NAVIGATING FACEBOOK'S ACCESS LEVELS: UNDERSTANDING BUSINESS MANAGER, META BUSINESS SUITE, AND ADMIN ROLES

Heidi McIvor-Allen - Owner of McIvor Marketing LLC

BY HEIDI MCIVOR ALLEN

With the ever-evolving landscape of social media management, it’s crucial for businesses and marketers to understand the intricacies of Facebook’s access hierarchy. In this blog, we’ll delve into the three key components: Business Manager, Meta Business Suite, and Admin Roles. Whether you’re a seasoned advertiser or just starting to explore Facebook’s marketing potential, this article will equip you with the knowledge needed to effectively manage your business’s presence on the world’s largest social networking platform. Let’s dive in and unlock the power of Facebook’s access levels together!
“When you change one thing, you have the ability to change EVERYTHING.”

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN META BUSINESS SUITE AND THE BUSINESS MANAGER

Are you finding yourself perplexed by the Meta Business Suite and Business Manager?


It’s not uncommon to feel confused about their individual purposes and functionalities, as well as the disparity between the two tools. While there is speculation that the Meta Business Suite might replace the Business Manager, the transition remains unclear. Currently, Meta emphasizes that these tools are meant to work “alongside each other.”


As the Meta Business Suite has been introduced, navigating between the tools, managing access, and locating specific features can be a perplexing experience. In this blog, we’ll shed light on these intricacies, helping you unravel the complexities of the Meta Business Suite and Business Manager integration.

WHAT IS THE META BUSINESS SUITE?

The Meta Business Suite is basically a tool that Facebook added in 2020 to help you manage Facebook and Instagram in one place. The Meta Business Suite is primarily used to:

You can also access other tools like the Leads center, Ads, Commerce, and get into the Business Manager.

When you are in the Meta Business Suite, you should see that indicated in the upper left corner. You see the main menu items on the left sidebar but then there are many more tools you can access in the All Tools selection.

Learn about the Facebook Business Meta Suite in the McIvor Marketing Blog

WHAT IS THE BUSINESS MANAGER?

The Business Manager is a tool that was introduced in 2014 and it was introduced as a central place to manage access to Facebook Ad Accounts and Pages. It was also introduced as a safe way for Agencies to work on client accounts through Partner access.

According to Meta, the Business Manager is a place to:

Maintain control, security and privacy of your Facebook and Instagram assets by managing your Meta Business Account on Meta Business Manager.

Using the Business Manager is optional, but if you are advertising on Facebook or Instagram, you do need it in order to do the following things:

Domain Verification

Verify your own website as a place that you own. This came about during the Apple iOS14 changes and allows people to see your website as a trusted site.

Partner Access

As of this writing, I don’t see a way to give a Business Partner access to all your assets so another Business Manager can work on your Ads or Facebook Page.

Customer Lists for Retargeting or Lookalike Audiences

In order to upload a list of your customers, you do need to use the Business Manager.

Block Lists

Block lists stop your ads from appearing in places you don’t consider safe for your brand or campaign.

If you have been added as a personal profile into multiple Business Managers, then you may see a different menu.

Facebook Business Settings view of Business manager account access - McIvor Marketing blog shares insights

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN META BUSINESS SUITE AND BUSINESS MANAGER

ABOUT BUSINESS ACCOUNT ACCESS AND ROLES

On Facebook, there are different roles and access levels associated with managing a page. Here’s an overview of the differences between Business Manager, Meta Business Suite (formerly Business Suite), and Admin roles on a Facebook page:

Business
Manager

Access Level:

Business Manager provides the highest level of access and control over Facebook assets, including pages, ad accounts, and other business-related resources.

Actions and Access:

Users assigned the Business Manager role can manage multiple pages, ad accounts, and assets within a business. They have full control over permissions, including assigning roles to other users, managing billing and payment settings, and accessing advanced features like Facebook Business API and Pixels.

Meta Business
Suite

Access Level:

Meta Business Suite is a mobile app and web-based platform designed for small to medium-sized businesses to manage their Facebook and Instagram presence.

Actions and Access:

Meta Business Suite allows users to manage multiple pages and profiles, create and schedule posts, respond to messages and comments, view insights, and run basic advertising campaigns. However, the level of access and features available may be more limited compared to Business Manager.

Admin on a
Facebook Page

Access Level:

Admin is a role specific to a Facebook page and grants varying levels of access and control over that particular page.

Actions and Access:

Page Admins have the ability to manage the page, create and publish posts, respond to messages and comments, view insights, and moderate the page’s content. However, they may not have access to features outside the scope of the page, such as ad account management or assigning roles in Business Manager.

It’s important to note that these roles and access levels can be customized and modified by the Business Manager or higher-level admins. The level of access and actions permitted may vary depending on the permissions granted by the page owner or the Business Manager admin.

