I get this question a lot: 

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I already have a Facebook fan page, how's that different than a group? 

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There's a lot of confusion out there about the difference between Facebook fan pages and Facebook groups, so here's the best way that I can explain it ... 

Think of Facebook fan pages as a billboards on the side of the highway. You're shouting your message out to passing cars, but they aren't pulling over to engage with a billboard (unless they have some serious issues going on). 

Fan pages usually get very little engagement. There's a good chance that not many "fans" even get to see what you say on there.  For example, I currently have 5,172 fans on my fan page. When I post something there, I'm lucky if 200 of them actually get shown whatever I posted (thanks Mark Zuckerberg!) 

Facebook groups are much different. A group is like a private clubhouse, where people meet behind four walls and relax, talk and share. There's an expectation of privacy, and relationships actually form. 

It's hard to form a relationship with a billboard ... 

If you haven't guessed already, I prefer Facebook groups. If you do it properly, you get crazy levels of engagement and can help a lot more people since you form a tighter bond with them. 

I'm not knocking fan pages - I think they can be good, but only if you spend cash on FB advertising. 

Facebook groups are free, and you can profit very nicely from them. 

My two cents?

Start a Facebook group, monetize it, and then pay for advertising with your fan page if that tickles your fancy.  

If given the choice, I'll choose the clubhouse over the billboard any day of the week. 

If you want to learn how to construct the ultimate clubhouse with raving fans who become clients and customers, you can get my Group Gold Program at 50% off its usual price (until Sunday night). Grab it here: 

(Use the promo code "marcbirthday" at the checkout to get the discount) 

See you on the inside, 

Marc