Facebook Business Accounts

Comment from Kimberly Yow
Time: October 12, 2009, 9:57 pm

Hi Debra – Your link to my recent blog post led me to your website/blog. I like your site and what you are doing! Perhaps we can collaborate or do guest posts for each other. Thanks for the pingback. – Kimberly

Comment from Debra
Time: October 15, 2009, 10:41 am

Hi Kimberly – thanks! Your post was a great fit. Yes, let’s connect and see how we can support each other with our marketing efforts. Contact me with ideas via the contact form on this site or via a direct message in Twitter (or Facebook or LinkedIn)! Great to meet you!

Debra

Comment from Karole
Time: October 21, 2009, 10:59 am

I have a similar question. I set up a Fan page for my company that originally was not linked to a profile, but followed a suggestion and ended up creating a new profile that is now linked. If I delete the profile does my Fan page disappear?

Comment from Debra
Time: October 21, 2009, 5:24 pm

Hi Karole,

No, the fan page does not disappear, but you since you can’t remove the originator of the page as an admin, deleting the profile will result in the page being “stranded” if there are no other admins and those admins don’t have the full power over the page. I have read of others doing this and the results are not very good. This “feature” is part of making sure that the originator does not lose control of the page in the event someone gets access to your profile just to delete it and take over the page.

When I hear of a way to create a Facebook Page without using your personal profile, I’ll let everyone know.

Hope this helps.

Comment from Linda
Time: October 31, 2009, 4:33 pm

What about if I have a personal Facebook account and create a Fan page for my company, add a coworker as an additional administrator, and then delete my own personal Facebook account? Will that Fan Page then be in their hands under their account or will the page be deleted?
Thank you so much!!

Comment from Debra
Time: November 2, 2009, 9:49 am

Hi Linda,

Please do not create the page and then delete the personal profile. My understanding is that it renders the page useless. I’ve read in the Facebook discussions that people have done this (not intentionally) and the Page is uneditable.

Thanks for asking.

Comment from Sonja
Time: November 25, 2009, 5:33 pm

Hi Debra,

I have a personal facebook account and would like to add a business page or pages…can i do that?…and how do i do that? Thank you.

Comment from Debra
Time: November 28, 2009, 11:37 am

Hi Sonja,

Yes, you create your business page from your personal Facebook account. Go to the Facebook help section: http://www.facebook.com/help.php?page=904 and it will walk you through creating a Facebook Business Page.

Comment from Lee Hale
Time: January 8, 2010, 3:39 pm

Thank-you for articulating the difference between having a personal & business account. I just set-up FB page recently. This is valuable information to read.
Regards,
Lee Hale (aka The Sale)
Lee Hale ´s last blog ..Don’t like writing? Then don’t “write!”

Comment from Debra
Time: January 9, 2010, 1:23 pm

Thanks Lee – glad it was helpful.

Comment from successfulnaire
Time: March 19, 2010, 8:09 pm

Facebook is pretty awesome, with their facebook ads and business accounts. most small time business owners have a few more marketing strategies to try….

great post.

Comment from Debra
Time: March 20, 2010, 9:29 am

Thanks – yes even if you don’t want a personal profile, the Facebook Business Account enables you to set up a a Facebook Business Page for your business and use it to communicate with your customers and prospects.

Comment from Raju
Time: March 23, 2010, 7:05 pm

Hi Debra, Many many than for submit your “Facebook Business Accounts” spcific details information which is helpful me. I wish you good luck.
Raju´s last blog ..Benefits of working with Laidler Associates

Comment from Tim Bryan
Time: April 7, 2010, 3:53 pm

I just started my facebook biz account.. thanks for the article.. VERY helpful!

Tim Bryan
wood urn
Tim Bryan´s last blog ..How BryanWoodUrns Started

Comment from Debra
Time: April 7, 2010, 4:14 pm

Thanks Tim – glad I could help.

Comment from Hope
Time: April 16, 2010, 10:03 am

So, is there still no way to delete a profile that is associated with a business account? Like Karole (above), I followed a link and accidentally created a profile that is now attached to my business account. Also, I’m trying to get rid of the ads that show up on my business account. Do you happen to know anything about that?

Comment from Debra
Time: April 17, 2010, 10:18 am

Hi Hope,

But I’m not sure what you mean by following a link and accidentally creating a profile – do you mean you converted your business account into a personal profile? If you did that, then the owner of your business page is that personal profile that you created. That’s not really a problem as no one knows who owns the page anyway. Just be careful that you didn’t create it in the business name as that could cause issues if Facebook decides that the personal profile is not personal and shuts it down. The big issue is when someone creates a business page under their personal profile – that ownership cannot be transferred and that, I hope, is something Facebook is working on solving.

As for the ads, Facebook controls the ads and since we’re all using Facebook for free, the ads on the right side of the page enable us to continue to use Facebook at no cost. They show up on mine as well and that’s OK. They are not placed in the hot zones of the web page (top left down to middle) where most human eyes begin.

