How to set up a Facebook account for a group

Facebook is a powerful social networking tool for individuals and small groups alike. In times past a groups would have fostered a relationship with a local newspaper to marshal support for their cause. With the all-invasive nature of Facebook the relationship between mainstream media and group has changed. Instead of a small group of people campaigning on an issue the approach from the group to the press can be a very large and active group approaching the press. Large and active groups tend to receive more column inches, more airtime and more exposure. This morning (1/2/10) there was a story on the radio about a UK police force who started a Facebook campaign to ensure that patrols were conducted in pairs. There were over a 1000 signatories to the campaign and it made national news. Setting up Facebook for a group is slightly different to setting up an account for an individual. Step 1 – Open a browser and visit www.facebook.com Step 2 – Under the little sign up panel and under the green “Sign Up” button is a text link called Create a Page for a celebrity, band or business.

Step 3 – Fill in the form to create a group page. Yet again there is a squiggly collection of letters to copy into a box to prove that you are not a machine. In this example I selected from the “Brand, Product and Organisation” option. I then chose “Not for Profit” from the drop down list. I then typed “Social Media for Small Groups” into the Name of the Page box. I then did the squiggly letter thing and pressed the blue “Create Page” button at the bottom of the page. Of course you will pop in the selections that are right for your group.

Step 4 – Because I want to keep this Facebook account entirely separate to any personal accounts I may have I have selected the “I do not have a Facebook account” option. I can then go on and set up a new account using the Googlemail email address I set up earlier in session one. Yet more squiggly letters to fill in on this form. Do they ever end?

Step 5 – I am now invited to visit Googlemail. When I did so I found a new email from Facebook containing a link to validate the account.

Step 6 - clicking on the link launched a new window showing our brand new Facebook Social Media for Small Groups page. It looks pretty bare at the moment but with a few clicks we can soon sort that out.

Question: So now I’ve set up a group Facebook Page (account) what is the difference between this and my personal profile (account) Answer: Taken from Facebook) Facebook Profiles are meant to represent a single individual. Organisations of any type are not permitted to maintain an account under the name of their organisation. We have created Facebook Pages to allow organisations to have a presence on Facebook. These Pages are distinct presences, separate from user profiles, and

optimised for an organisation's needs to communicate, distribute information/content, engage their fans and capture new audiences virally through their fans' recommendations to their friends. Facebook Pages are designed to be a media rich, valuable presence for any artist, business or brand.