Facebook pages Timeline: Advice and some helpful information

Facebook Pages will be upgrade to Timeline from March 30th’2012 allowing organisations, projects and businesses to express themselves more visually to their target audience. ‘YOU WHAT! HOW? Hang on just got my head around the last format!” Don’t panic below is some information and links to get yourself up to speed.

Starting today, when you visit your Page, you will see a message at the top of your Page allowing you to preview your Page in the new design. Please note that when you turn this view on, your new Page design will only be visible to you and other admins. People who visit your Page will not be able to see your Page in the new design until you choose to publish your new design. For the next four weeks, you’ll be able to experiment with the new design in a safe environment. You can add milestones, a cover photo, as well as other content. That content won’t go live to the public. You may also go back to previous posts and star important ones to feature them on your timeline.

(Please note that posts that you make on your Page and changes you make to your profile picture will be visible to the public. However, starring posts, adding a cover photo, adding a milestone, or pinning a post won’t be visible unless you choose to publish your new Page design before March 30, 2012. )

Major new Facebook Page features include the option to:

➢ Have a cover image across the top of the Facebook page.
➢ Pin posts to the top of the feed for one week.
➢ Receive and respond to private messages from fans.
➢ Highlight feature posts from amongst your page feed.

Cover Photo:Size of image; 851 x 315 pixes.

Choose an image which conveys the essence of your organisation, project or business an showcases our product or services.

Profile image:Size of image: 180 x 180 pixes.

Choose a logo that people associate with your organisation, project or business.

Here are some resources for getting started:

Facebook Pages product guide

http://ads.ak.facebook.com/ads/FacebookAds/Pages_Product_Guide_022712.pdf

View example Pages

https://www.facebook.com/about/pages

Read general FAQs

https://www.facebook.com/help/pages/new-design

Top tips:

- The new Facebook page timeline works best if you are using ‘images’ and ‘film footage’, so invest some time to review your archives and do some google and youtube searches for content that would appeal to your viewers. (remember to reference accordingly and your have the relevant media consent etc.)

- Go through and review your Facebook page timeline, check your history. Can your highlight previous content to make the page appeal to your target audience (young people, community members, investors.)

- Be brave and remove content that is not applicable or offering added value.

One of the biggest considerations for youth practitioners and teachers is the new PRIVATE MESSAGING option on Facebook Pages. You have the option as the admin to activate this or not (this is accessible on the ADMIN PANNEL, located to the top right hand side under the help button.) As a provision or educational establishment this could be a very useful tool to engage with your online community members. However there needs to be critical reflection about the capacity to respond to messages and signposting to off line services if required.

Film clip from Mashable about the impact of the changes and brand management.

Check out this good advice from Mashable: If you have a social media plan that’s working for you, stick to it. If your plan could use some adjustments, now would be a good time to see what has been working and what hasn’t and how Timeline can assist with some improvements. If you’re winging your social media plan day-by-day, this is a good time to sit down and hash out why you have a Facebook Page in the first place. (Jim Belosic, Timeline for Brands: How to Prepare for Your Company’s New Facebook Page. 1st March’12)

Thanks to the Facebook team for emailing and sharing helpful information and links to share with my online community network.