It's a question that has haunted all of us from Facebook newbies to FB pros: do I create a Facebook Group or Page? What are the pros and cons? Is there a right choice? Why is it called Facebook?Let's start with what a Group is. In September of 2004, 8 months after Facebook launched it introduced the Groups feature. In Facebook's words Groups are...
"With Facebook Groups, you can join and create up to 200 groups. Groups can be based around shared interests, activities, or anything you like. The Groups application page displays your recently updated groups as well as groups your friends have joined recently."
The Pages feature didn't come out for another 3 years. Here's how Facebook defines Their Pages feature...
"Pages are for organizations, businesses, celebrities, and bands to broadcast great information in an official, public manner to people who choose to connect with them. Similar to profiles, Pages can be enhanced with applications that help the entity communicate and engage with their audiences, and capture new audiences virally through friend recommendations, News Feed stories, Facebook events, and beyond. "
So what's the difference? The basic difference is Groups allows you to send a message to all those who join your group. Pages allows an update to your fans but it doesn't go to their inbox. Your update goes to it's own special update inbox. Pages strong point is it's ability to integrate with other websites.
In summary, Groups are great for communicating inside your youth ministry. Pages are better suited for advertising. Groups are built for community. Pages are built for branding. Both products may be useful in your ministry depending on what you need Facebook to do for you.
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