Facebook to upgrade all pages to use Timeline – what does this mean for you?

20th March 2012

Facebook recently announced that it is to upgrade all pages to use its new Timeline layout.  Whether you like it or not, your page will be migrated to Timeline at the end of March – the deadline is looming, but what do you need to do about it?

The most noticeable development is the introduction of a “cover” image – a large area at the top of your page where you can upload a graphic. Hiltonian Media suggests that you use a bold and striking graphic that hits visitors between the eyes when they land on your page. This is a great marketing opportunity, instantly catching the attention of anyone who wanders by.

You can also add milestones to your Timeline. For example, you could add the date on which you were founded or moved to your new premises, along with photographs and a description. Or you could highlight the release of a new product, an important hire, or awards that you have won. Why would you want to do this? Well, for starters, it can engage users, especially if you give away titbits of information that are fun or might not be immediately obvious. 

Posts to your Timeline can be starred as being important or pinned to the top for up to 7 days – the perfect way to keep that new product foremost in your fans’ minds.

Another crucial aspect of Facebook Pages that is changing is the functionality that allows you to add pretty much any content you want to “tabs”. In the past, page owners have been limited to using FBML – a cut-down version of HTML – through a rather cumbersome admin interface. Now it is possible to embed content from pretty much any website address directly into your page, allowing you to edit content from within your usual Content Management System (our Sursum Corda platform is perfect for this). The tabs now have high visual prominence, especially if used with a custom icon. However, setting these up needs a little prior knowledge of the Facebook developer platform, so you may want to drop Hiltonian Media a line if you're uncertain how to make a start with this. We can also help you set up content templates that will integrate seamlessly with your page.

We've already migrated our own page to Timeline, and are in the process of doing so for several of our customers. We'd love to help you with your page, too.

So if you're struggling to smarten your Timeline up in readyness for the switchover, or you're interested in how you can add interactivity and run promotions on your Facebook Page, why not get in touch today? Don't delay – these changes are coming soon!