As you may have already noticed, Facebook has made a number of changes to affect the look of Business Pages. From February 11, voluntary roll-out has been available, but on March 10, the new design will be implemented across all Pages. We will outline a number of major changes you should become familiar with if managing your Business Page.
Tabs have gone
Tabs have been removed from the top of the Page and a new navigation menu has replaced it, located just below the Profile Picture on the left. Interaction with the tabs has been quite low, and the move to below the Profile picture is aimed at increasing engagement with third party platforms. One great improvement is that you are no longer restricted to one word App titles, a longer title will simply wrap lines. For example, instead of an FBML title ‘Win!’, you can expand te title to: ‘Be In The Draw To Win 10 Fantastic Prizes This Month!’
Photos have moved to the top centre of the Page
This is one of the most visually noticeable changes. Facebook made a similar change to Profiles last year, and this is a step to create a more consistent experience for all users. Page admins can manipulate which pictures are displayed allowing for creativity and an easily updateable page feel or theme. There are apps available to make this process very simple such as Profile Maker.
Posting Preferences
Your Page has a new setting allowing you to comment or post from your personal Facebook as yourself, instead of the Page. This feature also has the ability to be turned off.
Facebook As Your Page
A very helpful new factor sends you notifications with anything related to your Page. As soon as a user posts, comments or likes, you will receive a notification, similar to what is already happening on personal Profiles. This allows you to be updated with your Page much more frequently.
Admins Section
The Admins of your Page will now be on display in a box on the upper right corner of your Page. This is also optional and can be removed.
Everyone Filter
By selecting the “Everyone” filter on your Page’s wall, posts on your Page with the most “likes” and comments will be brought to the top of the news feed. Another new setting will delete any posts in an unfamiliar language from your Page.
FBML Gone
The Static FBML app will no longer be available to use for your Page as of March 11, 2011. Facebook has advised to switch apps over to iframes. They will not be deleting existing FBML apps however, so make sure you add two or three to your page before March 11.
Facebook Messages
This month also sees the final stages of the revamped Facebook Messages; a new communications platform allowing Facebook users to integrate their SMS, chat, messaging and email. Announced in November, Facebook intends to roll the new initiative out slowly, to make the transition as smooth as possible. Facebook users will also be able to choose whether or not they’d like to adopt the new email account, ending in @facebook.com. Longer messages and subject titles will be made redundant, replaced by a brief and speedy method of communication. With Facebook users sending over 4 billion messages per day, this unique approach will no doubt take some getting used to. One of the most attractive features with the new technology is the capacity to separate messages from Facebook friends and from strangers. This will empower uses to interact with who they actually want to, without getting inundated with promotional messages.
We will be sure to bring you any further major updates and changes, so stay posted!
