Menu

Stay in Touch
Sign up for ENews
Subscribe Now

Unlimited access >

Menu

What should I know before I set up a Facebook page for a small business?

Off Course
#1

I already have a webpage, but I think I should have a FB page as well. I’ve been putting it off because I don’t know the best way to set it up, but I really need to get it done. :confused:

I have a personal FB page, but I’d really rather keep them entirely separate. I’d like to keep the business page looking more professional without personal stuff showing up. Should I start the FB business page as an entirely separate entity from an entirely new account (in other words, from my work email) or just as a separate page that I manage?

It should be a page, not a group, right? And should it be a local business or a company page (technically, it’s both as an LLC)?

FB is sooo finicky and quirky that I know I’ll be making mistakes that FB will not let me change.

Any other hints or ideas to keep in mind? Thanks all!

#2

Yes, you’ll want to create an actual business page, not a group. You can always create a group later on if you have need for it, but I can’t really think of a reason you’d need a group for your business.

You can start the page from your existing personal account, but still have it be separate - it will be its own page, but what’s nice is that you will receive alerts while you’re logged into your personal account. Essentially, your personal account will be set up to be the administrator of the business page. There’s no logging in/out/switching accounts, and you can respond on your business page as the business, even while logged into your personal account.

I think you’d probably want it set up as a local business, but it also depends on your business. If you have more of a national audience, then maybe a company page is right for you.

#3

Set it up as a page with your personal account as administrator - as long as you always post to the page as the page itself, nobody will be able to connect it to your personal page. When you’re logged in (on a computer) just go to the top right dropdown arrow and choose “Create Page”. You can make changes to everything you enter, so don’t sweat that. You can also add other people (employees, for example) to your page if you want them to help you run it, with various levels of permission available.

The administration area for a page has a lot of handy tools to show you how much your posts are being seen, etc. Posts with pictures get a better response than those without, and you want to try to encourage people to interact with your page (comment, like, share things) because then they will see more of what you post on their feed.

If it’s the business in your signature, I’d probably place it under local business.

#4

I have a business page and I like the fact that it is connected to my personal page for ease of monitoring. I will say that unless you post regularly you will not see a lot of traffic.
I have a friend with a horse related business and she has used the boost post function. For a $3.00 boost fee she sold 2 horses and got a few more lesson students. Well worth it! She said to limit it to a more local area for a lesser fee.

#5

Definitely a page, not a group! I try (and fail a lot) to post on mine 1-2 times per week b/c that is the recommendation from all the social media pro’s I know. Photos and videos get more response than just text posts. After you get set up and do a few weeks worth of content, doing a little paid boosting or targeted ads is a great idea to increase your followers!

One of the coolest things is you can see in the Insights when most of your followers are online–then you can schedule a post for that time frame! :slight_smile:

#6

Others have already given great feedback. The important thing to understand is that Facebook works as well as your ability to manage and leverage it. A page with few updates and boring content is not going to be a useful tool for you.

I would suggest you become familiar with the insights and advertising options that are available as this can be hugely helpful to promoting your business and/or making sales (not sure what business you are going to use this for). Advertising and boosted content are easy and cost effective. Facebook has good guidelines to make them look clean and professional.

You need to post frequently, and post things that your audience will find interesting - that may not be limited to your business or products, but to related things that your audience would find relevant. Becoming a resource for content drives people towards your brand before they may even realize they want it.

Facebook live is also a fun newish tool that can create enormous reach. You don’t need anything other than a phone to make it happen.

#7

You have to have a personal account in order to have a business page. Facebook has changed their algorithm to make it so it is harder to get your content to the people who liked your page so you have to be even more active than before the changes in order to reach anybody. I would be happy to help either here or by PM if I can be of assistance.

#8

I’m currently doing the same thing and trying to make the same decision. This helped me:
http://socialnomics.net/2014/03/26/back-to-the-basics-when-to-use-a-facebook-local-business-page-vs-company-page/

Short answer is, company = online or multiple address business, local business = single physical address.

