Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home

Lia-VSS · #1 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Hi Guys,
At the moment, I have a business Facebook fan page which is... DEAD. I created this through my private facebook account [of which I want to keep private for my non-business friends, and anyway my non-business profile is hidden as well as having a funny-spelling middle name along with my nickname as my first name].

Anyway, I have been reading that it's FB policy to only have one FB account but I would really like to have a normal separate FB account for my business networking side [my name would read Julia Neal VA - i hope]. Do you think it would be OK for me to create a different FB account for business networking or just hope that my fan page suffices? because at the moment I have no fans and I've got the link to it on certain forums I go on as signatures as well as on my site...

Thanks in advance!

CortniM · #2 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

I just recently created a 2nd facebook profile under my business name for the sole purpose of being able to maintain clients fan pages from one business account. I didn't want to get anything from my personal profile mixed in with clients pages that I maintain and update. I don't really have anything on this profile, it is more of just a landing account from which to manage multiple pages. Plus it seems more professional for clients to give my business access to their fan pages rather than me personally.
As far as using your business profile to network, it depends on how you want to use it. It might be kind of irritating to your friends if you are constantly advertising on it, but if you are sharing info about your business, I don't see why you couldn't. I think it makes perfect sense to keep your business contacts separate from your personal contacts.

VAerin · #3 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

I would be very careful in creating two profiles. Facebook is very strict on this, here is a link to their terms http://www.new.facebook.com/terms.php Your account must be in your own real name. Not your business name, a fake name, pen name, etc. Nor can you have duplicate accounts.

If they do find out they can close all your accounts, that means both profiles and any fan pages. So all of your work and networking will be lost.

I don't want to see anyone's account get deleted with all the work everyone puts in on them. I have heard a lot of accounts being closed down recently. Many because they are promoting their business too much on their personal profile.

I hope that helps

Excel Virtual Services · #4 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

I agree about facebooks terms. I recently had a challenge with them regarding this subject. They asked to delete the profile I created under my business and asked me to keep my personal one and to create a fan page under my business within my personal profile. So far it has been working great. On all my marketing materials I put in my direct url to my fan page and people have the option to become a fan or not.

Ivette

CortniM · #5 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Thanks for that info. Can you tell me where in the terms that is says you can not have duplicate pages? I tried to find it, but I couldn't locate it. I have no problem creating my fan page under my account, but as someone who assists other business with updating their fan pages, I don't want them linked to my personal account. Not to mention that when I am an admin of certain pages, I can't interact with them as myself, if that makes sense.

I'm just asking this so I can follow up with them on my dilemmas and see if they have an alternative solution to having 2 accounts. But I wanted to reference the guidelines you mentioned and I can't find them

Thanks!

VAerin · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Just to clearify a little. You can have only one profile (that is your personal profile). You can have as many pages (fan pages) as you want.

Fan pages are not "linked" to your account in a way that the public would know. You are linked behind the scenes.

As far as I know if you are the admin of a page all your posts will be from the page name.

TargetStars · #7 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

VAerin is right. I know someone who opened a second Facebook account and used it as their business (they were using it like it was a fan page). Facebook found out and deleted their profile and now they have to start all over again. Creating a fan page from the get go will enable you to avoid having to undergo what this person endured (starting over is no fun!).

JKVirtualOffice · #8 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009

I don't recommend two accounts. The Terms of Service do explicitly state against this and as others have said, they can shut down all of your accounts if they discover it. If you don't have fans on your fan page, then I would work on figuring out ways to increase your fan base by publicizing your fan page. There are a number of articles and posts out there that will give you ideas for increasing fans.

If you manage fan pages for clients, as an Admin your personal profile is NOT linked to that fan page other than you can access & update the fan page FROM your personal account. The administrators of fan pages are NOT public information.

I do recommend initially setting up a client's fan page within their own personal profile account and then adding yourself as an Admin. This way the page always belongs to the client and the client's account even if you are no longer working for them or working as an Admin on the page. A fan page is always tied to the account it was originally set up in.

RebeccaT · #9 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009

UGh....you beat me, Kimberly.... :-P

Lia-VSS · #10 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009

thanks for clarlifying.

Can I also add that you can add yourself as a fan if you want [to begin with!] but now as one of my personal friends is a fan of my business [LOL], I can remove myself!

I don't want people to see my 'paps' and what I get up to out of work, so you can hide yourselves from the public by setting your personal settings to 'only friends' for everything. This means that you can still work on your fan site for your business as well as keeping your private life 'private'.

Thanks again guys!