We get this question a lot, so I thought I would post the question and answer here.

Question:
Which Facebook option is better for my business or organization? A PAGE or a GROUP?

Answer:
Facebook defines groups and pages differently, and upon reading their definition – and having intimately used both – our official position is to follow the Facebook rules for best success.

This means that if you are the official representative of your Main Street program or the owner of your business or the executive director of a non-profit organization, etc. then it is advisable that you start a PAGE that allows others to become FANS of your organization or business.

If you are a volunteer or individual seeking to raise awareness and support for an organization, topic, issue, etc., then you should start a GROUP page and invite folks to join your group if they are like minded.

To give an example of how to properly use GROUPS, a group of businesses or citizens could band together, name a leader and promote a GROUP on Facebook to rally citizens to participate in ongoing efforts to hold local officials accountable. This group of citizens is an UNofficial collection of like-minded people pursuing a goal. There could be many of the same sorts of GROUPS pop up, even within the same community, and that is allowable under Facebook rules. GROUPS are basically a free speech forum to meet and gather likeminded individuals.

As for PAGES, Facebook contends that they must be "official." Therefore, there will only be ONE Facebook PAGE for the Michigan Main Street Center, for instance, because they are the official organization and promoter for Michigan Main Street programs at the state level. Similarly, Swagger Gifts' Facebook PAGE will be the one and only because she is the official owner and promoter of Swagger Gifts in Cary, North Carolina. And there will only be one Team HALO Facebook PAGE, and we will administer it, because it is our official presence on Facebook.

Facebook PAGES provide a lot of promotional flexibility, professional image and communication features handy for those pursuing strategic marketing vs. the GROUPS option. But never fear, if you've made a GROUPS page but would now choose the PAGES option, Facebook will help you convert it, just ask them.

More information is available on this Facebook Help page under PAGES. (You will likely need to be logged in to Facebook to view any Facebook content including this and the links shown above.)

Small Business Marketing Tip: The bottom line is that you should be on Facebook with a personal profile and a PAGE for your official business or organization. Just get on there and start to learn the ropes. You should participate and encourage your employees to do the same (within reason of course). Your business will be better for it.

Soon, we'll address specific Facebook marketing tactics and strategies to give you an edge in your Facebook network. We also present this information in our small business seminar called Marketing Tactics that Will Work Right Now. 

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Around here, we try to read a book a week between the two of us. Since the first of the year, I've read three real books (as opposed to e-books) – two of them business related. (I do also read a huge volume of articles and blogs daily – and yes a few e-books, too.) One blog article this week pointed me to this great book list (which I will paste below for the most part) – I know it's great because I've read quite a few of the books – and most of the rest are on my 2009 hit list.

Those of you who have followed me for a bit know that I keep a reading list on my web site (scroll down the page for the list) – and I pass out an updated book and blog reading list at all of my speaking engagements. So, I thought I'd encourage you to pick up a good business book to pass the winter evenings by sharing the list shared with me as an addendum to my web site book list.

Books Every Small Business Owner Should Read (partial list below)

Happy reading, small business owner.

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Our "Thrive! Don't Just Survive" small business marketing seminar explains how to best persuade customers as you craft your marketing message. We turn to Aristotle's Elements of Persuasion and spin them into 21st century retail speak.

One of the elements of persuasion is logos – or logic. And one of the ways you can "persuade" a customer that a product is a "logical choice" is by making it a "greener" choice. Here's a case study spinning that very element today on The Decorating Diva blog.

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Well, I don't know about you, but my head has been spinning lately from all of the (no pun intended) spin floating around in the media. Presidential politics have definitely added a new level of drama to our financial roller coaster of late – and a few key points rise to the top of my mind as we face one of the most serious financial challenges of many of our lifetimes.

First, I'm really hoping that my seminar attendees listened up when we started telling them back in the late spring to secure their lines of credit and to plan on making it this Christmas on cash. In our "Thrive! Don't Just Survive" seminar, we outline practical ways to position your business, market your business – oh, and most importantly, manage the cash of your business – so that you GROW through this trying economic time.

Folks, I believe in grabbing hold of your own destiny. Pick up that chin, grab hold of some passion and a great attitude, and go out there and be the above-average, everybody wishes they were you picture of the American dream. I really don't care who becomes President (although I think my taxes will be less under one than the other – and that certainly doesn't hurt my ability to be an American Dream success story); I believe in being American. And to me that means grabbing my own version of the Dream. And that's what I want for each and every one of you. Don't sit around talking about the recession – find a way out of it. There is money out there – and some our clients are making wads of it right now. Personally, I can really tell you our business has NEVER been better.

And, I love that "Main Street" is finally getting some national attention. From the headlines about saving "Main Street" to "Joe the Plumber" – the small business owners of the world are getting some attention. And we well deserve it. Andy and I have worked with "Main Street" in the sense of restoring our lost downtown micro-economies through the National Main Street Program for a while now – but we're really about helping passionate small business owners find their version of success. Joe the Plumber and Barbara the Baker and Sally the Shopowner – you are our passion. And I'm hoping that some of this attention will give you renewed pride in your place among American economics and reinvigorate you to create a business that goes beyond your wildest dreams in terms of success.

So, my friends (I stole that line!), let's quit waiting on a trend to follow or a bail-out package to save us. Let's be our own trend and bail outselves out – and let's show the national media what Main Street is made of…

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