Meta Business Manager is a platform designed to help businesses and advertisers manage their marketing efforts across Meta’s platforms. It acts as a central hub for controlling assets like Facebook pages, Instagram accounts, and ad accounts. This tool allows for the organization and separation of business activities from personal profiles.
Why You Need a Meta Business Manager
Using Meta Business Manager provides a structured way to handle your company’s presence on social media. It allows you to keep your business activities separate from your personal Facebook profile, which helps prevent accidental posts to the wrong audience. This separation is a significant advantage for maintaining a professional image.
Security is another primary reason to adopt the platform. It enables you to grant access to employees, agencies, or partners without sharing personal login details or handing over ownership of your business assets. Centralizing control of your assets, such as multiple Facebook pages, Instagram profiles, and product catalogs, simplifies management and oversight.
What You Need Before You Start
You will need a personal Facebook account to confirm your identity. This does not merge your personal and business information; it is purely for login and verification purposes, ensuring a secure setup. Your personal profile will act as the initial administrator of the Business Manager account, giving you full control from the start.
You must also have at least one Facebook Business Page that you intend to manage. If you do not already have a Business Page, you will need to create one before proceeding. An individual can create a maximum of two Business Manager accounts, so it is best to plan your setup accordingly.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Business Manager
Creating your Business Manager account is a straightforward process that begins with navigating to the correct page and entering specific details about your company. The system is designed to guide you through each stage, ensuring all necessary information is captured for a complete and functional setup.
Navigate to the Creation Page
To start, open your web browser and go to business.facebook.com/overview. Click the “Create Account” button to initiate the setup process. You will be prompted to log in with your personal Facebook profile credentials to verify your identity and link it to the new Business Manager account.
Enter Your Business Details
Once you have logged in, you will need to provide basic information about your business. The first step is to enter the legal name of your business as it should appear on the platform. This name will be visible to anyone you grant access to and will serve as the primary identifier for your Business Manager. You will also be asked to select the primary Facebook Page you wish to manage.
Provide Your Contact Information
The next step involves entering your contact information. You will need to provide your full name and a business email address. It is recommended to use a work email address to keep your professional and personal communications separate. This email will be used for account verification and important notifications from Meta regarding your Business Manager.
Confirm Your Email Address
After submitting your details, Meta will send a confirmation email to the business email address you provided. You must open this email and click the confirmation link to verify your account. This final step activates your Business Manager, and without it, your access to certain features will be limited. Once confirmed, you can log in and begin adding assets and people to your new account.
Adding Key Assets to Your Business Manager
The platform allows you to add assets you own, request access to assets owned by others, or create new ones from scratch. The most common assets to add are Facebook Pages and Ad Accounts. From the Business Settings dashboard, you can navigate to the “Accounts” section to find options for “Pages” and “Ad Accounts.” When adding a page or ad account you own, you will claim it by entering its name or ID. If you work with a client, you can request access, which sends a notification to the asset’s owner for approval.
If you’re starting fresh, you can create a new ad account directly within Business Manager, specifying details like your time zone and preferred currency. Connecting your Instagram account is another common action. In Business Settings, you can select “Instagram Accounts” and click “Add” to link your profile. You will be prompted to log in with your Instagram credentials to authorize the connection. Beyond these, you can also add other assets like data sources, such as the Meta Pixel, and connect your business domains to verify ownership and enhance security.
Managing People and Permissions
A significant function of Meta Business Manager is facilitating collaboration by allowing you to add people and partners securely. The system distinguishes between adding individuals directly to your team and collaborating with external partners.
To add an employee, navigate to the “People” section in your Business Settings and click “Add People.” You will need to enter their business email address and assign them a specific role. You can grant either “Partial access” with customized permissions for specific tasks or “Full control,” which gives them administrative privileges over all assets.
For collaborating with agencies or other businesses, you use the “Partners” section. You can grant a partner organization access to manage your assets on your behalf. This is done by requesting their Business Manager ID and assigning them permissions to specific pages or ad accounts. This method ensures a secure, business-to-business relationship.
Verifying Your Business
Business verification is a process within Meta Business Manager that confirms the legal identity of your company. Completing this step can help build trust with Meta and may be required to access certain platform features, such as advanced advertising tools or higher spending limits. Verification signals that your business is legitimate, which can be beneficial for your advertising efforts and account security.
To begin the verification process, you need to navigate to the Security Center within your Business Settings. Here, you will find the “Business verification” option. The process requires you to submit official documents that prove your company’s legal name and physical address. Examples of accepted documents often include a business license, articles of incorporation, or a utility bill with the company’s name and address.
The specific documents required can vary, and Meta provides a list of acceptable forms of identification during the submission process. After you upload the necessary files, Meta will review them to confirm that the information matches the details provided in your Business Manager account. The review timeline can differ, but once approved, your account will be marked as verified, potentially unlocking additional capabilities on the platform.