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Facebook Launches One-Stop Business Platform

Promotional products companies can use the platform to more efficiently manage their presence on Facebook and Instagram.

Facebook has introduced a new solution that aims to make it easier for small businesses to manage their Facebook and Instagram presence from a single platform. Called Facebook Business Suite, the platform brings all your Facebook and Instagram profile options into a single space. The offering is available on desktop and within a new mobile application.

With Business Suite, users can post to Facebook and Instagram at the same time. They can also manage posts in one place – a feature geared toward making it easier to stay connected to followers and others on both social networks.

Additionally, Business Suite enables users to receive Facebook and Instagram messages, notifications and alerts in a single spot. That can help streamline staying on top of things and responding efficiently to customers, prospects and critics.

Suite also delivers analytics and insights that help users understand what kind of content is resonating with audiences.

“What I like most about Business Suite … is the layout of its analytics tab, which makes it a little easier to get a full overview of your Instagram and Facebook performance in one place,” said Social Media Today’s Andrew Hutchinson in a breakdown of Suite’s features.

It’s true that users could already receive messages from Facebook, Messenger and Instagram in Pages Manager. Still, as Hutchinson noted, the integrated message inbox in Suite “could be helpful within your workflow.” Facebook and Instagram scheduling was already possible through Facebook’s Creator Studio, but with Suite there’s another layout view that users could find helpful.

In an announcement on Business Suite, Facebook detailed a case study of a user who has had success with the platform. Amanda Stefl runs Timber Hill Winery in Milton, WI. A significant aspect of her business is hosting wine events. But when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, she had to get creative — using Facebook Live to run virtual events and Facebook and Instagram to communicate with customers remotely. Suite helped her with that.

Facebook Business Suite

Amanda Stefl says Facebook’s Business Suite helps her better manage her business’ presence on Facebook and Instagram.

Notably, Facebook could eventually integrate WhatsApp messaging functionality into Business Suite. If that happens, “this would be the first app which enables responses across all three platforms,” Hutchinson explained.

“We’re building Facebook Business Suite for small businesses first, but this is a long-term investment to make this the main interface for businesses of all sizes who use Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp,” said Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer.

Facebook Business Suite is available to small businesses around the world. Sandberg said the platform will expand to larger businesses next year.