Compulsory changes to Facebook Pages - what you must know about FB cover photos
On 30 March 2012, all Facebook Pages will get a new design - whether you want it or not!
To see what it looks like, check out Evolve's Facebook Page now. [While you're there, would you mind "Liking" our page? I'll happily return the favour for you. Many thanks!]
If you have previously invested in features such as iFrame "fan gate" or "reveal tab" apps, they will no longer work after 30 March.
You have up until 30 March to design and test a new Page layout yourself. You can publish it as soon as you're happy with the way it looks. Or you can wait until 30 March when all remaining Pages will automatically get upgraded.
Here's how Facebook describes Pages...
Pages are the essential place on Facebook for businesses to build connections with people. It's where you connect with fans by announcing new products, sharing news, and gathering feedback. Your Page is also where you create unique brand content that can become ads and sponsored stories. It's the core place for businesses to manage their posting and advertising content.
Facebook stopped supporting FBML on 10 March 2011 and introduced iFrames. From that date it was no longer possible to create new FBML-based apps. 386 days later all legacy FBML-based and all new iFrame-based features will disappear.
The changes appear to be driven by advertising revenue. It appears that Facebook wants to prevent people from leaving Facebook's own platform in order to gather comprehensive data on users, which it uses to sell advertising to businesses.
Introduction to branding your new Facebook Page
The most noticeable change is a big, full-width "cover photo" and a smaller "profile picture" overlapping the bottom of the cover photo...
Design a "cover photo" that is 851 pixels wide and 315 pixels high. If you don't, Facebook will stretch & squeeze it until it fits and in the process may degrade the quality or intended result.
For best results choose a unique photo and change it as often as you like. Some examples listed by Facebook as thought starters are popular menu items, album artwork, or a picture of people using your product. Be creative and experiment with images your audience responds well to.
Your "profile image" should be 180 pixels square. It's recommended to use your logo or a unique image that people particularly associate with your business.
As well as displaying at the top of the home page, your profile image is shown whenever you post something on your own wall or when commenting on other people's pages, in newsfeed stories, adverts and sponsored stories.
Facebook's cover photo policies
There are six important cover photo policies you must abide by. If you infringe these policies you risk losing your Facebook Page.
- No prices, offers, or purchase information, e.g. "40% off" or "Download it at our website". (i.e. don't use it as an advert).
- No contact information such as a website address, email, mailing address, or information that should go in your Page's "About" section.
- No references to Facebook features or actions, e.g. "Like" or "Share" or an arrow pointing from the cover photo to the Like button.
- No calls-to-action, e.g. "Get it now" or "Tell your friends".
- Nothing false, deceptive or misleading.
- Mustn't infringe other's intellectual property (so be sure you have the correct copyright permissions to use your cover photo).
A short introduction appears beneath your profile image...
This is where you tell the world who you are with basic information about your business, e.g. your mission, brief description, founding date, etc.
Only the first 255 characters are displayed on the home page so you need to carefully edit your copy to get the important stuff at the beginning. The full introduction appears in your Page's "About" section.
To the right of your intro are icons for your Views and Apps. If you have more than the minimum two, e.g. "Photos", "Likes" and "Map", then your intro will get chopped off at closer to 200 characters.
I recommend writing a short intro with "More..." at the end to encourage people to click through to the full "About" section. If you need help, just holler.
Beneath that appears your Timeline...
The first part of your Timeline section is the Composer with the message prompt: "Write something..."
The best way to reach your Facebook audience and drive engagement is by posting regularly to your Page.
Below that are posts you've written (using the Composer), which are arranged in date (Timeline) order. Facebook encourages you to post something daily.
Blatant Plug
We'd love to design you cover photo and profile image for you if you don't have anything suitable, and write the About copy if you need help. Give us a call on (09) 3600-120 or email brandon@evolve.co.nz [no spam please].
