Why Do I Need to Log In To See a Page

[markd]

Dear all

I wanted to post the most dumb question of the year, before we hit 2012...

We have a client who has set up a Business Facebook page. Anytime somebody uses his Facebook URL www.facebook.com/clientsname they get the Facebook home page and have to log in. He has seen other businesses where you can click their link and hit their page without loging in.

Is there a setting on their page which is requiring people to login? If so, what do they need to do to enable open access to their page?

We don't really get involved in Facebook - hence the question.

Hope you can help - after you finsh laughing of course :)

[mememax]

Maybe that page was created as private. Dopuble check it and turn it public.

[markd]

Thanks - I'll check.

Would it make any difference if it were a 'group' or a 'fan' page?

[mack]

I think its a business decision by Facebook. If you go to your friends list and view one of their profiles it will work. But if you log out and use the back button to navigate back to their profile it will ask you to log in to connect with {username}

Facebook is all about connecting. There is no benefit to accessing a page without being able to interact. I think this is by design to encourage users to login or register as facebook users.

It may be different for company pages.

Mack.

[Marshall]

You also have to watch the url you use. If you visit the page from your profile, the link may have a string on the end showing the referrer. Make sure you trim it down to just the page's url.

Marshall

[markd]

Dear all

Thanks for the advice.

The problem is when people come in externally to visit the clients Facebook pages. It's then that the visitor gets the main Facebook homepage/login. So not an issue when the user is already within Facebook.

I've seen a lot of pages from business just go straight to the page without having to log in?

[matrix_jan]

markd,

so is it a Facebook Page or a Group?
Make sure, whichever it is, that in the settings it's marked as available to the public.
Facebook Pages(if available to the public) are accessible to non registered visitors (try /facebook), and so are Groups (e.g. webmasterworld group, /group.php?gid=2410313300).

[markd]

Hello Matrix

I am not sure myself on this. Is there literally a setting on both a Page or a Group to check as available to the public?

Does it make a difference if either a Group or Page has been established a 'business' Page or Group?

Thanks for your help.

[matrix_jan]

For pages (regardless if it's a business page, a fan page, website page, or whatever):

Go to the page and hit "edit page" on the upper right corner, in "Manage Permissions" tab make sure "Page Visibility:" checkbox is not checked.
I hope this will help, if not you have to describe the issue in more details.

For Groups I can't give you exact solution on how to make it visible, because i converted my groups into pages long time ago (and advise you to do so too).

[markd]

Excellent Jan - thank you very much. I will relay this to the client and let you know if this provides the solution.

BTW - I was interested in your comment about Groups vs Pages - is there reasons why you converted your groups into pages?

[matrix_jan]

You're welcome.

Facebook Pages are great in the way that users know "who's the boss". If it's a business page, then you just post a new product/service and your users start sharing and discussing it. You can permit anyone from posting on your wall, so basically it becomes a blog-like place: update status, post news, make new custom tabs (this is the fun part).

Groups are better for those who share common interest and are EQUAL. Photograpy for example, whoever takes an amazing picture uploads it to the group, and users start discussing. Groups have admins who can control the access of users. It can be an open Group or a closed one.

[markd]

Great explanation, very useful - thanks again.

[timsoulo]

did it fix the issue? I believe this may be restriction by country.

In your facebook page you can setup countries that can view your page... others will be redirected to Facebook homepage.