It’s recommended to assign roles and access levels carefully to ensure that users have the appropriate permissions required for their responsibilities while maintaining the security and integrity of the Facebook assets.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT PAGE ROLES & WHAT CAN THEY DO?

1. Admin

Among the Page manager roles, the admin holds the highest level of authority and access. Their privileges extend to managing and assigning all other Page roles and settings. Due to security considerations, it is crucial for businesses to exercise strict limitations when granting the admin role. Essentially, an admin possesses the capabilities of all other roles, enabling them to perform any task or function within the Page, including:

2. Editor

The editor role is ideal for employees responsible for content creation and day-to-day management of the business’s Facebook Page. Editors enjoy extensive access within the Page, comparable to that of an admin. However, they do not possess the ability to assign Page roles or manage settings. This limitation ensures a focused scope of responsibilities, allowing editors to contribute effectively to the Page’s content while maintaining appropriate access boundaries.

3. Moderator

The moderator role is specifically designed for employees responsible for customer service within a business. It is an ideal fit for individuals who handle customer inquiries, comments, and engagement. As a moderator, they possess the ability to address questions, respond to comments, and provide assistance. However, their scope does not extend to content creation for the Page. In addition to customer service tasks, moderators also have the authority to remove and ban individuals from the Page, create ads, and access Page Insights. This comprehensive set of permissions empowers moderators to effectively manage interactions and maintain the integrity of the Page.

4. Advertiser

The advertiser role is set up for anyone who creates ads for the Page. This role also has permission to view Page Insights.

5. Analyst

The analyst role holds the lowest level of control and access among all the Page roles, primarily focused on viewing Facebook Page Insights. This role is typically assigned to employees who work closely with content strategy and planning. As a Facebook Page owner, maintaining sole control over your Page is vital, but it can also be advantageous for businesses to delegate specific responsibilities to multiple individuals for regular maintenance and updates. By assigning different roles, businesses can ensure efficient management of their Page while preserving control over its overall administration.

BUSINESS ACCOUNT ACCESS

When you add people to your Business Account, you can assign partial access or full control. You can also assign an advanced option.

Partial Access

Basic

People with basic access (formerly the employee role) can only work on the tasks and business assets you assign them. This is the default access assigned when people are added to a Business Account.

Apps & Integrations

People assigned to apps and integrations (formerly the developer role) can set up the Conversions API, monitor events, edit applications and create access tokens.

Full Control

Everything

People with full control of a Business Account (formerly the business admin role) can manage everything, including settings, people, tools and business assets. They can also delete the Business Account and assign themselves an advanced option, which isn’t automatically included with full control.

Advanced Options

People with advanced options can work on tasks assigned to them in addition to the access they have with full control or partial access.

Finance

People with finance access (formerly the finance analyst or finance editor role) can view or manage financial information for the Business Account, such as transactions, invoices, account spend and payment methods.

Temporary Access

People with temporary access are assigned basic access (and only basic access) for a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 75 days. On the preset expiration date, access will be automatically revoked, and the person will be removed from the Business Account and any assigned business assets. Note: This feature is currently only available in Meta Business Suite.

BUSINESS ASSET ACCESS

When you assign people to work on a business asset (such as an ad account, Facebook Page, Instagram account, Meta Pixel or catalog), you can give them partial access or full control of that asset.

Partial Access

Give people permission to complete specific tasks, such as the ability to create content, manage ads, respond to messages and view insights on a Page or Instagram account.

Full Control

Give people access to manage everything, including assigning access to other people, removing people from having access to a business asset and deleting a business asset.

HOW MCIVOR MARKETING CAN HELP YOU NAVIGATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BUSINESS MANAGER, META BUSINESS SUITE, AND ADMIN ROLE

At McIvor Marketing, we understand the intricacies of managing your presence on Facebook and the importance of navigating the different roles available. Our team of experts is well-versed in the nuances of Business Manager, Meta Business Suite, and Admin roles, and we’re here to guide you through the differences.

 

With our assistance, you can gain a clear understanding of the unique capabilities and access levels associated with each role. We’ll provide personalized guidance on how to effectively utilize Business Manager, Meta Business Suite, and Admin roles to meet your specific objectives.

 

Whether you need help setting up and optimizing your Business Manager account, leveraging the features of Meta Business Suite to enhance your social media management, or assigning appropriate permissions to Admins on your Facebook page, our experienced team will be by your side. We’ll explain the benefits and limitations of each role, ensuring you make informed decisions that align with your business goals.

 

By partnering with McIvor Marketing, you can save time, reduce confusion, and make the most of your Facebook presence. We’ll provide step-by-step assistance, strategic advice, and ongoing support to navigate the complexities of these roles, empowering you to optimize your Facebook strategy and achieve success in your digital marketing efforts.

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