A common question I hear is “What’s the difference between a personal page on Facebook and a business page?” The next question I get from business owners is “Do I really have to have a business page? It’s enough work to keep up with my personal page.”

The simple answer: Yes! The benefits outweigh the minimal time commitment it takes to keep your Facebook business page current and engaging.

The benefits include:

• Visible to Non-Facebook Users – Your whole page will show up even if someone isn’t logged in to Facebook or doesn’t have an account at all. Personal pages only show basic information and a few of your friends to unregistered visitors.
  
• Search Engine Indexing – Google and other search engines will index all of your posts on your business page, meaning better search engine optimization for your company. Try it out by going to Google & searching for “site:facebook.com/coachgailnott blog”.
  
• Unlimited “Likes” & No Need to Confirm – Personal pages are limited to 5000 friends and each friend must be confirmed by clicking a button. There is no limit to how many people can “like” your business & you do not have to do confirm them. You still have control over removing fans or comments made on your wall.
  
• Dual Relationships – Whether your profession or industry requires it or it’s a personal preference, having a Business page allows a separation between your personal & business life. It also gives your clients a choice; not every person you’ve done business with wants to be your Facebook friend. They might want to keep their personal lives private.
  
• Easier to Advertise – The “Like” box and the targeted ads on Facebook can only be used for Business pages.

What do you think? Is a Facebook Business page unnecessary if you primarily use Facebook for business anyway?