#1: Name Your Page Accurately

Setting up a new Facebook page can be daunting, but first and foremost, you want to make sure your page name (and corresponding Facebook web address) reflects your business and what you’ll be posting on the page.

Facebook has a few basic rules about page names:

  • Your name can’t be purely generic (e.g., “The Flower Shop”).
  • It has to be grammatically correct.
  • It can’t be too wordy or ‘superfluous’ (Facebook’s word).
  • It can’t be misleading or violate someone’s rights.

#2: Have a Privacy Policy in Place if You Collect Data

Facebook requires that if you’re collecting any personal data from your page through a call to action (such as email addresses for your mailing list), you need to provide notice to users and have a privacy policy in place.

A privacy policy is basically a disclosure document that informs (and therefore protects) users. It’s a statement you’re making to visitors to your website about how you gather information about them and what you intend to do with it. Not to mention that it’s legally required in most countries.

In general, anyone with a website that collects any type of data needs a privacy policy. Through their Terms, Facebook is basically saying that if you send someone to your website from Facebook and collect their email, you’d better have a privacy policy posted.

#3: Don’t Imply That Facebook Endorses Your Promotions

A great way to get your business out there is to use your page for promotions like contests or sweepstakes. Facebook allows this, but they also make one thing clear: Keep them out of it.

Facebook requires that for any promotion you run, you must:

Ensure that each participant releases Facebook.
Acknowledge that your promotion is in no way connected with Facebook.

#4: Observe Copyright at All Times

Sometimes it can be tough to figure out who sees what on Facebook, but it’s clear from the Page Terms that content on your page is public to anyone who can see it.

Additionally, there are strict terms ensuring that your cover photo isn’t misleading and that it doesn’t infringe on anyone’s copyright.