Over the last year I’ve taught a few workshops on writing and being a writer. Inevitably I hear the same question in each class, and surprisingly it isn’t, can you even tie your own shoes, but I digress… The question is—should I create a Facebook page or use my profile?
The answer: I have no clue. I barely know you. Stop staring at me like that.
Okay, the real answer is similar: You tell me what works for you.
Yes, it is that simple.
And far more complicated.
Confused? Good. Marketing yourself as a writer is a confusing world. You can ask anyone for advice, but that doesn’t mean what works for them will work for you. That being said, I do have a few pros and cons for the fan page versus the profile.
Fan Page
PROS:
Ability to schedule posts: Yes, you can schedule posts if you use a third party software, but the ability to do so directly from Facebook is only available on a fan page.
Insights: Learn about those who view your page, when they view it, and what they interact with.
Ads: This is my favorite part. You can create an ad specific to your target audience. Don’t know who your target is, research! Let me give you an example, 84% of romance readers are women, age range of 30-54. Now if I was creating an ad, I would pick women who like books (you can get more specific) in that age range. I could even go as far as to target women who’ve LIKED a particular author or book. Can’t get better than that. And you pick the cost of the ad.
Tabs: You can make tabs for new pages like a website. I have a newsletter signup form (using mailchimp), a page for giveaways, and an events page among others.
Shop Now button: I have a button on the top of my page that says shop now. It takes people to my amazon author page, and all my available books. Quick and easy. You can create a button for most any call to action.
CONS:
LIKE ME: For people to see your page without you boosting the post (which costs cash) they have to have LIKED the page.
Impersonal: The fan page can feel a little impersonal, if you let it. You need to put effort into cultivating your fans. You need to be as open and genuine on that page as you are in real life. Or if you suck in real life (I’m totally sure you don’t. Really. Don’t you look pretty today…), you should keep that suckiness under wraps. Which is great life advice too. So you are welcome.
Easily Ignored: I tend to ignore requests to LIKE someone’s page, and yet, I am willing to be ‘friends’ with anyone. You might be different, but I am guessing based on the response of my own friends to LIKE my page that that is true. I am also less likely to read a post from a fan page.
PROFILE
PROS:
You already have one: No mess, no fuss.
Most engagement: Again, it might just be me, but I tend to engage with a post by a profile more than I do a page. It might contain the same information, but I trust a profile more. Which makes me an idiot, but you knew that already (see my inability to tie my own shoes comment earlier).
Friends are better than fans: If you can turn a fan into a friend, then you have won the marketing game. Fans are wonderful. I love people who adore me. Not sure why, other than it is awesome. But a fan is 2D. I don’t know them. A friend, on the other hand, is someone I can engage with at any time.
Newsfeed: It’s just not the same on a fan page. I love my newsfeed. I love knowing about other’s perspective. Yes, I am FREAKING NOSEY. Always have been.
CONS:
Opening yourself up: Using your profile opens you up to anyone you accept as a friend (and sometimes, depending on your settings, to anyone in general). Now I don’t have a problem with that. I am the same on either my profile or page, though I am more active on my profile.
No Ads: You have to have a page to create an ad.
I suggest you create a fan page, just to see how you like it. If you don’t, just delete it. It can’t hurt, and it might make you famous. Remember to remember the little people when you are. (Yeah, I’m pretty short).
Do you have a Facebook fan page? If so, link it in the comments and I’ll LIKE you. Or give us your profile link and I’ll friend you.
I also wanted to give a shout out to all the veterans. Happy Veterans’ Day! Thank you for your service!
I’m a Page person, more so since my ‘friends’ have approached the 5000 FB-imposed limit. Also, I like being able to keep thing private on my profile — I have it restricted to my family and “close friends” whom are people I actually know. When I get friend requests, I accept them (until I hit my limit), but I let them know that they’re not going to see anything, and the ‘fun’ happens on my page. That’s where I try to interact the most. As for ads and ‘boosted’ posts — sounds like you’ve had better luck. When I’ve done them, the reach was good, but the click-throughs sucked. Also, they kept rejecting my boost because I was using a book cover and that had “too much text” even though their guidelines said book covers were the exception to their rule.
Hi Terry, I haven’t had that great of luck with the ads. I have had the too much text issue, and recently they tagged and banned my boost ad due to my apparently selling adult products since the title had a F***ed in it. I contacted them and they worked it out, but yes, it’s not perfect. I’m glad a page works for you. Thanks for commenting.
