FaceBook Timeline Configuration
March 30th was the date when Facebook switched to "Timeline". While there are a lot of good new features in Timeline, in order to take advantage of them you must make changes to incorporate them into your Facebook marketing strategy.
If you haven’t done so already, please read these last 5 areas (as well as the previous 2 listed in Part I) that retailers should update now.
Choose Your Top 3 Apps
Your left-hand column apps tabs have moved and the content from you apps is now viewable via larger buttons at the upper right of your Page. Four apps are visible, but one is always the Facebook Photos app, so you’ll have to decide which other three apps are most important to you. Rearrange the tabs so that the 3 most important apps are the apps you will always see. All of your apps can still be viewed by your visitors, but they will have to select from the drop down menu to see them.
The biggest disappointment about using Timeline is that you can no longer set one of your apps to be your “default landing page”. Now, all visitors end up one your wall instead of any special welcome page you created.
Update Your Business Information
Make sure your “About” section is completely updated. This information now appears on your wall in a prominent new position right below your profile picture. You’ll definitely want to show the correct location, store hours and contact information at a glance.
Some of you have been putting your WEB address in the phone number field so that it gets displayed. The choice is yours. If you have a great WEB site – maybe with an eCommerce (CPOnline) store, it is probably more important to send customers to your site than giving them a phone number. After all, you have that phone number on your WEB site – right?
If you do use your WEB address, make sure to include the entire address (URL) starting with http:// so that your customers will be taken to your WEB site when they click on it.
Add Some Company History
You can add “milestones” to your new “Timeline” account for things/events that happened in the past. Include things like:
· The date when the business first opened. Maybe include a little bit of background on the “big 5” – who, what, when where, why.
· Important Company events – maybe when you won an award (anything from a Chamber of Commerce award to a Little League sponsorship or a prize for wildest costume at the Street Fair). Anything that personalizes your company is always an asset.
Think Carefully About "Pinning" Posts
Even though Timeline lets you pin a post to the top of your page, make sure it makes sense to you. If you’re having a week-long event, it may make sense, but remember that Posts stay pinned for up to 7 days. And while it’s pinned, the rest of your layout – including newer posts – are shifted down “below the fold” where they may not be seen. Just make sure you think it through carefully.
Become Familiar with the New Admin Panel
This is a great tool. It shows you everything that has happened on your Page since your last visit. It works similarly to notifications, but it’s much easier to see and to manage. It’s a great way to get a snapshot view of what’s been happening on your Page.
And with that, you now have the 7 most immediate steps that will help you take advantage of Facebook’s “Timeline”. The rest is up to you!
Talk to you soon. ~Norma