Let’s say one day you create a post about something that gets a huge number of comments and likes, this post really shows visitors to your page how engaged your page is so you want to make sure people see it. Now you can pin that post to show as your first post on your page for one week at a time. Talk about a great marketing tool! Got a sale you want to promote? Create a special post with a link to your purchase page and pin it to the top, that way everyone visiting will see it. How do you pin your posts? After you writing and post it, hover over the post near the upper right corner to see this:

See the edit button, click on it, click Pin to Top to have it show at the top every day for a week!

Now if you don’t want to pin it, you can highlight it. See the star beside the edit button? Click that and highlight a post. This makes the post wider so that it fills the entire width of your screen instead of only to the half way mark. It’s a great thing to do to posts that have exceptional images to go with them or any posts you would like to share. You can’t highlight and pin the same post at the same time however, so it’s one or the other per post.

Another great addition to your page is that now your fans can send a private email to the administrator without having to post directly on your wall. This is perfect for a client who has a specific question, a customer who has a complaint or constructive criticism or just to ask you a private question.

Now that you know you can’t add any contact info, bargain info or call to actions on your cover image, you are probably wondering where you can promote your business? Enter the “about” section. This is the area just below your profile image and can be edited as often as you would like. I wouldn’t recommend a lot of text here; this is a good place for your website address, your contact info and even a call to action. Change it up daily and see what works best.

Beside your “about” section are 4 small images. These are where your custom tabs are shown.

The photo box is permanent, but you can rearrange the other boxes to show as you would like. You can only show 4 boxes total and you can upload custom images to represent each tab. Here, you could have your “likes” showing and create a custom button with a call to action asking people to like your page. You see the little arrow to the right? People can click on this and see up to 12 custom tabs that you can create.

How to change your image on a tab? Click on the arrow to the right of the tabs, hover over the tab that you would like to change until the little edit pencil shows on the upper right hand corner.

Click on it to see these options:

And this is how you organize your tabs, change the image and change the names of the tabs in edit settings.

These are some pretty nifty changes, if you need custom tab images for your fanpage, I have a special on right now, I can build you a custom image for your tab for $30.00 plus HST each right now until the end of March, to help get you ready for the launch of your Timeline fanpage. Contact me here to order your images for your tabs now.

Let me know your thoughts, how are you going to use these changes to your advantage?

Talk to you soon,

Sherri-Lee

Now that you are familiar with your control panel, let’s look at the new cover image. Gone are the days when you could just throw up your logo and have it work. Now Facebook has created a large image at the top of your page as a welcoming image to your “likers” but there are rules around what you can use in this image. Here is the gist:

The picture is best at this size – 850 wide by 315 high, however if you post a smaller picture, Facebook will stretch the picture to fit.

• You cannot have any contact information for you on the image, this includes, your website, your email address, your physical address or your phone number.
• You cannot have a call to action.
• You cannot have pricing.
• You cannot make reference to Facebook terms like “like” or “share”

These are pretty simple rules and are only limiting if you let them be. Make this image something that shows the world what your company is all about in one graphic image. Be creative, do something fun, show the world who you are and what you are, without selling. This is after all what Facebook is all about.

Remember this image is public and anyone who visits your page will see it, so make it engaging and interesting and you can still create buzz about your business.

You also have the small profile picture to add to your cover image. This is 180px by 180px but make sure it scales well as this is now the thumbnail that is posted beside your posts on people’s walls. I have heard many people suggesting that you use your logo for this image, but I prefer using my head shot. People want to know you, the person, not just you the company. If you have a large organization that doesn’t have a clearly defined person representing your business, then go with the logo.

Have you seen some great cover images? Mention them here so we can all have a look at them.

Need help with a custom cover image that represents your brand well? I can create a custom cover image for you for only $105.00 plus HST. This offer is only available until March 31, after that the price will go up so book now to confirm your spot.

Next up? We’ll be talking about the about section and your custom tabs.

Talk to you soon,

Sherri-Lee