Facebook Timeline Changes for Your Business

Facebook has rapidly become one of the biggest players in the SEO field. Weʼve given you tips on how to make social network marketing work for you in the past, but itʼs time for an update. Facebook is implementing a major change by making their new Timeline layout compulsory. In the recent past, users could elect to change from the traditional layout, but as of early August, the social network switched everyone over.

So now, the big question is: What does this mean for my business page?

Thankfully, the change wonʼt be too dramatic, but it does require your attention. Here are a few of the big things you need to go and update as a result of the change:

Cover image: Youʼre cover image is the large graphic that will be the header for your new page. You still have the old profile picture, but the cover image is much bigger, coming in at 851 pixels wide by 315 high. Use this extra space to send a strong message about what it is your company does, but avoid including sales pitches. Itʼs considered tacky to use the space to sell or show pricing. Also, be sure you own whatever image you use. There have already been a few companies in trouble for using images without the proper permissions.

Tabs: Traditionally, you had multiple tabs on your business page that you could assign to whatever you wanted. Now, youʼre limited to four and the first is locked in for photos. These other three tabs are the appropriate place to list your products/services and pricing.

Milestones: Your Timeline has milestones. These should be important events in the life of your business. For the average user, a milestone is something like buying a house or getting married, so make sure youʼre milestones are analogous. A good business milestone is something like opening a new store.

Brand Name and Landing: With Timeline, you have one default landing page, so make sure it looks good. The same goes with your brand name, once you have 100 fans, youʼre not allowed to change it, so make sure you get it right the first time. The upside is that you are immediately granted a vanity URL, so be sure to take advantage of that!

Original article about mandatory Facebook Timeline posted on Wikimotive's blog under the title Facebook Timeline and Your Business

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Comment by Timothy Martell on August 24, 2012 at 2:46pm: Thanks Bill. Hope more businesses start to realize both the importance and dangers of mismanaging their public image, particularly in social media.

Comment by Bill Gasson on August 23, 2012 at 9:15am: Comment by Bill Gassonjust now Delete Comment

I read your post on facebook regarding a dealer vs. former employee, the thought process behind it and the writing was fantastic.

Thank you

(Should you not be the same individual my appologies)

Comment by Larry Rettig on August 20, 2012 at 9:51am: I switched at the beginning too, no point in delaying the inevitable.

Comment by Dan Hinds on August 20, 2012 at 9:50am: The only thing I didn't like about timeline was how many people complained endlessly about it when it came out, I for one really like the Timeline layout.

Comment by Andrew Martin on August 20, 2012 at 9:48am: I'm not a particularly big fan of Timeline, it did away with a couple of features I had spent a lot of time working on. Namely the landing pages and tabs, but such is life.

Comment by Abner Cavalcanti on August 20, 2012 at 9:45am: I'm an early adopter, Timeline has a much better visual appeal which is very important for a business page. Why wouldn't you want to take advantage of all the great branding opportunities Timeline offers?

Comment by Zach Billings on August 20, 2012 at 9:43am: I don't get it either, everyone knew it was going to be mandatory eventually what's the point in holding out?

Comment by Brad VanMagness on August 20, 2012 at 9:42am: I agree, I switched as soon as they rolled Timeline out.

Comment by Greg Devlin on August 20, 2012 at 9:40am: I don't understand the people who held out on Timeline, I like it a lot more than the original layout.