Facebook Category is a classification system that assigns your Facebook Page to a specific business type and sub-category, determining which information fields appear on your profile and how the platform categorizes your presence. Your selection affects search engine visibility, the features available to your page, and how easily potential customers can find your business. The platform organizes pages into six distinct types, each containing specialized sub-categories.
What is Facebook Category?
When you create a Facebook Page, you must select both a page type and a specific category that describes your business model. The system offers six primary page types: Local Business or Place, Company Organization or Institution, Brand or Product, Artist Band or Public Figure, Entertainment, and Cause or Community. Each type unlocks a different set of sub-categories and information fields tailored to specific operational needs.
Why Facebook Category matters
- Search visibility: [Correct categorization helps your SEO to get more love from search engines like Google] (Do Good Media), improving how your page appears in search results.
- Feature access: Your category determines which information boxes appear, such as operating hours, parking details, or ISBN numbers for books.
- Customer discovery: Proper classification helps fans find you or your business and find out what they want to know about you through accurate indexing.
- Location services: Physical businesses gain automatic check-in capabilities and location-based features that online-only businesses lack.
How Facebook Category works
The selection process follows a two-step hierarchy. First, you choose a broad page type that matches your business structure. Second, you select a specific sub-category from the dropdown menu associated with that type. [You can change your page type later if you get it wrong] (Do Good Media), though starting correctly ensures Facebook automatically gives your business the most relevant information page to complete immediately.
Types of Facebook Categories
Local Business or Place
Select this if you operate a brick-and-mortar store requiring physical visits. This type includes categories like Restaurant/Café, Retail, Hotel, and Bar. [The page gives extra info page options including your open hours, parking options and the ability for people to check in using Facebook Places] (Do Good Media). [A count of people who have checked in will appear on your page next to your Like (fan) count] (Do Good Media).
Company Organization or Institution
Choose this for businesses without physical foot traffic, franchises with multiple locations, or [purely eCommerce businesses that only sell online and only through your own website] (Do Good Media). Categories include Consulting, Non-Profit Organization, and Computers/Technology. [You can add the ability for people to check in using Facebook Places to your page after set-up] (Do Good Media), unlike the automatic inclusion with Local Business.
Brand or Product
Use this when [your products are sold through more than one website or stocked by more than one reseller or retailer] (Do Good Media). Examples include Apple, Coca Cola, Maybelline, and Adidas. Categories range from Electronics and Clothing to Food/Beverages.
Artist, Band or Public Figure
Select this for pages focused on promoting an individual. Categories include Actor/Director, Author, Coach, Doctor, and Politician. [If you select Politician you will be able to complete information such as political affiliation and views] (Do Good Media). Note that [to create ads for a political campaign or candidate you will have to go through a verification process to confirm you are a real human living in the place you say you live] (Do Good Media).
Entertainment
This serves businesses classed as entertainment, such as TV shows, movies, books, radio stations, or magazines. [If you select the category Book from the Entertainment category list, your info page will include the option of including your ISBN number] (Do Good Media).
Cause or Community
Unlike other types, this option provides no dropdown of categories to select from. If you represent a not-for-profit or charity, explore categories under Company Organization or Institution (such as Non-Profit Organization or Cause) or Local Business or Place (such as Community/Government) before selecting this type.
Best practices
- Review all six page types before deciding. You may match multiple categories and find a better fit in an unexpected section.
- Match your distribution model. [If you have an online business or store then Company Organization or Institution, or Brand or Product will be a better match for you than Local Business] (Do Good Media).
- Distinguish eCommerce types carefully. [If you are a purely eCommerce business only selling through your own website, select Company Organization rather than Local Business or Brand or Product] (Do Good Media).
- Compare author options. Authors should compare Artist, Band or Public Figure against Entertainment. [If your page is intended to promote your book, the Entertainment page type is likely to offer a better match for including your ISBN number] (Do Good Media).
- Use general categories when specific matches fail. If you cannot find a specific category, select a general option like Company, Organization, or Small Business rather than forcing a poor match.
Common mistakes
- Selecting Local Business for online-only stores: This type is designed for brick-and-mortar locations. Fix: Use Company Organization or Institution for eCommerce businesses without physical locations.
- Defaulting to Cause or Community for non-profits: Many non-profits find better feature matches under Company Organization or Institution (Non-Profit Organization) or Local Business or Place. Fix: Compare categories across multiple types before settling on Cause or Community.
- Choosing Product/Service without exploring alternatives: This general category exists under Brand or Product, but other types may offer more specific matches. Fix: Check all six page type category lists before finalizing your selection.
- Assuming check-in features are universal: Local Business includes Facebook Places automatically, while other types require manual addition. Fix: Select Local Business only if you want automatic check-in capability for physical visits.
Examples
Example scenario: A boutique selling handmade jewelry through their own website only should select Company Organization or Institution with the category Shopping/Retail or Small Business, rather than Brand or Product (which suits multi-retailer distribution) or Local Business (which implies physical storefront visits).
Example scenario: A mystery novel author launching a promotional page should select Entertainment with the Book category to access the ISBN field, rather than Artist, Band or Public Figure with the Author category, which lacks book-specific metadata options.
Example scenario: A coffee shop with one physical location should select Local Business or Place with the Restaurant/Café category to automatically enable check-ins, display operating hours, and show parking options.
Example scenario: A software application sold through the Apple App Store, Google Play, and the company website should select Brand or Product with the App category, indicating distribution through multiple channels.
FAQ
Can I change my Facebook Category after creating the page?
Yes. [You can change your page type later if you get it wrong] (Do Good Media), though correcting it immediately ensures you receive the most relevant setup fields from the start.
What is the difference between Local Business and Company Organization?
Local Business suits single-location brick-and-mortar stores requiring foot traffic and offers automatic Facebook Places check-in functionality. Company Organization serves businesses with multiple locations, franchises, or [purely eCommerce operations selling only through their own website] (Do Good Media).
Which category should I choose if I sell products through multiple retailers?
Select Brand or Product. [If your products are sold through more than one website or stocked by more than one reseller or retailer, this is the right page type] (Do Good Media).
Does my category selection affect SEO?
Yes. [Getting it right from the start helps with your SEO to get more love from search engines like Google] (Do Good Media) by ensuring your page appears in relevant search contexts.
Why do some pages show different information fields than mine?
Different categories unlock different information boxes. For example, [selecting Book under Entertainment provides an ISBN field, while selecting Politician under Artist provides political affiliation fields] (Do Good Media).
What if my specific industry category is not listed?
Select a general category such as Company, Organization, or Small Business under the appropriate page type. [If you cannot find a specific category to match your business, select one of the general categories depending on which is the best match for how your customers see you] (Do Good Media).