#9

A great thing about a business page is you can set up posts to be released on certain dates/times. This has been a great help, as you can spend a small amount of time at once to release things throughout the month, as well as making other “at the time” posts. For our purposes, we were doing a profile series, so had everything set up for Sunday at 7pm. It was a great way to get the posts seen that night, as well as Monday morning, when people were getting their work computers going.

I currently have two business pages that I am an admin of, and it’s super convenient to be able to switch between profiles when I need to, when I am logged into my own accounts. Plus, I don’t even have to change accounts to make comments as either page. I can just use the toggle in the bottom right hand corner, and make it “me”, Page 1, or Page 2.

The “Insights” page is very helpful. It lets you know who has viewed your page, page likes, reach (organic and paid), and post engagements. Seeing how and where your posts reach is a great marketing tool.

#10

Great advice, thanks folks! This is very helpful. :yes:

So I’ve set it up as a local business page. :cool:

I know I need to post regularly and how to schedule posts, so that part I’m good on. :wink: And Toady, that’s exactly what I would do, post items of general interest related to dogs and horses (horses just because!) like health or nutrition info, links to funny videos, care, history, new research studies, interesting products, whatever. I have lots of pins on my Pinterest boards that I can use.

But it’s really good to know that paying for a boost seems to be worth it. I figured once I gave FB a penny, they’d be even worse about hiding my posts and my page unless I keep coughing up more ad fees. :no:

I just don’t want my family and friends bombarded with posts about animals (okay, well, they got some on my personal FB page already!) every time I post on my business page.

Laurierace, that’s a very sweet offer, and I may take you up on it once I get it set up a bit more. I could use an outside eye to vet it for me and tell me what needs to be tweaked. :yes:

#11

Okay, I think it’s live! :eek:

https://www.facebook.com/AlexandriaDogTrainingCompany/

Does anyone know HOW to comment as my business page? I know it used to be possible to do that kind of thing, but now all I can seem to do is comment as my own personal page. But FB keeps changing things, so I don’t know if they took that option away.

Same for liking other people’s pages, I can’t seem to find a way to like any pages.

#12

Yes, it’s live. Good job getting 'er done! I went on and “liked” it, and clicked “like” on the first post.

When you go to the page, there should be a drop down function at the right of the status bar that allows you to switch identities. At least for my business page there is. I can be myself, or my business and you’ll soon get used to keeping them separate.

As for boosted posts, yes they are helpful, but Facebook will take your last dollar if you let it. I was shocked when their ever helpful computer suggested I spend $50 per day to boost my posts and website. FB is making a lot of money off boosted posts because they are severely limiting the small business posts that get into people’s newsfeeds. That can be overridden by the user changing his/her preference to see all your posts first, but very few people ever do that, much to the detriment of small business, and much to the enrichment of Facebook.

There is also an option where you can invite friends to like your business page. Invite all your friends, and hope that they will help you. After that, it’s up to you to post interesting stuff so they stay engaged. You’ll be able to see how many people your posts reach, and will be able to see how many “likes” and “shares” etc.

Best of luck to you!

#13

It will not be as difficult for you in your business as you can always use a cute dog picture but beware that FB is a bit silly about ads in that you must have a picture. Text saved as a JPEG will be flagged. We own a financial service business and last year I wanted to promote an ad with our logo and remind people to make appointments. I even petitioned FB to no avail. There is really no picture that goes with “make your tax prep appointment today” unless it is an angry guy! LOL

#14

[QUOTE=ADTC;8958138]

I just don’t want my family and friends bombarded with posts about animals (okay, well, they got some on my personal FB page already!) every time I post on my business page. [/QUOTE]

Your friends on your personal account will not see the posts from your business page unless a) they “like” the business page or b) you share the business page posts on your personal account

#15

[QUOTE=ADTC;8958330]

Same for liking other people’s pages, I can’t seem to find a way to like any pages.[/QUOTE]

When you’re on your page, you should see a link on the right hand side (most of the way down) that says “See Pages Feed”. If you click that, there’s a green button on the new page that says “Like Other Pages”.

