Facebook recently announced the introduction of a new type of page called a “community page”. Considering the fact that there are already “Facebook Groups” and “Facebook Pages (or Fan Pages),” this has left many businesses wondering whether or not a community page would be the right choice for them.

What is a Facebook Community page?

Facebook introduced community pages to people who want to rally around their favorite topics or causes. For instance, a possible community page would be “Bob’s Tacos Are the Best!” So that the multitudes of people that love Bob’s Tacos could join this page and proclaim this love to the world (or at least their Facebook friends). Community pages are typically unofficial so Bob never has to lift a finger.

Since these pages can get hundreds of thousands of fans, Facebook has said they will take away the creator’s publishing rights at an undisclosed point. This ensures that the members will not be spammed.

What is Facebook Fan page?

An Facebook Fan Page are created to represent a business, public figure, organization, brand or product. This page allows for communication with fans and customers. When starting this type of page, you must agree that you are the official representative of the person, business, band or product and you have all the proper permissions. So, Bob could start an official Facebook Fan Page for “Bob’s Tacos” and use it to publicize new menu items or weekly discounts.

Fan Pages operate very similar to a personal page. There is a wall where (depending on the page’s settings) fans and owners can post pictures, links or messages. There are also tabs that allow for discussions, reviews, photos and events to be posted by the owners. Whenever a status is posted in a fan page, it will show up in all the fans’ news streams. No matter how popular a fan page gets, the owner does not lose publishing rights. These fan pages are indexed and searchable through search engines.

What is a Facebook Group?

A Facebook Group is similar to a Fan Page. However, events can be handled differently in a group. The administrator can allow all the members of the group to send bulk invites to other members. So “Bob’s Tacos’ Monday Night Taco Club” could start a group, discuss the food and set up meetings. They can set up officers as well such as a President and Treasurer. These groups can also be hidden from unregistered users.

Which is best for my business?

Most businesses will find that an official Fan Page will best serve their needs. There will be no confusion on who is really running the page, or if its messages are company approved. Starting a Fan Page will allow a company to create a beneficial and long lasting relationship with their customer.

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