My experience is with group pages. (I started and administer the group page for the National Writers Union.) Because his experience is with fan pages, I was interested to read what ThePublishingMaster had to say on the question of which is better for a writer, a fan page or a group page.
He is pretty equivocal on the subject. If you’re a writer or a business, you should have a fan page. If you are trying to build a community, then a group page is best. Personally, I don’t think the answer is so totally black and white.
If your interest is solely promotion, to build a base and let people know what’s going on when you have something going on (where you are reading, when your next book is coming out), then a fan page is for you. You can, as PM points out, send announcements that will come out under whatever name you give your fan page to keep your base informed. But the push is one-sided.
If you are trying to build a presence in order to promote your work, then you should consider a group page. With a group page you can build a community around your brand. You can guide a conversation around your particular topic generating and encouraging interest and also gathering ideas. And, when you have something to announce, you have your base. It takes a little more work to keep the group vital and relevant, but it may be worth it more to you in the long run.
I set the NWU page as a group specifically to foster community among members of NWU and to also let non-members know what the NWU is all about. (The group is public, anyone can join.) I post links to articles and sites of interest to professional, freelance writers and also post upcoming NWU-sponsored events around the country. Members of the group (currently around 250) are also invited to post their own links and to promote their readings and book releases. Bulletin boards are also available to encourage discussion. And whenever someone does post on the group page, it goes on their wall, promoting the group to their network and furthering the sense of community.
But the important thing is to have a presence. So, whichever way you decide to go–group or fan–really, just do it!
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