Every day I’m noticing more and more businesses setting up a personal Facebook profile instead of a proper Business Page, and I wanted to share some insight as someone who deals with digital foundations every day, both professionally and personally.
It might seem like a small decision when you’re first setting up your business, but getting the foundations right early can save you a lot of headaches later, especially when your website, Google Business Profile and other platforms all need to connect.
So, let’s talk about what actually matters when setting up your business online.
Personal profile vs Business Page
This is one of the biggest things I see businesses get wrong on Facebook.
A personal profile is designed for you as an individual. A Business Page is designed to represent your business.
There are some important differences.
Personal profile
→ Requires personal information, such as your date of birth, when creating the account
→ If customers add you as a friend, the connection goes both ways. Depending on your privacy settings, this can give them access to parts of your personal Facebook presence, while also giving you access to theirs
→ Facebook's rules distinguish personal profiles from Pages for businesses, so using a personal profile as your business's primary presence isn't the intended setup
→ Personal profiles have a 5,000 friend limit
Business Page
→ Designed specifically for businesses and organisations rather than individuals
→ Customers can like or follow your Page without becoming your personal Facebook friends
→ Keeps your personal Facebook presence separate from your business
→ Gives you access to business specific tools such as Page insights, advertising options and business information
→ There is no 5,000 friend limit because people follow your Page rather than becoming your personal friends
Think of it simply:
Personal profile = you
Business Page = your business
You can still use your personal profile to manage your Business Page and share your business content with your own network. You don't need to choose one or the other.
Choose your business name carefully
Your business name should be consistent wherever people find you.
Ideally, the name on your Facebook Business Page should match the name you use across your:
Website
Instagram
Google Business Profile
Invoices
Signage
Business cards
This makes it much easier for someone to search for you and know they've found the right business.
Your username matters too
Your username, sometimes called your handle, is the @name associated with your social account.
Try to keep this as close as possible to your actual business name.
If your ideal username is already taken, choose a simple and recognisable variation rather than adding random numbers or unrelated words.
When your username is consistent across Instagram, Facebook and your website, people can recognise your business much more easily.
Don't forget your profile URL
Your profile URL is the actual web address people use to visit your social profile.
A clean, recognisable URL is useful when you're putting your social media on:
Business cards
Flyers
Email signatures
Your website
Marketing materials
It's another small detail that makes your digital presence feel consistent and intentional.
Complete your business information
Once your Business Page is set up, don't just upload your logo and start posting.
Take the time to fill everything out properly.
Depending on your business, this might include:
Business category
Profile and cover images
Business description
Website
Contact details
Location or service area
Opening hours
Booking or enquiry links
Think about what someone would need to know if they discovered your business for the first time today.
Can they quickly understand who you are, what you offer and how to contact you?
Connect your social media to your website
Your social media and website shouldn't exist as completely separate pieces of your business.
Your website should link to your social profiles, and your social profiles should link back to your website.
This creates a simple journey for your customers.
Someone might find you on Instagram, click through to your website and enquire.
Someone else might find your website, click through to your Facebook Page and see your latest work.
Someone searching for your business on Google might find your Google Business Profile and then head straight to your website.
The easier you make those connections, the easier it is for people to move between the different parts of your online presence.
Your digital foundations are the bigger picture
Social media is just one part of the puzzle.
One of my FAVOURITE parts of what I do, besides web design, is auditing socials, Google Business Profiles, online bookings and payment services and making sure everything is accurate, up to date, connected and actually represents the business.
Because your website might look beautiful, but if your social links are broken, your business information is outdated, your booking system doesn't work or your Google profile is set up incorrectly, there are still gaps in the customer journey.
Anyone I work with gets more than just a website from me.
They get someone who cares about the whole picture.
Getting it right from the beginning
You don't need to be on every social media platform or have everything perfect from day one.
You just want the foundations to be right.
Use the right type of account.
Keep your business name consistent.
Choose recognisable usernames.
Complete your business information.
Connect your platforms.
And make sure everything points your customers in the right direction.
These things might seem small, but together they create a much stronger digital foundation for your business.