#16

Can’t, sorry. You can respond to posts on your page, or go to another page and create a post, but you can’t go to a friend and comment or like their posts.

https://www.facebook.com/help/465690686905994?helpref=uf_permalink

#17

Another tool that I’ve found really useful is Events: lots of people will share and you can post separately to an Event’s wall and people will see notifications if they are going or interested in it.

Some of the limitations can be frustrating, such as only being able to respond to messages, not contact someone first yourself.

Pairing with Instagram is also an easy way to tap into the younger market.

#18

[QUOTE=ADTC;8958330]

Does anyone know HOW to comment as my business page? I know it used to be possible to do that kind of thing, but now all I can seem to do is comment as my own personal page. [/QUOTE]

That’s not your imagination … that USED to be possible, but doesn’t seem to be anymore. The page I set up for my former boarding barn 3 years ago used to let me sort of switch identities, to be acting as the “XYZ Stables” person, and go galavanting around on FB with that identity. Not so any longer. I can still manage that page, but have to visit its page directly to be interacting as that identity.

Then once I AM on the page of the small business, then it always defaults to liking and commenting and acting as that identity. For each individual post, it is possible to switch back to yourself if you want, making yourself seem like an average visitor.

A few other things …

Take a look thru the “settings” for the page. A few items of note that I like to set …
Country Restrictions - US ONly … you don’t need Nigerian royalty or Russian hotties visiting your page
Profanity Filter - Medium
Messages - allow people to contact my page privately (can’t remember if this was default or I had to set it, but I want people to be able to contact me)
Visitor Posts - I like for people to be able to comment, but place a checkbox by review posts, making it where they can leave a comment, it just doesn’t show up until I approve it. Or disable comments if you’d rather.
Reviews - On or off, your preference
Messaging - there’s a whole tab dedicated to messaging, allows you to use some automated responses so that people get at least something from you if the send an inquiry … it’s worth taking a look at the options
Preferred Page Audience - This one is HUGE … set your location and an age range, gender even if you wanted, and FB will target those people. You can set a location with a radius like Alexandria VA with 50 mile radius.
Page Roles - this is where you can assign another person to help you edit. I’d recommend having at least one more person whom you trust, even if your agreement with them is that they don’t need to do anything right away, it’s good to have a backup if you become ill or incapacitated or whatever.

#19

[QUOTE=ADTC;8958330]

Does anyone know HOW to comment as my business page? I know it used to be possible to do that kind of thing, but now all I can seem to do is comment as my own personal page. But FB keeps changing things, so I don’t know if they took that option away.

Same for liking other people’s pages, I can’t seem to find a way to like any pages.[/QUOTE]

(Expanding on above). When you have the photo/post that you are wanting to comment on, it is usually the bottom right hand corner, beside how many comments there are. You’ll see a picture with a down arrow. If you click the arrow, it will be “Personal Page(You)” then “Name Of Business Page”. Click the account that you want to comment with.

If you are posting as your business on another business page, in an original from you post, it will be on the top right. Again with the picture and down arrow.

To “Like” as your business page…go to the business page that you are wanting to follow, and under the cover photo it will have LIKE, FOLLOWING, MESSAGE, …MORE. Click on “More”, then on “Like as Your Page”.

You will not be able to “friend” actual people, but only other pages set up as business.

Remember to occasionally SHARE your business page posts/pictures to your own personal account. Invite friends to like your page. Even if they don’t follow through with the like, it’s still a way to get your business name out in the world. They may have a friend that has a puppy, and then have it click in their head that they know someone with a training business.

#20

Just a quick comment - every business these days should have some kind of internet presence. Seems to me in the horse world that many small, local operations often use FB to provide that presence. I strongly suggest that anyone using FB for that purpose check settings and make sure that basic information about your business is visible on your page to a casual Google searcher or FB user who otherwise has no connection to you. Basic information would include location and contact information including best way to contact. It is a frequent source of frustration to me that FB shows me something about a business that might be interesting to me, and when I click on the link, I can’t tell where the business is located or who the principal is.

Get your Digital Subscription here - only $21.95 / year

Subscribe here
See gift options

Sign up to our monthly newsletter!

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.

Copyright © 2023 The Chronicle of the Horse