As a small business owner or artist, you might be wondering what the new features are and how you can take advantage of them now to increase your visibility and reach among potential fans (ie. getting more “Likes”). We’re here to help! Many of the new Pages features will be allow you to create a cohesive and memorable brand experience for your users visiting your Page.
One thing to keep in mind is how the Cover Photo differs from your Profile Photo. The Profile Photo is essentially your avatar that represents you throughout Facebook. For example, when you comment on users’ personal profiles or other Pages, your Profile Photo is what will appear. The Cover Photo is only seen when users visit your Page.
Note: Check out Facebook’s Terms of Use for Pages. Facebook asks you not to use Cover Photos that include price or purchase information, contact information (that is what your About & Info sections are for!), or references to Facebook features (such as “Like”).
Milestones go back in time beyond the date when your Page was created, so use milestones to call attention to important events that have contributed to the success of your business or been instrumental in the development of your artwork. For example, create a milestone for when your business was founded or you started creating art. You can also create a milestone that commemorates the first dollar spent; the digital equivalent to the dollar in the picture frame in a brick-and-mortar store. As an artist, you can showcase historically significant gallery events or concerts, ie. your first big break into the scene.
You can also associate photos with milestones, so make the most of your milestones by including a relevant and interesting photo so fans can visually connect with your story.
Custom View/App Icons: If you plan on keeping some of your static HTML pages when you switch over to the new Pages layout, be sure to take some time to create a custom icon for them when they show up in the views/apps area under the Cover Photo. Having custom icons will contribute to the overall cohesiveness of your Page. You can literally make these icons look anyway you choose (except they cannot be copyrighted by another person and they cannot contain indecent images) – get creative!
So, are you looking forward to the new Timeline for Pages? Dreading switching over? Want even more information on the new Facebook Pages and tips for how to use it effectively? Sign up for Behind the Scenes, our weekly newsletter, to get more details on what this new feature will mean for your page!