Should you build a Facebook Page or a Facebook Group?
February 25, 2010 – 8:44 pm by Griffin HammondYesterday, Facebook blogged about the difference between Pages and Groups, two different ways beyond a personal profile to establish a presence and connect with people on Facebook. Profiles, Pages and Groups are visually almost identical (for now), but Facebook explains the distinction:
Only the official representatives of a public figure, business or organization should create a Facebook Page.
Unlike your profile, Facebook Pages are visible to everyone on the internet by default. You, and every person on Facebook, can connect with these Pages by becoming a fan and then receive their updates in your News Feed and interact with them.
Facebook Groups are the place for small group communication and for people to share their common interests and express their opinion.
Facebook’s explains the distinction as one of philosophy, but users often gravitate to one or the other based on the technical differences between each:
| Facebook Group | Facebook Page | |
| News Feeds | Group members’ posts/activities show up on the Group wall, and in members’ News Feeds, but a Group can’t author an update. |
A Page can post an update, which will appear in fans’ News Feeds. |
| Messaging | A Group admin can mass message all members, up to 5,000. |
Pages can’t send messages, only “updates,” which appear in an overlooked subfolder within the inbox. |
| Privacy | Groups can be set to Open (any Facebook user can join), Closed (members must be approved), or Secret (hidden). |
Pages are public, and any Facebook user can become a fan. |
| Usernames | Groups can not be assigned a username (vanity URL). |
After reaching 25 fans, Pages, like profiles, can choose a username. |
| Metrics | Groups do not offer any measurement tools. |
Facebook Insights is free with every Page, allowing admins to track post quality, fan interactions and demographics. |
| Admins | The creator/admins are displayed prominently on the Group. Officers can also be assigned. |
Admins are secret for Pages, and cannot post content as themselves, only under the Page’s name. |
| Applications | Facebook applications can’t be installed on a Group. |
Pages can make use of applications and FBML code. |
| Facebook says | Groups are for dialogue amongst small common interest groups. |
Pages are intended to represent public figures and organizations. |
