While we were sleeping last night, Facebook flipped the switch on the new timeline for business pages. As social media marketers, AdMix Social and other Facebook business page admins are scrambling to update their pages. Fortunately, you have a little time to make decisions and create new graphics for your page. The official date for the switch is March 30, 2012 according to Facebook messages to page admins. The new timeline for pages is very similar to the personal profile timeline and has been anticipated by many in the social marketing industry.
So what’s new?
1. Cover Photo – a very large image at the top of your page that can be used to visually communicate your brand and what your business is about.
The Cover Photo cannot contain:
- Price or purchase information (such as 40% off or Download it on our site.)
- Contact info such as web address, email, mailing address or info for the About section.
- References to user interface elements, such as Like and Share.
- Calls to action, such as “Get it Now” or “Tell Your Friends”
Pages will also be divided into two columns that signify the passage of time. You will be able to add to your timeline significant events in your business that go back further than your presence on Facebook. For a great example of this, check out Coca-Cola’s Facebook page. They have updated the timeline to their founding date of 1886 with images.
2. Tabs for Additional Pages – The apps and additional pages are still available but with reduced visibility. They are listed at the top of your page along with your photos and events rather than down the left side of your page. Businesses will need to arrange these so the most important will display prominently at the top of your page. Additional apps and views will be found by clicking the drop down arrow. (The maximum number is 12)
3. No Default Landing Page – Many pages relied on a landing page as a way to communicate the brand to consumers that hadn’t connected previously. New visitors to your page 
will now land directly on your timeline.
4) Featured Content – One major new feature we love is the ability to “pin” certain posts to the top of the Timeline. Timeline allows it to precede any other content for a week. You can pin only one item at a time, and the pinned item then exists in two locations — as the top item on the Timeline itself, as well as within its chronological place.
5) Private Messages Between Business Page and Users – Users will be will be able to send and receive private messages with the brand. This allows for much deeper consumer interaction, and will also help Page managers to take extended customer inquiries off the Timeline and into a private message.
Check out some examples of businesses that have already published their new timeline:
Over the next 30 days we will be working with our clients to get their pages ready for the timeline changes. What do you think of the new timeline? Drop a note to AdMix Social and let us know how we can help.
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