Julie, can you tell me what is the best way to contact Facebook about such issues as you mentioned?
Here you go: https://www.facebook.com/business/contact-us/
Thanks!
I’ve got both, but find I have to share my Page posts on my profile just so people can see it. So at that point, I’m wondering what’s the point? I didn’t know about the different tabs though on the Page. Guess I should take a look at that!
I do link my blog and my Twitter account to my Page – so anything that goes on one, goes on the other. Not as elegant as something like Hootsuite, but it saves a bit of time.
https://www.facebook.com/CarolynKayAuthor
I went to LIKE you and I already am. I love when that happens. I used to have my facebook and twitter linked, but found no traction on twitter because the style is so different along with what should be content. But yeah, all that linking is fabulous for us. Thanks for commenting! And everybody else, go LIKE her!
I’ve resisted adding a Fan Page on Facebook because I vowed to keep my social media time limited. I do one page on Facebook, one Twitter ID, Goodreads, (a sort of acquaintance with) Library Thing, Google+, and my blog. I cannot let myself add anything else….I’m having enough trouble just juggling those and keeping them up-to-date.
You do just fine on all your social media. I don’t think you need a page at all. You are someone everyone should look up to in what to post when.
That would be an easy lesson to pass on….my goal is to get on the site, connect with a few people, promote my posts or RMFW’s posts, and then leave.
I have a fan page and a profile (facebook.com/writingwinters, and you can find me as Catherine Winters if you want to friend). I prefer the page, just because I can access it from my non-writerly profile as well, and it’s easy to share bunches of things I like. I also never realized there was a friend limit, but I’m well above it with fans, so I guess that was a good way to go for me. (And apparently I’m not as likable IRL? Oh, well.)
I like you in real life too! I love that you dig the page better. It’s so rare that someone can use them effectively like you do.
I have three ceiling fans, two stand up fans, one air circulatory fan, a oven-hood fan, four bathroom overhead fans, and a paper folded fan from my daughter that’s now 12 years old. Maybe I should get a fan page so everyone can see, learn, comment about them. The first post: Putting in an overhead fan on the patio/porch cover being constructed soon. Visit my fan page please!
One thing I get tired of: liking both the fan page and profile page of same person tends to double message on FB, not that I don’t like seeing more of you, but I’d rather drink more to see you in double than open up FB.
I almost fell out of my chair laughing. You are so freaking funny. Thanks Dean for the fan jokes. I dare you to make a fan fan page.
Hmmmm….can’t resist, must resist fan, fan page.
I have a fan page. Any time I have anything to say about my books I post it there, then I share it using my profile.
I also have a page for each book, where I post things specific to that book and, again, share from my profile.
Not sure how you manage them all. Good for you, Kevin.
Great post, Julie — and as always I appreciate your twisted sense of humor.
My books (some of them) have their own pages and I have an author profile. Together, my characters and I send powerful, subliminal messages throughout the Universe. It’s not about selling books 😉
Linda Collison (author profile)
Water Ghosts (YA adventure with strong paranormal and historical elements)
Looking for Redfeather (a metaphor for life’s journey)
Friday Night Knife & Gun Club (a wicked dystopian satire and political commentary)
North Shore Restaurant & Bar (where #writerswhodrink gather to observe human nature at its best/worst)
Powerful, subliminal message received. I am hungry for a doughnut. Oh, that wasn’t your message? Damn. Thanks Linda, always a pleasure to chat with you.
Hi Julie! You’re (once again) so fun to read! Thanks for the shot of humor this morning. I have a profile and a page but need to delve further into the benefits of the page. I need to figure out who is viewing my page rather than only knowing how many views I had. Also, the whole ad thing is something I’ve yet to look into, so that’s on the “to do” list this year. My page is https://www.facebook.com/Rene-Collier-906247756088155/?ref=hl (Rene’ Collier is my pen name.) Take care 😉
I LIKED you! That’s a very nice author photo. Good job. My to-do list never seems to get shorter. As a means of promotion, you can probably leave the ad thing on your to-do list as it’s not the best means by any means. Thanks for commenting, Rene. LIKE her people!
Thanks for the like! I followed you through my profile (rene zimbelman) but can’t see where I can like you when I go to my page (rene collier) Seems I’m not able to like you through my page, just my profile. hmmm.
I limit my Facebook time. So Fan pages aren’t my style but I found this discussion very interesting.