{Facebook} Why Should I have a business page?

So there seems to be more and more face book profiles being used for business, which are being closed down. This is spreading panic amongst some people who use them to keep in touch with people who are a friend on your profile, whether they are Suppliers or even Clients.

Before on facebook, you had to become a “fan” so you were then allowed to interact on the wall on business pages. Most people have used facebook profiles, instead of pages, as pages do not have the ability to private message people who ask questions.

There are quite a few people who use a facebook profile, as a business. And this is wrong. If you use a facebook profile as a business or organisation and your page gets shut down by facebook then I have warned you.

Facebook can remove your business profile without warning, as you are breaking their terms of service. Its their garden you are playing in so play by their rules.

Registration and Account Securtity can be found in the facebook terms of service (TOS).. 

Facebook users provide their real names and information, and we need your help to keep it that way.

1. You will not provide any false personal information on Facebook, or create an account for anyone other than yourself without permission.
2. You will not create more than one personal profile.
3. If we disable your account, you will not create another one without our permission.
4. You will not use your personal profile for your own commercial gain (such as selling your status update to an advertiser).
5. You will not use Facebook if you are under 13.
6. You will not use Facebook if you are a convicted sex offender.
7. You will keep your contact information accurate and up-to-date.
8. You will not share your password, (or in the case of developers, your secret key), let anyone else access your account, or do anything else that might jeopardize the security of your account.
9. You will not transfer your account (including any page or application you administer) to anyone without first getting our written permission.
10. If you select a username for your account we reserve the right to remove or reclaim it if we believe appropriate (such as when a trademark owner complains about a username that does not closely relate to a user's actual name).

Bascially, if you are running your facebook as a business profile, you are breaking their TOS and you can have your account closed.

However, some people aren’t being removed from facebook straight away. What is happening is they are being told to use the profile to business page migration tool but are limiting the time that people have to do it. This means people who accidentally set up a face book profile instead of a page, or even those that did it willingly, can still keep people following their work.

If you use the migration tool, you will have your profile photo transferred and your friends will be converted into “likes”, However, you will lose all content, all wall posts, all like connections and all photographs. Not good is it?

So why are they cracking down on it now?

Well theres a few things. Its always been against TOS to run a facebook profile as a business page, and if you read the rules, to have more than one facebook account. However, its now easier to report people for breaking the TOS. As soon as one person is reported it is sent to their resolution centre for them to look into.

On the new timeline you click on the report/block option

You will get a screen that gives you additional information and able to unfriend people. But also report for inappropriate photographs, harrassment or bullying, then the other.

This timeline represents a business or an organisation. This is how easy it is to report a business profile. Dont go upsetting anyone who's on your friends list, or it could easily happen to you! (It could happen to you anyway!)

Some people are also finding that they are getting to the point of hitting the 5000 friends on face book limit, which is when it then becomes a case of raising red-flags to facebook that profiles are getting removed.

My FB timeline - Personal Profile

My FB Page - Business Page

Timeline for business pages WILL be coming out soon (word is its April) however, currently on the facbeook timeline pictures there are talks going around that you are unable to use this on your profile as advertising space. No Logo. No group of Pictures. No Promotional Content. However, if you have a wedding photograph for instance, or a photograph of what you do then thats different. I found a good blog about Facebook timeline cover images, is promotional content allowed, and whilst you could possibly get away with it, chances are if Facebook found out you'd be in the same situation with going from a profile to a page.


So lets re-cap:

A facebook page is used and the person has to "like" you, not add you as a friend.

You cannot private message people on a facebook page but that doesnt mean they're not good for business. You can set up a contact us app which then sends a direct email from the facebook user to your email.

If you have a facebook profile, you can change it to a page before facebook find you out. But you will lose all photographs etc.

Timeline images on facebook profiles are not to be used for promotional content.

Paper Panda for instance has a fantastic facebook page, she gets people to email her directly, she has big interaction. This is KEY to a sucessful facebook page. She could have used a profile page instead, but she went the correct route. You too can have a fantastic facebook page too!

To create a facebook page for your business visit the Facebook Page Create page. Or alternatively if you cotinue to use your profile for business, then dont blame me if you get closed down.

Blue Lights Photography were named Yell.com Star Facebook Page of the week this week. What a fantastic Achievement. You won't get that if you're only a business profile!

Please leave comments and I'll answer any questions I can :)