I don't know about you, but somewhere in the stream of time, Facebook stopped offering thumbnails of photos from my ActiveRain posts when I post on FB. The ONLY photo it offers now is my avatar. Hmmm, what's up with that?

Now, wait a minute Facebook, you don't do this when I post links from other websites! I did this FB post the other day and you gave me a choice of the graphics that were in the post as my Thumbnail image!

Ok, so the "workaround" brainstorming session began. This will not do!

What can I do?? I know, post as a "photo" an then put a short URL link in the descriptive text!

Wow that thumbnail is even better than the one that facebook gives on posts. Because it is based on a photo, it is even BIGGER!

You want to use a short URL because the long (full) URL will take up way too much space and be unattractive.

At the bottom of every ActiveRain post, there is an option to create a short URL for your post. It will take the visitor to your regular AR blog page. This is fine when you want the primary visitor to be an AR member and they will comment. However, if it is a localism post and the consumer is the primary visitor, you really should send them to your outside blog page. For this, you can generate a short URL using an outside service like google's goo.gl or bit.ly - these are extremely easy to use, and the end result is a short URL for your FB post.

Well there you have it. Another web marketing strategy for you! Aren't you glad you came to class today? :)

-c-

Recent blog posts -
Creating Desktop Wallpaper with Picasa [tutorial video]
Picnik Going Offline - What Can I Do?
Web Design - Inspiration Board - Craig's Clicks

 

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Author
  is a Technology Manager residing in NYC who specializes in applied technologies in the fields of Architecture and Real Estate. Craig focuses on finding the best uses of tech as can be used to help a business be more successful. He is keen on always seeing the perspective and viewpoint of his audience and he tailors his teaching to be easily understood. He teaches by means of this blog, online courses and webinars, as well as one-on-one remote sessions with persons located throughout the country and beyond.

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Posted by Craig Daniels - Technology Instructor/Project Consultant on 02/04/2012 01:36 PM   Comments (49)   Facebook in the Online Marketing Channel   facebook, graphics  
Short URL: http://actvra.in/srl
Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies
Post is included in group: Addicted to Active Rain
Post is included in group: BananaTude
Post is included in group: Facebook Fanatics
Post is included in group: Facebook Tips

49 Comments on Is Facebook Doing this to Your Posts? "I Want Thumbnails!"

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

FEB
06
2012
222,437 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Connie - I'm glad to provide some new ideas hopefully - thx!

Ritu - takes a few extra minutes to manually do, but I think the results are better IMO :)
4:53pm • #30
FEB
07
2012
270,814 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi, Craig!  I've been using the 'link' button to add my blogposts and it usually gives me a choice of 3 or 4 photos.
12:12am • #31
865,595 Points 18 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Thank you for this post. I have no idea why facebook doesn't like those thumbnails.. they will appear on my busines page, but not on my personal page.... this is very helpful
12:22am • #32
656,532 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Thank you for the help.  I enjoy the having the place to get the info.
12:30am • #33
139,547 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Thanks Craig.  This is an excellent solution to an annoying problem.
8:36am • #34
222,437 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Chris - it seems like when you 'link' in facebook every site BUT AR regular blog works like that (the way it should work) maybe someday we'll get to the bottom of "why so" and AR devs can make a correction that FB likes better

Joan - something is up with it that's for sure, meanwhile we have an alternate now! :)

Tim - you are welcome, thanks for the visit :)

Howard/Susan - great, glad to hear you have a new idea :)
12:04pm • #35
FEB
08
2012
1 Featured Post

Wow. That's amazing you can figure this stuff out. I would have just given up. Thanks for posting. I will have to bookmark this one.
9:02am • #36

If I create a short url to my outside blog will it link to the specific post or just the most recent post on that blog?
7:51pm • #37
FEB
10
2012
222,437 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Karen - I'm glad you stopped by for a new idea :)

(no name given) - your outside blog main domain URL will show all of your most recent posts lined up one after another. Click on any heading of any post to get a URL specific to that one post. If you want to link to a specific post with short URL, this is the URL you'll want to capture and shorten. hope that helps
9:25pm • #38
FEB
11
2012
163,132 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I had also noticed this about Facebook and I appreciate your very straightforward work around to help keep the Facebook page from looking too repetitive. 
6:40pm • #39
MAR
06
2012
446,194 Points 26 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hi Craig.  I always figured that AR was hesitant to share the pictures with FB...

Perhaps paranoid on my part...

:)

Kern
8:46pm • #40
MAR
07
2012
222,437 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Mark - glad to hear it - I've been doing this lately and like the results much better - sometimes 'problems' generate better results than previously!

Ken - why is it only on AR posts! paranoid or conspiracy theory?? ;)
4:37pm • #41
MAR
11
2012
1,030,054 Points 238 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Craig- I knew I should have come here in the first place. I was researching today about Facebook and linking my posts and wound up here.  Now I need to figure out how to unlink my AR posts from going to my Facebook business page and link like you said..
1:17pm • #42
MAR
14
2012
222,437 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Kathy - glad you eventually made it here :) this has been working well for me since I started doing it this way
11:10am • #43
APR
20
2012
823,599 Points 155 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I was noticing that, and just posted "no thumbnail" - not ideal, as you say.  I'll have to try your suggestion.
4:59am • #45
MAY
28
374,913 Points 7 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Called Shot Master

Your comment #7 totally made it click for me! I think I got confused on the short url info and outside blog talk. I need to take your class as well. I also get confused when I try to paste (way off track here) a link on twitter. How to shorten the link will help I realize... 
11:24am • #46
MAY
29
472,584 Points 35 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I'm all over this one too. Thanks so much Craig, it was driving me nuts trying to figure out how to get a photo about the post to show in the timeline. Now you've shown me how - thanks much.
6:53am • #47
807,596 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Thanks for this too.  I will give it a try next time I post on AR and my outside blog!
6:32pm • #48
JUN
09
204,335 Points 45 Featured Posts

What great tip! I could not figure this out, so I actually installed a Wordpress plugin that allowed you to set the Facebook picture from the WP dashboard as a temporary workaround until I figured it out, but I like this so much better! Thank you!!!
1:05am • #49
JAN
14
166,239 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I never fail to find a solution to a problem when I visit your blog! Sometimes to problems I didn't even know I had. Thanks so much.
12:24pm • #50

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Craig Daniels - Technology Instructor/Project Consultant

Staten Island, NY

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