I still see it on a regular basis. Businesses have set themselves up on Facebook Profiles. Facebook Profiles are not to be used for “Business” or anything other than personal use. If you set up a business on a Facebook Profile, Facebook can and will pull it down when they find it. All your hard work will be down the drain.

A Facebook Profile page allows you to “Add Friends” and connect with them. A Facebook Page gets “Liked” by visitors. You need a Facebook Profile to set up a Facebook Business Page. Here is a photo of a Facebook Profile (to the left and in the background – see “Add as Friend”) and a Facebook (Business) Page. The Facebook Page is pictured in the foreground of lower right part of the graphic – see “Like” button.

Page Versus Profile

A Facebook Profile adds “Friends” and a Facebook (Business) Page adds “Likers“. You use a Facebook Profile for personal use. You use a Facebook (Business) Page for business. You do not use a Facebook Profile for a business page.

For your information – section from Facebook policy:

“Facebook profiles are meant to represent a single individual. Organizations of any type are not permitted to maintain an account under the name of their organization. We have created Facebook Pages to allow organizations to have a presence on Facebook. These Pages are distinct presences, separate from user profiles, and optimized for an organization’s needs to communicate, distribute information/content, engage their fans, and capture new audiences virally through their fan’s recommendations to their friends. Facebook Pages are designed to be a media rich, valuable presence for any artist, business or brand.”

If you create a profile for your business, your account may be disabled for violating our Terms of Use. If you have questions about how to best leverage your Facebook Page, please check out our Insider’s Guide or FAQ.”

If you have made a Facebook Profile into a business page, you need to create a Facebook (Business) Page from a Facebook Profile. Then you can migrate all your “Friends” over to the Facebook (Business) Page so that they can “Like” it. Or you can play the waiting game and see what happens. As a business professional, you are not going to wait. You are going to make the move right now. If you have any questions, check out the links above or contact me.