Hope this helps.

Comment from vee
Time: April 23, 2010, 2:11 am

I only wanted a business facebook page. I have a personal facebook account and now have a business fan page. How do I get people to my business fan page.

Comment from Debra
Time: April 23, 2010, 11:16 am

Vee,

Since no one knows who created the Facebook page (unless it’s like mine where my picture is there), your page is a separate entity that needs a marketing plan. Invite people you know to “like” the page and join the community. Put your business page into your email signature, on your business card and other marketing materials. Consider your Facebook page as you would your website and do similar things to drive people there. As with your website, what do you offer on your Page that makes it valuable to become a supporter?

Cheers!

Comment from affiliatetopsecret
Time: May 2, 2010, 12:49 pm

Great share ! Just added new useful tips into my head :) thx

Comment from Kelly
Time: June 1, 2010, 11:58 am

Thank you so much for posting this helpful article. I have a question. My organization previously used a regular Facebook profile (before pages became so popular.) When pages became popular, we created a fan page. Since we have been laboriously updating both. We would like to just use our Fan page, though as I have read, we cannot delete the profile as that will render the fan page useless. If we change our profile to being a completely private profile, so that it will no longer be searchable or findable to anyone (and continue to use the fan page normally), would you see this as a potential alternate option? Do you have any suggestions or feedback on that?

Thank you so much!

Comment from Debra
Time: June 1, 2010, 4:11 pm

Hi Kelly – let me make sure I understand your situation. You originally used a personal profile for your business (which is against the terms of service FYI) but when Business Pages became available you created one under the business personal profile.

If this is the case, your best bet is to ensure all folks connected to the personal profile know to become a fan, stop the interaction on the personal page and make the personal business page someone’s personal profile. You can change the name on the profile by going into your “my account/settings” and changing the name and other information to reflect a person, not the business. I’m not sure what type of organization you work for, but I would get someone in the business to take over that profile as it will be the main administrator / creator of the business page. Also make sure several of you are admins of the page so you can continue to add content.

Hope this helps.

Comment from Victor
Time: June 13, 2010, 6:59 am

Great insight, however I was hearing rumors that “promoting” a business on facebook as strictly a way of “advertising” is being frowned upon…have you heard anything to that effect….we have been indirectly using a fan page that is business related…stay well..Vic
Victor´s last blog ..Creating More Sales Through Referrals

Comment from Debra
Time: June 13, 2010, 10:27 am

Victor, using social media to market your business is more about building relationships and awareness than purely “advertising”. If you push too hard on your fans, you will lose them. Absolutely use a Facebook page to build a community of people interesting in what you have to offer. Make it interesting, fun and enlightening, and you will grow your base. Selling is unnecessary and unwanted on your Facebook page – those who are interested will come to you.

Comment from RM Marketing Consultants
Time: June 21, 2010, 6:44 pm

I just opened a Business account the other day. Needless to say, I was pretty disapponted with it. I guess Ill have to open an individual account.

Comment from Debra
Time: June 26, 2010, 7:31 am

The good news is that Facebook has now added the ability to remove the original creator as an admin, so businesses can retain ownership of their Facebook Page if the person who created it leaves the company. At this point, I see no need for a Facebook Business Account unless they truly turn it into a business profile of some sort, which maybe redundant with a Page (although I could see a value in having a business profile vs a business page).

Comment from Technology information
Time: July 4, 2010, 11:38 am

One of the biggest features on Facebook is the photo. This social networking service is now a ‘host’ world’s largest online photo. This makes up for Facebook to develop their newest features are. Most recently, Facebook will introduce features automatic face detection.

Comment from Kordelia
Time: July 15, 2010, 12:52 pm

Hello Debra,
We are a rural hospital and just joined Facebook. I entered my full name, of course, but was hoping the name of the Hospital could be entered instead. So, I continued and added a business page. Debra, I would still prefer that our hospital be the home page so others can find us more easily.
Have I set up a personal account and do I need to cancel it and open a business account instead? If so, and once I’ve done this, would I then open a business page on this as well,..so to communicate more effectively? Also, does it really take a few weeks for facebook to actually close the personal account?
I am struggling as are others I see in your blog. I know you can help, Debra! Thanks!

Comment from Debra
Time: July 15, 2010, 1:37 pm

Hello Kordelia,

If you entered your full name, you most likely created a personal account. But Facebook now enables you to remove the original admin of a page (this feature was added recently) so you can set up the business page for your hospital from your personal profile and if you ever leave or want to relinquish being an admin, one of the other admins can remove you.

So I think your confusion was around whether to create a business account to create the Facebook business (aka Fan) page and you no longer need to do that.

If you already have a personal profile on Facebook and you created the business page under the duplicate, then from your original personal profile:

1. like the page
2. make yourself an admin of the business page
3. remove the original admin (your duplicate)
4. You can then delete the personal profile

As for your statement “I would still prefer that our hospital be the home page so others can find us more easily”, Facebook pages are separate entities regardless of who created them so when people search, they will find the business page and not your personal profile.

