In February 2011, Facebook changed its Pages application. Like the former Catherine Middleton, Facebook "didn't put a foot wrong" with this latest move to increase customer satisfaction.
Sometimes Change is Good
An announcement on Facebook's website reports that you can "choose to receive notifications about fan activity, Like and comment on other Pages as your Page, and get your own News Feed where you can engage with the latest and most important news from other pages you like."
"Facebook allows business owners to directly engage with their clients, supporting an ongoing 'relationship' it makes a business or project accessible on a non-threatening, yet personal level" said Andy Lowe, founder of Chinese Pirate Productions .
A series of email interviews revealed that small-business owners approve of the changes for a variety of reasons.
Separate Business and Personal Profiles
One thing that appealed to most of the professionals who responded to a query on the subject, is the ability to keep their personal profiles separate from their pages.
"It definitely makes it easier for companies to have a presence on Facebook without revealing themselves to their fans," said Mitch Kocen, assistant marketing manager for BAJobs.com. "They can post in an official voice and not worry about people trying to friend the individual employees."
Tommy Spero, principal and creative director for SOUL, agreed that Facebook's new Pages features "eliminate that worry, as long as you don't accept friend requests from clients."
For independent contractors, this is especially important. Only someone with a personal profile on Facebook can create a Page for his business, product or service. Now, whether a sole proprietor operates out of his kitchen, the local coffee shop or rented office space, he no longer has his business life encroaching upon his personal life.
No one appreciates this more than freelance writer and photographer, Dan Cavallari. "It has been a great way to separate my personal identity from my professional identity."
Affordable Marketing Platform
Cost is another factor that some query respondents thought would make a difference. New small business owners often need an affordable way to market themselves, their products or services to customers and prospects. Businesses can create as many Facebook Pages as they want for free. Karen Banan, founder of NaturalAsPossibleMom.com, for example, uses her Facebook page to drive traffic to her blog.
"For those without an online business presence or a website, the new Facebook business page is a great way to start. It is an easy, credible and affordable way for a business to create and operate a functional online presence and grow over time," said president of Brownstone Communications, LLC, Brian Fojtik.
Facebook Pages got a much needed upgrade. Whether customer satisfaction was the catalyst for the change or not, it is an added benefit.
Candice Arnold - Candice Arnold is a writer with experience in both the newspaper and Internet writing worlds. She has been writing articles for the New ...
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