Difference Between a Page and Profile on Facebook
Posted on April 17, 2009
Filed Under Facebook, Social Networking, marketing | 11 Comments
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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11 Responses to “Difference Between a Page and Profile on Facebook”
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[...] presence on Facebook: the difference between a page and profile. Through the latest design, “Faceboook has made a clear distinction between profiles and pages”: profiles = individuals and pages = businesses. Continue reading the other changes Facebook made [...]
This all seems true for a month or so ago. I’ve found that since the latest redesign, pages have become more like profiles, and that’s not necessarily to the business’s benefit. The creation of pages–and the limitation of profiles to individuals–predates the redesign, so I’m not sure how that is a recent development either.
Hi KateNonymous,
I wouldn’t presume that this is the most current information considering how fast things seem to change. However, there does appear to be major difference between how things worked in the fall vs. now. I wanted to condense that information into one place as a resource. I appreciate your comment and would love to get some of the more recent information you reference if you would be able to share.
Thanks!
I still don’t see the purpose of having a “home” and a “profile” page. Nor do I understand the purpose of each. Thanks.
Hi Scharlotte,
Simply having a page or a profile on Facebook is not really that valuable. You need to define a purpose for it and outline a reason to have this outlet. Maybe it doesn’t make sense for you, but it can certainly be useful in certain markets.
Thanks for stopping by!
Shailesh
Very good site, welcome
http://phentarmine.wordpress.com/
I have a fan (business) page and of course, an admin profile attached to that. I’m having trouble differentiating what my fans see based on what i post.
for instance, i have 45 ‘friends’ on the admin profile page and 50 or so ‘fans’ on my fan page. If i post a status update or link from my fan page, my fans don’t necessarily see that link. If i post it from my admin profile page, my FRIENDS see the link, but not my fans.
i don’t get it. There should be some kind of flow chart that tells what you post where and who gets to see it. Do you know of anything like this?
thanks for any input or advice!
Melissa – looks like you need to play around a bit and solidify how it works. I haven’t looked into this recently. So, I’m at a loss myself. When you figure it our do share with us. Thanks for stopping by.
Oh my god loved reading this blogpost. I added your rss to my reader!
I do not understand the difference between “Home” and “Profile”. Some info written on profile is not on Home and visa versa and some info is on both. What is the difference and what is the point of each?
Wrizackdiarry
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