So you want to get your church into the Facebook social media world? But, alas, it seems like a well-meaning person in the church has already attempted to make that presence for you. This can be really frustrating ...

So you want to get your church into the Facebook social media world? But, alas, it seems like a well-meaning person in the church has already attempted to make that presence for you.

Sigh. This can be really frustrating ...

We keep running across this scenario: multiple Facebook Pages and Groups exist for one church. And they may or may not accurately represent what the organization is about.

Honestly, the solution to this really is attempting to find out who “owns” a Page or Group and getting into direct contact with them. Problem solved. Right?

But wait … what’s the difference between a Facebook Page and a Group? Which one is right for your church? I am so glad you asked! Here is a quick rundown of the difference (from Facebook's perspective) between Pages and Groups.

  Pages Groups
Definition Allows your church to communicate with those in Facebook-land when an individual “likes” your organization. Take note, you have to be an “official” organization Facebook representative to create and manage a Page. Groups are a little smaller and a little more private than pages. Groups, first of all, can be created by anyone. Also, you are able to have private or invite-only Groups. This might be helpful for a team within your church.
Privacy  Everyone can see and “like” Pages. So, for the most part, all information and posts are publicly viewable. You can have an open setting Group. You can also have private or invisible Groups where messages are only seen by Group members and members are only added by invitation.
Audience Since everyone can see your church Page on Facebook, it is also possible for anyone to “like” the Page and become engaged in the content. People will then see posts and pictures you post in their News Feed. There is no limit to the amount of “likes” your Page can get! You can adjust the settings in your Group to be invite-only. Note that when your Group reaches a certain size, some of the options within your settings are limited. Groups are probably more useful for smaller groups of people that you already know.
Communication Page admins can share posts under the Page’s name. These posts will be in the News Feed for people who have clicked “like” for your Page. You can also create special tabs for the church’s Page. And, even better, you can use “Insights” to track the activity on the Page. All members of the Group receive every post by any member. Group members have access to chat, share photos and albums, and can collaborate on documents. People can also invite others in the Group to events.

So, which one should I create?

Depending on your needs, you can create a Page or select "Create Group" on the left side of your home page. We suggest, especially for whole church communication, to create a Page. If you just want to be in touch with a few select people (like a ministry team or council), a Group might be best for you.

And remember that well-meaning person from your church who created that rogue Facebook presence to start with? Don’t rule them out—they could be your next superstar volunteer!