By: Melissa Kay
• Find out how groups let you be more private and exclusive on Facebook
• Check out which Facebook tool allows free and easy SEO
• Discover how pages enable you to track visitors easily and monitor your brand name on Facebook
“Which is better: Facebook page or group?” That is the question that constantly plagues companies who are just starting to dabble in the new era of social media marketing. It is natural to be slightly confused over the functions of both tools since they have overlapping features. But before we discuss their differences, let’s look at what exactly a Facebook page is and what constitutes a Facebook group.
Facebook page
Having a Facebook page allows you to specifically represent your business online. It will be visible to unregistered users and it is indexed, thus resulting in quick and easy search engine optimisation. A Facebook page also looks extremely familiar to a Facebook profile. You can add friends, pictures, and even have walls that fans can post on.
Facebook group
You can choose to have more privacy and exclusivity with a Facebook group. You can decide if it is open to a particular network or to everyone on Facebook, set permissions whether the group is open (anyone may join), closed (need administrator’s approval to join) or secret (invite only).
Now that you know the basic descriptions of these two tools, let’s look at their differences in terms of:
1) Personal interactivity
Based on size limitations and security features, Facebook groups are set up to allow more personal interaction. What is posted on a group page could appear on its fans’ walls, thus making it a more personal reflection of the fans. For example, when someone joins a group called “Vegans in Singapore”, it will reflect his or her belief in being a vegan and this will then be reflected in his or her profile wall.
A Facebook page, however, is simply seen as another person on Facebook, and it usually isn’t linked to the fans personally.
2) Google search engine optimisation
Unlike Facebook groups, pages are indexed to allow for search engine optimisation. This means that having a page may increase your ranking in external search engines. Engaging in the services of a SEO expert, however, is still the most effective way to go tops on external search engines.
3) Announcements
Administrators will be able to send inbox messages to the group members. On the negative side, groups only allow a maximum of 5,000 members. On the other hand, page administrators are only able to update fans through the page, which will then be distributed under the “Updates” section of the fans’ inboxes. There are no limits to the number of updates you can send or the number of fans you can have when it comes to pages.
4) User control
You have a much greater control over who gets to participate on your Facebook group. For example, a group’s permission settings allow you to restrict access to new members. Perhaps you prefer new members to be approved first before letting them participate in the current discussion. With a page however, you can only set restrictions based on ages and locations.
5) Applications
Since pages are much more similar to normal profiles and thus allow for the hosting of applications, this makes them much more personalised from this perspective. Groups do not have the capability to host applications.
6) Tracking
With a Facebook page, you will be given a tool to track how many visitors you have received thus far. You will then be able to gauge how successful you have been in building your company’s image on an online social media.
The verdict
On the whole, groups are perfect for organising on a more personal level and for a smaller scale of interaction. Pages are better suited for businesses and brands who want to interact with their consumers online. So first, figure out the objective of your company to go on Facebook. Then look through this article and find out which tool is best to achieve your objective. Although working with an internet marketing firm may bring you quicker gratification, being active on Facebook will still gain you some fans. After all, with more than 350 million active users on Facebook, it’s safe to say that choosing the right tool can definitely do wonders for your business.
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