 
    Great work guys, keep it up!

  • This is a great article about the differenct between a Page and a Profile! 

  • Nvent99

    Thanks for this article.  I didn't know this when I set up my page.  I have a profile with business info.  How do I convert my info from a profile to a page?  And, do I lose all my info.

  • I created a page and "like" button on http://www.lavenderevents.com/...

    The problem I'm having with using a page, is that "inviting" people isn't an option.  When I sent out an email to my list serve, people signed up to be my individual friend, not a member of the page. :*(

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  • Lanzarlaflecha

    I convert my personal profile into a page for my publishing house but I can't search or interact or see other profiles. Is it correct?

  • I hate how they limited the suggestion feature to only page owners. I wish they would bring back the old suggestion.

  • confused

    I have a business page under my facebook profile account.  When I visit another page and like what I see, I want to share it with the fans on my business page.  But when I click "share" it just gets posted to my profile, and not my business page.  How can I share with my business page? 

  • nikki

    look on the side panel...it should ask if you want to use the page as an admin or yourself...

  • Clara

    I make sure that I use the page as business but it still gets shared on my profile??????

  • Same here, anybody have an answer to this?

  • You need to switch so you are using facebook as your page and not your personal profile. 

  • Clara

    I have done that but it still gets posted to my profile??????

  • Yeah i agree this one.. nowadays that profile creation is too rush.. Because of that traffic.. In that time period you are sharing this difference between a page and profile on facebook.. Thanks for sharing this information..

  • Thanks for the clear difference between a facebook profile and a page. Also, you can interact with other pages using your FB page. I'm wondering if "suggest to friends" feature works for FB page too?

  • Cdmdance

    Thanks very helpful. But now my fan page has become a community page. Is it the same thing?

  • Thanks for this clearification. When I started out with no knowledge of what I was really doing I created personally profile and in the username I used my business name. Though I later created a fan page for my business I have been trying to change my profile username to my personal name now that I know the differences but that has not been possible.

  • There are so many advantages in having a Facebook business page. The one I personally like is the ability to send notifications to all your fans. Imagine that you have 10000 fans, you can message them in one click to tell them about a new product and whatever; very powerful! Also there is not limits in the number of fans you can have while Facebook profiles are limited to 5K friends.

  • Smssales

    yes that is a great feature, its just unfortunate that you can't search anyone, they can't search for your page...kind of eliminates the ability to advertise.

  • kimg

    how do you message everyone in one click (does this mean you can add them all to an event in one click as well?) ? Also how do you transfer your friends from your profile to your fan page?

  • Thanks for the info.

  • Great suggestions. This is indeed a very cool feature of a Facebook business page.

  • Jelo

    What's the point of having a news feed on my Facebook page if I'm not allowed to like other pages or friend profiles? My news feed just stays empty! I am very confused on how this Facebook page thing works. I have used Facebook with a personal profile for a long time and know my way around but I am lost with my Facebook business page. The help sections aren't very clear and instead of messages that say I am not allowed to perform certain actions as a page I just get an 'oops' error message that says they will fix the problem.

  • Jelo

    I figured it out. You have to be signed into your personal profile which is attached to your business page. When you browse other pages their is a link under their profile picture towards the bottom of the page (on the left). It says 'add to my page's favorites'.

  • Glad you figured it out and thanks for letting us know you did.

  • Noelle

    I have an individual profile and want to set up and business page. Can I transfer all my friends to 'like' me or do I have to ask them to 'like' me?

  • Facebook has changed things a bit recently. Few months ago, any user that visit your Facebook business page can suggest it to their friends. Now, only admins can suggest the page to their friends. Non admins can only share the page on their wall.

  • From my understanding, you can not transfer all your friends to "like" your business. You have to promote your business page and ask people to like you. I ended up asking my friends to kindly go over and like them. You lose a lot of people but at least a few do.

  • houshang karimi

    question was difference betweeen home and profile for individual members?

  • All in all an excellent post; I have shared it on my own Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/...

  • Stephanie Chandler's post is extremely outdated, and I think it a disservice to your readers and hers to represent it as current advice.

  • I agree - but please understand that this is a very old article, please refer to the date stamp.

  • wow

  • Add someone else as Admin (or two people to be doubly safe), then delete the old account.

  • I have a couple of business pages and would like to disassociate myself from these pages as someone is targetting my personal profile. Can I add another admin and then remove myself? Will the page then not be connected to my facebook personal profile at all so if for example my personal profile was removed, the page would remain? 

  • My friend has a business and he setup a profile for it. Now we created a page for the business under the same profile. Can we deactivate the profile without deactivating the business page?

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