So here’s the deal. You’ve seen the Timeline popping up on your friends’, colleagues’ and family member’s Facebook pages, but you haven’t taken the plunge and converted yet. You like your page the way it is and change can be frightening--even over something as simple as your Facebook page. But I’ve got news for you. The Timeline is coming whether you like or not, and as of March 30th, 2012, there’s no turning back.
As someone who was completely opposed to converting, I can tell you that the Timeline isn’t as scary and weird as it may seem. Just last week I finally dressed my personal page in Facebook’s new look. At first I was disgruntled and immediately thought, “Oh geeze, what did I just do?” but after a few days you become accustom to your new page just like we’ve adapted to Facebook’s many other changes.
As your real estate virtual assistants, we want you to be prepared for all the changes the social media world throws our way. When it comes to the Timeline, there are a few things you should know before “the switch” takes place. Mari Smith, social media speaker and author, composed a great article on the basic settings and features we need to know.
No More Default Landing: One of the biggest changes we will see is the elimination of your fan page’s default landing page. This is where you can create a custom landing page where non-fans can be prompted to “like” your page by the use of an opt-in, media tools, or just some great info about your business that reels people in. Many of us are using these so that non-fans are encouraged to like our page in order to view posts, photos and updates. While we can still have custom apps that will lead to any landing page we wish, the default landing page is no more. Instead, viewers will be greeted by your enormous cover photo, to be later discussed.
Preview Your Page: For those of us who are a little hesitant to switch over to the Timeline, here is something that might put you at ease. Before showing your Timeline to the world, Facebook gives you the option to hide it while you decide exactly how you want it to look. After you feel comfortable with your layout and preferences, you can then publish your Timeline for all to see.
Choose a Great Cover: Since this photo is 851 x 315 pixels (that’s pretty big) you should choose something that best represents you, your business and your mission. If your photo is smaller than the mentioned dimensions, keep in mind that the photo will be stretched out to fit and could get disfigured.
Keep Your Profile Pic Relevant: While your cover image will stand out the most, choosing a profile picture is still an important component of your Facebook page. This is because your profile image is what identifies you wherever you go. What I mean by this is your profile picture is what shows up on other people’s newsfeeds, your comments/posts on other pages, and comments/posts on your own page. Choose something easily identifiable and memorable.
Milestones: This is pretty cool. The Facebook Timeline allows you go through the years since you’ve been a Facebook member and add your business milestones. Was there a big award your agency won back in 2006? No worries. You can tell the world about it now! Feature all of your honorable achievements whether old or new.
Arent you glad you have your real estate virtual assistant to keep you updated on anything and everything social media? This change will be a big step for the entire Facebook community, especially those who have Facebook business pages. If you have any questions on how to use this new feature, feel free to contact us and we'd be happy to help!
Have an awesome day!
Lauren Wille
Marketing Coordinator
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