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Facebook Pages (or "fan pages") are a relatively new introduction to Facebook, and they are very similar to Facebook Groups in many ways. An obvious question is, "What is the difference between Facebook Fan Pages vs. Groups?" This Wiki page will try to show how they are similar, how they differ, and what can be a good strategy for using these Facebook features in our campus ministry/movements.

Fan pages allow groups/entities to establish a presence on Facebook, so that "fans" can:

• Learn about events, promotions, etc.
• Discuss different topics
• Receive a message or special "update" from the Fan Page admin(s)
• Show your friends that you're involved/interested in this
• AND MUCH MORE!..

Special abilities that distinguish it from a Facebook Group:

You can add applications, videos/notes/links, custom HTML and Flash content, etc. You can also send updates to your "fans" in a unique way that shows up on their mini-feeds, which is slightly different to all their regular notifications. Finally, when they join your Facebook fan page, it will display in a different way on their profile compared to if they joined a regular group. This Wiki page is broken down into two main parts - the first discusses the details about the differences and similarities between Facebook Pages and Groups, while the second presents a suggested strategy for how we can use Fan Pages and Groups together.

In general, a Facebook Fan Page and a Facebook Group are quite similar and can be used in similar ways. However, there are several key differences.

(See bottom of the page for an example of UCF Campus Crusade for Christ's Facebook Fan Page)

Key comparisons between Facebook "Fan" Pages and Groups

Parts of this section are illustrated with pictures at http://www.thegogglesdonothing.com/archives/2008/01/facebook_groups_vs_pages.shtml

1. PRESENTATION/CONTENT

Different: Fan Pages are more like normal websites - for example, you can display a graphic banner and other images & links at the start of your Fan Page (you can't do that on a Group page). You can also add custom HTML & Flash content, post videos/notes/links, etc. Note: the way that videos and photos are shown is slightly different on Fan Pages as compared to Groups.

Different: You can even add Facebook Applications, which also allow things like embedded MP3 files and more! A useful FB application for Campus for Christ may be the Small Group Finder (available here) that is getting some use by some American CCC ministries. There's also the Together On Mission application (available here) which I don't know too much about right now. - A list of popular/handy Facebook applications is available on the Facebook Pages site (click here)

Similar: Both have discussion threads, walls, related events, etc. Both can be used to post photos & video, although the presentation of those multimedia can be different on a Fan Page.

2. GETTING THE WORD OUT - Public browsing, word-of-mouth, and targeted Facebook ads

Similar: Both can be viewed publicly by non-Facebook members and are searchable by Google

• This means that people who aren't a member of Facebook can still see your Fan Page and also your Group (if it's set to be open/public). In fact, discussions within both are viewable to the public.

Different: When students join your Fan Page, it will show up on their mini-feed (and their friends' mini-feeds) in a unique way.

Difference: Apparently, while you can mass invite people to a Group, you can't actually "invite" someone to a Fan Page. What you and other fans can do is post the Fan Page on their profile, etc. So you will have to rely more on popularity amongst your fans and word-of-mouth to their friends.

Different: You can use Facebook's "targeted demographic" advertising system using your Fan Page to send advertisements out to a selected demographic. This is a powerful way to use paid advertisements in Facebook to promote your Fan Page, or events, etc.

3. Sending UPDATES to your fans

Different: You can send "updates" to fans which will show up in their mini-feed in a unique way that is different from other notifications they regularly receive (however, they can easily "opt out" of future updates with the click of a button). You can use these updates to notify them of videos, photos, websites, etc. and it will show up in thier mini-feed (see "Updates as Notification Strategy" - here).

• IMPORTANT: for event invites... it's probably best to send out a mass invite from a Facebook group, because you can't technically send out invites to your Fans. Instead, with a Fan Page, you can only send a news update about the event that shows up in their mini-feed, which means it won't display the event's unique picture (if it has one) and won't feature an "RSVP here" kind of button.

4. MANAGING YOUR FAN PAGE/GROUP

Different: Statistics and page views are available to you once your Fan Page gets above a certain membership number - this allows you to see how many people are visiting your fan page. Groups don't have a feature like this.

Tentative suggestions for how to use Groups & Fan Pages

Based on my current understanding of the differences between Facebook Groups & Fan Pages, I have a few suggestions for how we can be using them in Campus Ministry.

Summary: Use an overall "Fan Page" as the first thing that people see on Facebook that presents your overall C4C local movement to them, along with featuring something relevant and current (e.g. Winter Conference promo!). Then use a dedicated Facebook "Group" that has everyone involved in the movement, which is used for the behind-the-scenes administrative tasks like creating and inviting people to events, etc. Probably, the most important priority is FIRST to establish a solid Facebook Group for your movement. THEN, one should start building a "Fan Page" to go on top of that Facebook Group and to complement it.

The overall "Fan Page" as the main, promotional "face" that people see on Facebook

• Because the Fan Page allows for flexible presentation of media & graphics content and customization, I think it's ideal for use in...
  • Promoting C4C's Facebook presence to students involved in the movement, and their friends
  • Featuring key events (e.g. Summit/Winter Conference) or initiatives/outreaches (e.g. Weekly Prayer Meetings, Does God Exist debate, etc.)
  • Potentially: as a source of information and multimedia (on Facebook) to show students in the movement what is currently happening on their campus as a result of the movement. You could choose to update your website and FB Fan Page with the same things (like videos, photos, slideshows, etc.)

The core "Facebook Group" as a central collection of students involved in the movement

• Having a Facebook Group with all your involved students as members allows you to create an event and invite them all with the click of a button. You can't exactly do that with members of a fan page.
• It's also possible for a member to invite lots of their friends to the Facebook Group (i.e. individual or mass invites), while it's not possible to "invite" someone to a Fan Page.

As a result, I would use the core Facebook Group to act as the master list of students involved in the movement, and to use the Group for the administrative tasks, such as inviting everyone on the Group's member list to an event.

Smaller Facebook Groups' or Fan Pages - MDA's, Outreaches, Discipleship Groups, etc.

• I think it's also possible to create new Groups or Fan Pages for things like Movement Development Areas, big outreach events or campaigns, Disicpleship Groups, etc.!
  • These Groups or Fan Pages can be featured or linked from the main/overall Fan Page
• Groups and Fan Pages can be created quickly and easily, and are useful for sending mass messages, invites to an event, generating discussion and buzz, etc.
  • Discipleship Groups would probably be best suited to a Facebook Group; MDA's and outreachs/campaigns might work best either as a Group or Fan Page, but that may depend on the situation

Potentially Useful Links

the goggles do nothing (Blog) - "Facebook Groups vs. Pages" - http://www.thegogglesdonothing.com/archives/2008/01/facebook_groups_vs_pages.shtml

Facebook - "Facebook Pages" - http://www.new.facebook.com/FacebookPages

Facebook - "Facebook Pages Insider's Guide" - http://www.box.net/shared/v114cwzk00

From Facebook: an example of UCF Campus Crusade's Facebook Fan Page:

If you have any suggestions or questions about this topic, please feel free to contact Paulman