Facebook Pages vs Facebook Groups
Should you have a Facebook Page or a Facebook Group? What are the pros and cons, similarities and differences?
To determine this we need to know your objectives as a business or organization and how you plan to be using Facebook.
Compare Facebook Pages and Groups
| Feature | FB Page | FB Group |
| Who can join | Anyone can LIKE a Facebook Page | You can request to JOIN a group. The administrator must authorize it or you can be INVITED to join a group. A group can also be private. |
| Purpose | Usually the page owner wants to promote and get as many LIKES as possible. | A Group may be for communications within the group. It is not necessarily the intention to broadcast to the general public. |
| Branding | You can upload 2 images – a header and a profile image. These can brand your page, | There is no branding on your Facebook group. The header image is photos of members of the group. |
| Files | You can upload photos or video but not word documents or PDF files. No WYSIWIG editing or create a file. | You can upload files in different formats for your group and members can upload in a Post. Also “Create a file” with editing functions. |
| Photos and Videos | Can post photos and video | Can post photos and video |
| Posts | A post by the Administrator appears with the name of the page. You do have the option as Admin to post, like and share under your own name as well. Posts by people who “Like” the page show up on the right column. Not as prominent. | Security levels to allow administrator to review and authorize posts before they appear on the group. Once a post is authorized it appears on the main news timeline for the group. Posts are made under the name of the person (including administrators). |
| Members | People who LIKE a page have limited access to other people who like the page. | A group is MEMBER oriented. Option to allow all members to invite new members. People can request to join the group and must be authorized by an administrator. There are various levels available. Members can view other members with photo and profile text. |
| Integration with Website | You can integrate a Facebook PAGE into your website to display activity, posts and likes. | A Facebook GROUP cannot be integrated into a website or blog. You can link to it. |
Create a Facebook Page
- To raise awareness about a cause, organization
- To build an audience
- To promote your business or organization
- To create a fan base
- To build a brand
Create a Facebook Group
- To communicate with members of the group
- To build a group of people with similar interests
- To share files with members of the group
Sample Facebook Group Header
The Facebook Group can display an image, group name and type of group. Members, Discussion, Events, Photos and Files are featured as the links below the header.
Sample Facebook PAGE header
Brand your Facebook page with a logo or other profile image (small square) and a Header image that reflects your business or organization. Below the header appears a brief ABOUT statement and your choice of Icons for photos, likes, notes or other apps.
Possibly you will want to create a Facebook Page AND a Facebook Group to achieve different objectives. If you decide to do this, make your Facebook Group Members aware that you also have a Facebook Page and invite them to LIKE the page in order to see your posts.
It is not possible to migrate or move a Facebook Group and change it to a Facebook Page – so you may decide to have both or notify members of your Group that you now also have a Facebook Page and ask them to LIKE it.
More information
There are other similarities and differences. Do you have BOTH a Facebook Page and a Group? Or why did you choose one over the other? Are you satisfied with your choice? Please feel free to leave your comments below.
