Facebook Changes

Just as you get comfortable with Facebook, they go and make a change.

In this case, it’s with the business pages.  Facebook will switching over all business pages to the Timeline layout (like your personal profile) on March 30.

Why this should matter to you???

Granted, the new timeline has some really neat new features.  However, the biggest change is that can no longer send your Facebook visitors to a default landing page– the welcome tab.  Those applications will still remain available, but your fans will only get to them if they click on the app on your page.  These pages still work but you will no longer be able to send certain traffic (like non-fans) to a particular page inside Facebook, unless you pay for Facebook ads.

Here is the main change of which you should be aware:

Cover image:  If you view a Facebook page that has already upgraded to the new timeline, you will see a large image at the top of the page. This is your cover image where you can share a good photo of your products, your staff, your location, essentially anything you like EXCEPT promoting your products/services.

Yep, that’s right. Facebook has new rules for the cover image of business pages. No pricing information, no discount/promo information, no website address, no contact info (including email/phone), no attempts to encourage them to like your page………

What’s the rationale?  Facebook provides you with pages free of charge, and if you want to promote/advertise they want you to buy their programs. i.e. ads.

Here are some more articles that should help you navigate the changes….

• Social Media Examiner outlines the major changes here.
• John Jantsch discusses how to best optimize your Facebook page from a marketing perspective here.
• Here’s a great post from Hubspot on how to update your business page here.
• Here’s a great post on creative ways to create your timeline profile pic from Ching Ya here.
• Denise Wakeman has posted some graphic design resources for creating your timeline profile image here.
• Amy Porterfield just did a teleclass on the changes, which you can access here.