Facebook pages allow businesses, brands, organizations, and public figures to establish an official presence on Facebook. When creating a Facebook page, page admins must select a category that best describes their business or entity. Selecting the right category is important because it helps Facebook determine the rules and policies that apply to your page and how your page appears in searches and recommendations to users.
Why do Facebook page categories matter?
Facebook page categories serve several important functions:
- They help Facebook determine which Community Standards and Commerce Policies apply to your page based on the nature of your business or organization.
- Categories influence how your page appears in searches. Selecting a relevant category makes it more likely users will be able to find your page when searching for related terms.
- Page categories are used by Facebook’s algorithms to determine recommendations and suggestions for similar pages that users might like. An accurate category will lead to better recommendations.
- Categories are used for ad targeting purposes. Advertisers can target ads to users who have liked or followed pages in specific categories.
In summary, choosing the right category gives Facebook the information needed to regulate, optimize visibility, make recommendations, and enable advertising targeting for your page. An irrelevant or inaccurate category could limit the discoverability and effectiveness of your Facebook presence.
What are the Facebook page category options?
Facebook offers pages a wide range of category options to choose from during page creation and within your page settings. Page categories fall into a hierarchical structure, with broad parent categories and more specific subcategories nested underneath. Here are the top-level page category options on Facebook:
- Business and Brand
- Agriculture
- Automobiles and Vehicles
- Business Services
- Education
- Food/Beverages
- Home and Garden
- Internet/Software
- Media/News Company
- Professional Services
- Retail and Consumer Merchandise
- Sports/Recreation/Activities
- Artist, Band or Public Figure
- Actor/Director
- Artist
- Public Figure
- Musician/Band
- Entertainment
- Movie
- Tv Show
- Cause or Community
- Advocacy Organization
- Charity Organization
- Community Organization
- Religious Organization
- Personal Blog
- Product/Service
- Website
- Just For Fun
As you can see, Business/Brand is the largest category with many specific subcategories. Selecting the most accurate subcategory will ensure your page is categorized properly.
How to choose the right Facebook page category
Follow these tips when selecting a Facebook page category:
- Read category definitions carefully and choose the one that most closely aligns with your business or organization.
- Select a subcategory for more accurate classification if available.
- Avoid too general of a category like Website or Just For Fun if possible.
- Don’t choose a misleading category hoping for better visibility. You may get penalized.
- You can change the category later if needed to more accurately reflect shifts in your business.
- If no category seems perfect, pick the closest option and clarify in your page description.
Examples of Facebook page categories
Here are some examples of how different types of pages should select a Facebook category:
| Page Type | Appropriate Category |
|---|---|
| Clothing boutique | Retail and Consumer Merchandise |
| Non-profit animal rescue | Charity Organization |
| Landscaping business | Home and Garden > Landscaping Services |
| School district | Education |
| Yoga instructor | Health and Wellness > Yoga Studio |
| Craft beer brewery | Food/Beverages > Brewery |
Facebook page category restrictions and policy requirements
For certain regulated categories like Financial Services, Facebook has specific steps that must be taken to create a compliant page. Restricted categories include:
- Financial Services
- Housing
- Employment
- Subscription Services
Pages in these categories must comply with special requirements like:
- Submitting valid legal documentation
- Only targeting certain countries
- Following limitations on content
- Completing the Business Verification process
- Abiding by Facebook’s Commerce Policies
Failing to adhere to requirements for restricted categories can lead to pages being unpublished or banned. Be sure to thoroughly review all rules for higher-regulation categories.
How to change your Facebook page category
To edit your Facebook page’s category:
- Go to your Page
- Click “Settings” from the bottom left of the cover photo
- Select “Page Info” from the left column
- Click the “Edit” button next to “Category”
- Choose a new category that fits your page better
- Click “Save Changes”
Facebook will review your selected category to ensure it complies with policies. You may need to provide additional verification if you switch to a restricted category. Changes can take 24-48 hours to process.
Conclusion
Choosing the appropriate Facebook page category is an important step when establishing your business or organization’s presence on the platform. Selecting a relevant, specific subcategory gives Facebook the details needed to properly regulate, display, and advertise your page. Be sure to thoroughly read category definitions and restrictions to find the right fit for your page goals and content.