With over 2.23 billion monthly active users, there's a reason so many business owners are using Facebook as a way to tap into their target audience. Creating a Facebook business page is a great way to connect with existing customers and reach new ones, but as this social media platform has grown, so has the complexity of its features, and with so many capabilities, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Before we take you through the steps to create a Facebook business page, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from candidates on our social media courses.
When a business joins Facebook, it can either set up as a business or community page. The best way to differentiate between the two is to think of pages as being business-orientated and groups as being interest-orientated. A business page is a public profile that allows companies and brands to introduce their services and activities, while a community page, or group, is a community-based feature that gathers people with the same interests to discuss topics and share their opinions. So, depending on the type of business you are running, you may decide to set up either. For the vast majority of businesses, we would recommend setting up a business page — mainly because you have less control over what shows up on a community page.
Before creating a Facebook business page, you need to have a Facebook account. If you have a personal account, you're ready to create and flesh out your company's page. If you don't have a personal Facebook profile, or would rather keep the two separate, you can sign up for a business account, specifically designed for people who want to manage advertisements and pages without having a personal profile. Business profiles have limited access to personal profiles and cannot communicate with them, except when using a page.
As with regular Facebook profiles, Facebook business pages are free. Why? Because by using the platform to engage with your customers, you are helping Facebook acquire even more attention from your audience. Facebook then sells this attention to advertisers in the form of Facebook ads. It costs money to create Facebook ads but there's still no charge for the organic aspects of your page.
To create a Facebook business page, log in to Facebook and click on the plus symbol in the upper-right corner. Then select ‘Create Page'. Alternatively, you can type in the following URL: https://www.facebook.com/pages/creation/
You'll then need to complete the basic details of your business or brand, including the page name, category, and description. These details aren't set in stone and can always be changed later.
Next, click ‘Create page'.
You can now add a profile photo. Facebook recommends that you use a logo or image that helps people identify this page in search results. Ensure that your image is high-resolution and isn't over-cropped. Your profile photo needs to be at least 180 x 180 pixels, but the ideal profile picture size is 360 x 360 pixels.
You can also add a cover photo (the background image that appears on your Facebook business page). Ideally, this should be representative of your business, as well as being visually appealing. The optimal cover photo size for Facebook is 820 x 312 pixels.
Canva makes it really simple to create and design your own images, and also comes with several pre-made templates specifically designed for Facebook. Buffer has a great guide on how to make yours stand out (including examples).
Once you've added your profile and cover photo, it's time to input information that tells readers about your business. In the left-hand menu, find and select ‘Page Info'. Here, you can add details such as your contact information (phone number, email address, and web address), location, and opening hours. You can also link your other social accounts here, and create a username for your page. As well as making it easier for people to find your page, you will also have a custom URL that you can share with others.
Given Facebook's domain authority, a business' Facebook page will often rank higher in organic search than its website. For this reason, it's important to complete as much information in this section as possible, since it may be your customers' first point of reference for your business.
Every Facebook page has a CTA button, which is displayed below its cover photo. Adding a CTA button is a great way to encourage your page visitors to take action, for example, by sending you a message, or learning more about your business.
Simply click the ‘Add a button' option below your cover image and choose the action you want your page visitors to take. These can include things like ‘Send Message', ‘Book Now', or ‘Sign Up'. You can then choose which URL or existing content on your Facebook Page you would like it to direct visitors to. Want data on how many people are clicking your CTA button? Click the drop-down arrow and select ‘View Insights'.
Now that you know how to create and populate a Facebook business page, it's time to promote it. One of the easiest ways to start growing your audience is by inviting your friends to your new business page. To do this, click on the ellipsis button below your CTA and select ‘Invite Friends'.
We also suggest sharing a link to your Facebook business page on your other social accounts, adding to your online directory profiles, such as Yelp, and linking your page to your official business website. Once you've done that, you can continue to grow your audience by consistently creating and posting share-worthy content on your page, as well as actively participating in relevant groups where your target audience is likely spending their time.
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by Emma Gibbins | 27 Sep 23