Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been around the block in business, you know that avoiding social media isn’t really an option.

Do you need to be on all platforms? No. But you need to have some sort of digital presence or footprint to ensure that you get in front of the right audience.

If you haven’t set up your Business Facebook page, you may already be using your personal page to promote your business online, and that could get you into trouble fast.

While it’s against Facebook rules to post ALL the things every day on your profile, there are still ways that you can use your personal accounts and your friends to help grow your business online.

So today, we're diving into a topic that's often debated but crucial for business growth: using your personal social media presence to amplify your business following while staying within the bounds of ethical and community guidelines.

What are some reasons to have a Facebook business page rather than a personal page?

Ability to Add a CTA Button.
Flexible Management With Multiple Page Roles.
Access to Analytics.
Easy to Embed.
Access to Facebook Business Apps.

Is it okay to use my personal Facebook profile to promote my business?

What most social media consultants and bloggers will say is: No, you need to use your business page.

And don’t get me wrong I also said the same thing for many years and in many cases.

What do I say now? Well, there’s a time and place for everything—and you need to know what’s appropriate and how often you can use your personal versus your business before Facebook will flag your account down (or worse, close it.)

The reality is that using your personal Facebook page can actually be a powerful way to grow your reach, your audience, and your business because in most cases, you have more ‘friends’ than you will have followers (unless you have had your business page for a while or have grown your page to a larger number than your profile.)

While you can’t post ads for your business (aka Facebook ads) on your personal profile—you can talk about your business with friends, family, friends of friends, people you meet at networking events and other valuable connections on your personal Facebook page. (Afterall, you never know who could need your services and products right?)

It is known that Facebook profile pages often have a bigger reach as personal pages get more eyeballs on them without having to run any expensive ads.

On your business page, you’re likely attracting new people to your audience who haven’t met you or know you personally. These could be people who found you online or have been recommended your way. They could also be from Facebook Ads.

Your business page is pay-to-play, meaning you won’t get the same reach you do on your personal page without boosting posts with advertising.

Use your personal page to leverage your business page for the best results

There are a lot of great reasons to use both your personal and your business page to promote your business and have them work together to build your brand, increase your reach, and increase sales.

According to Facebook’s rulebook, you are not allowed to use a personal page solely for business purposes but you can use it on occasion.

So if you are using your personal page to help your community/friends/followers learn more about your business, and your expertise and share posts that are helping them—then I don’t see a problem.

The problem is when you are sharing each and every post on your personal page, then it will be flagged. It has to be a balance of personal and professional.

Note: If you are going to be using your profile as part of your business outreach, I personally wouldn’t recommend posting tons of personal content and I also wouldn’t recommend overdoing it with sales posts either.

Here are 10 ways to use your personal Facebook to help you with your business:

1. Instead of Friending all your old high school buddies, the key is to begin making Friend connections with people who would be ideal clients for you or could refer you to your ideal clients.

2. Invite people who are friends on your personal page to like your business page. Check back regularly to include anyone new you’ve made friends with.

3. Use your personal page to post in related Facebook groups and share your expertise—in many cases, people will then request more information about what you do as a career/business. When you engage as a person in Facebook Groups, rather than as a business, your posts are going to come across as far more trustworthy than a Facebook Business page post.

4. Make sure you have your business page listed as your employer on your personal page so new people who add you have the opportunity to check it out.

5. Like, comment and engage with other businesses/brands that you would want to work with on your personal page.

6. Like, comment and share from one account to another if you manage other accounts.

7. Post on your personal page as you would to represent your business if you’ll be using your personal Facebook to promote it. Remember, even if you aren’t on working hours, you are always on when you are a business owner and you should represent yourself online as you would want to be known to potential clients.

8. While your personal social media profiles are, well, personal—remember that they're also a reflection of your professional persona. Ensure that your profile picture, bio, and content reflect a level of professionalism consistent with your business's image. Avoid controversial content or anything that could be misconstrued and negatively impact your business's reputation.

9. Maintaining consistency and authenticity in your messaging, posting schedule, and engagement is key. Your audience should have a clear understanding of what to expect from you. Be authentic and genuine in your interactions, allowing your personality to shine through.

10. Carefully integrate business-related content into your personal feed. Share updates, launches, or events related to your business. However, maintain a balance by ensuring the majority of your content provides value and interest to your audience.

11. Offer glimpses into your business journey, achievements, and challenges. Sharing success stories, project updates, or even personal growth related to your business can humanize your brand. Authentic storytelling creates a stronger emotional connection with your audience.

12. Share your knowledge, experiences, and insights to educate your audience. Additionally, inspire them with motivational content. A blend of education and inspiration keeps your audience engaged and coming back for more.

Remember, authenticity, consistency, and a strategic approach are key when using your personal social media accounts to build your business following. By effectively blending your personal and professional presence, you can create a powerful platform for business growth and success.

Use Both Facebook Pages together!

Instead of wondering which page you should use, try to use your Facebook personal profile and Facebook Business page together, engaging your audience with one, unified voice. Advertise with the one, converse with the other, join (and interact in) Facebook groups, and publish content in each of the most relevant places.

And you just might find—like I have—that your closest friends and family turn out to be some of your biggest Facebook fans, and can help expand your reach to new leads, too!

Get creative on Facebook

You may be wondering why we mostly spoke about Facebook and not other platforms. The reason is that this difference between profile/page isn’t as common on other platforms as most business owners will have multiple accounts by name. (For example, Kerra Aucoin vs. KA Social Media when it comes to TikTok, X ( formerly Twitter) and Instagram.)

On other platforms, you often choose to have 2 accounts, one that is more personal and a professional account which is for your business. You can still promote both by cross-posting, commenting and liking, but it’s not as black or white as on Facebook (or as strict.)

Still not sure how to use social media —specifically Facebook—to your advantage? Book your Brainstorming session today!

10 ways to use your personal Facebook to build your Business page