I hope this helps.
Debra

Comment from Kordelia
Time: July 15, 2010, 3:21 pm

Thank you for your Prompt response, Debra! It is so nice to know there is help out there!

I haven’t set up a business account, only a business page on my personal account (which I have since accidentally deleted). And about your comment: “If you already have a personal profile on Facebook and you created the business page under the duplicate,” I’m not sure what you mean. Looks like I may need a huge tutorial – and Debra, I know it cannot be this difficult. I’m missing something somewhere.
Thank you for your patience.
Kordy

Comment from Kordelia
Time: July 15, 2010, 3:32 pm

Debra,
I have discovered a hospital page is out there, I just cannot see it on my personal home page. However, when I am in the hospital page and click home it automatically goes back to my personal home page.

Am I on the right track?
Thanks, again.

Comment from Lee
Time: July 21, 2010, 1:39 pm

I have a fb personal account, and a fan-page for my site.
Is there anyway to direct “LIKE”s and “SHARE”s (that “I” make around the web) to my fan-page wall instead of to my personal wall?

Comment from Debra
Time: July 21, 2010, 8:56 pm

Hi Lee,

I believe the only thing you can do from a Business Page is to mark a page as a favorite. Then that shows up on your page rather than your profile. The model is that people like and share, not businesses, so these personal things tend to come from your personal profile.

I know that people who are admins want to post on Fan pages as themselves but can’t – so there is a bit of confusion around being a person and being a business.

If I find out that there is a way, I’ll post it here so you can get an update.

Debra

Comment from Danielle
Time: July 26, 2010, 5:56 pm

We are a small business that sets up Fan Pages. One of our clients already has a Fan Page set up associated with a “fake” personal profile…I’m trying to fix this by creating a different personal profile that means something to them. Can I create a business account for the new one that is linked to them?

Comment from Debra
Time: July 26, 2010, 7:15 pm

Danielle,

I wouldn’t use a business account. Why do they use a “fake” personal profile? No one knows who created the page (unless you tell them) so create it under someone’s real personal profile or make the fake profile real. If they already have a real profile, have them “like” the page, make them an admin and remove the fake profile – then delete the fake profile from Facebook.

Comment from Danielle
Time: July 27, 2010, 10:51 am

That’s great advice, thank you for your quick response! Here is another small issue with that solution though:
What if the admin needs to be through a professional account to update events, groups, etc…? The name would show up in the admin as the personal account once the fake business account had been deleted…correct? It’s a tough call.

I guess we can make the fake profile real under the business name…who and what crawls the Facebook pages to make sure the profile is real…?

Comment from Debra
Time: July 27, 2010, 11:48 am

Danielle,

When posting from the business page, all admins appear the same and their personal identities are hidden from the public view. Therefore, you can have several admins posting information to the page, but it all comes from the “admin” of the page not a particular person. You also want more than one admin for a page to prevent the page from being stranded if the admin’s personal account gets disabled for some reason.

As far as who police’s the fake profiles, I don’t know how often or what algorithms they use to identify accounts to be disabled, but I do know that people’s profiles do become disabled and to get them reinstated takes some time.

So make sure you:

1. use your real identity when creating a personal profile
2. have more than one admin for a Facebook Business Page

Hope this helps.

Comment from Mary
Time: August 7, 2010, 10:38 am

I recently made a Facebook page for my church. I made a business page and added two admins. But I cannot secure the page so that only the admins can edit anything. I see where I cannot have a profile so I did NOT make one. And when I go under settings and pick not to publicly publish (only for admin to see) then it says that the page is not published. How can I secure the business page so that no one can edit this page but me and one other admin? Please help I have searched!

Comment from Debra
Time: August 7, 2010, 9:35 pm

Mary,

Your Facebook Business Page is only editable by admins. There’s nothing to secure unless you don’t want people posting to your wall. Then you set that by clicking on the options under the status update box on the business page itself.

I don’t understand what you meant by “I see where I cannot have a profile so I did not make one” – why can’t you have a profile? How did you create a Facebook Page without one? Did you use a business account?

Publishing the page makes the page visible on Facebook – until you publish the page, no one will see it. Publishing is not about security but about keeping the page private until you have it set up the way you want.

Hope this helps.

Comment from Simon
Time: August 10, 2010, 3:57 pm

Hi Debra,

Your articles are in depth and very informative. Do you know if there is anyway I can add friend requests via my business page as I don’t want these requests to come via my personal page?

Thanks

Simon

Comment from Debra
Time: August 10, 2010, 4:16 pm

Thanks Simon,

You can’t really add friend requests via the business page because basically, businesses have fans – people have friends. A page can add another page to it’s favorites and people can like your business page. Is there a reason you don’t want to friend people via your personal profile? I just spoke with someone today and their reason was because they didn’t want to share personal comments with business colleagues, but you can use friend lists to segment what goes out in the feed to various people, so you can mix business with pleasure!

Hope this helps.