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On Facebook, Profiles are personal. PAGES are for Business

By Mari Smith | March 5, 2008 |

The CORRECT way to register an account on Facebook is in your personal name. To register an account in your business name is against Facebook’s Terms of Use.

I’m going on a wee rant here! Sure, it’s true you don’t know what you don’t know. But sometimes I think people are chancing their luck.

See, I just received my umpteenth friend request… from someone who set up a Facebook Profile in their business name. Actually, worse, it’s in the name of a huge international MLM company. I’ll bet you a dime to a dollar this account has been set up by an independent rep. BIG no-no. Probably in breach of the company rules too, not just Facebook’s.

I totally get it’s not all that clear!!! However, Facebook PROFILES are for your own personal account in your first and last name. In order to represent your business on its own “profile” in Facebook, you must set up a Facebook PAGE. Yep, confusing! However, that’s why I’m writing this post – to hopefully educate those folks who aren’t clear.

See Facebook’s Terms of Use – emphasis added by me:

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If you’re in business for yourself, I highly recommend you set up a Facebook PAGE. You may already have a Group as well. And, that’s okay. One of the primary reasons I recommend getting started with a Facebook Page is you’ll enjoy high Google ranking! Facebook currently has an Alexa ranking of 7.

Facebook used to create Page URL’s with your Page ID#. Now, they include the keywords from the title of your business. Good or good?

That way, more people can find you online. You’re welcome to be a Fan of my Page.

By the way, if you receive friend requests from Businesses, I recommend you ignore them. If you’re feeling helpful, you could take the time to send them a message and point them to the Facebook Terms of Service (or my blog post here!).

And, in case it’s not obvious, you don’t want to do something against Facebook’s Terms of Use, and build up an active high-trafficked Profile in the name of your business… only to have it torn down by Facebook, right? May as well start on the right footing with a business Page.

Got a Facebook Page? Include the URL in your comment here!

Mari Smith

Often referred to as “the Queen of Facebook,” Mari Smith is widely known as the Premier Facebook Marketing Expert and a top Social Media Thought Leader. Forbes describes Mari as, “… the preeminent Facebook expert. Even Facebook asks for her help.” IBM named Mari as one of seven women that are shaping digital marketing. Mari is an in-demand keynote speaker, corporate social media strategist, dynamic live webcast host, and popular brand ambassador. She is coauthor of Facebook Marketing: An Hour A Day, and author of The New Relationship Marketing.

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12 Comments

  1. Jane on February 4, 2009 at 2:36 am

    Does anyone know if it’s Ok to post your website link on your personal page?



  2. Kathleen on October 22, 2008 at 10:30 pm

    Thank you so much for clarifying the difference. I set up a profile page for my business: http://www.weddingchimeaccessories.com but then wondered if I had chosen the right function. Your post cleared that up for me!



  3. Chris Morin on September 5, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    Wow! Did not know that.. I just added a 2nd Personal/AKA Business profile (who reads those little words anyway??.lol) So I am not in the midst of setting up my page…



  4. Katy on September 1, 2008 at 9:07 pm

    And of course I forgot to include my Page in my last comment…

    http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Burbank-CA/Success-for-Solopreneurs/41887625352

    Katy’s last blog post.. Stop Worrying About the Recession



  5. Katy on September 1, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    I’m in the process of setting my Facebook Page up. My goal is to use it to promote my upcoming seminars and once created, my own program material and ebooks

    Katy’s last blog post.. Stop Worrying About the Recession



  6. Frank Abrams on July 10, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    Hi Mari. I like your comments about the misuse of business names in personal profiles. Another pet peeve of mine are people who don’t upload pictures and have a “?” instead. ITS CALLED FACEBOOK! hahah
    There is no question that the launch of facebook pages was a watershed for using facebook for business, and being able to measure results. I have built a number of pages (with tens of thousands of fans) and have learned how facebook pages and groups are different and similar. Now that facebook is “opening up” their platform, we’ll see what twists and turns the future brings! Looking forward to your call with Kevin nations this coming week.



  7. funDiva Christy Hoffman on April 2, 2008 at 8:44 am

    Oh ya had me worried for a sec! I have my real name listed with my nickname, which conveniently happens to also me my business/web site name. It’s all about the branding!

    But I have found it infinitely helpful because sometimes I look for friends I know, especially some that I only have known online so maybe their location doesn’t ring a bell, and I’m unsure that I am connecting to the right person. For example, there are a lot more “Christy Hoffmans” out there than there are “funDiva Christy Hoffmans”!

    So far the only person looking for me that my nickname didnt help was a gal from grade school!

    Thanks for the insight on pages, I didn’t know what they were before now, I’ve got quite a few friends who will benefit.

    🙂
    funDiva Christy



  8. Tina Cook on April 1, 2008 at 12:10 am

    Yes, I have a Facebook Page promoting one of the workshops we facilitate in South Africa. Here’s the link http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heal-Love-Your-Life-Workshop/7821693467

    Don’t know how the 35 fans found us? Still figuring out how to add value and make more interactive.

    Our group is growing steadily.



  9. Eva on March 23, 2008 at 9:55 pm

    I’ve created 2 pages for myself. I’m confused about what they mean tho. I have tons of info on my home page and profile page, my photo albums, etc, but these look like ‘blank’ pages to me. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Master-Law-of-Attraction-Coach-Speaker-Author-and-Radio-Host/10133166278
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Emeryville-CA/Leading-Edge-Coaching-Training/14451295774



  10. Michael Roach on March 16, 2008 at 3:01 pm

    I find this practice of registering a Facebook user account in a company’s name very annoying. Although I’m tempted to start reporting friend requests from such accounts… I’ll just point them here instead.

    There is absolutely no personal connection from such a friend request. It’s like someone is asking me to be a fan of their business without giving me a chance to get to know them.

    Connect with me on a personal level first, THEN invite me to be a fan of your business page.



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