Facebook’s March 30 Deadline – 10 Essential Things You Need To Know

Mar 23, 2012 by Tiffany Litherland

If you are the owner of a Facebook Business Page there are 10 Essential things you need to know before March 30.

Facebook’s March 30 deadline is fast approaching when ALL, yes ALL, Facebook pages will be converted to the new Timeline format. This is a COMPULSORY change and you MUST be ready for it in order for your BUSINESS BRAND to stay ahead of the competition; not to mention stand out BOLDY and IMPRESSIVELY to your audience as being CURRENT, FRESH, & MODERN.

In line with this change comes a HUGE list of rules and regulations of what IS and IS NOT allowed on the new format. It also means that many of the customizations you have already put into action on your pages will change and some will become obsolete. For many of you this will be overwhelming and frustrating. DO NOT despair! With these changes come some GIGANTIC marketing ADVANTAGES and branding OPPORTUNITIES.

Facebook changes have created ways to optimize your business with a fully branded ‘Timeline for Business’ page.

That is where we at Golf Belles come into play!!! This is our forte; helping you and your business get ready for March 30 and enjoy the privileges RIGHT NOW and you’re your ‘Timeline for Business’ pages set up and ready to rock ‘n’ roll on or BEFORE the March 30 ‘COMPULSORY’ page change.

Leap ahead of your competitors.

Show off your business brand in all its glory to your fan audience.

Our Social Media packages will get you started!!!

10 Essential Things Every Facebook Page Owner Needs To Know Before March 30

1. New Design Layout

The layout is much like that of your Facebook Timeline personal profiles.
The new page design and user interface provides a much larger platform to maximize brand performance and ‘Influence’.
The new format will have two columns that will reflect the evolving story of the brand over time. Inclusive of the ability to create ‘Milestones’ beginning with the conception of the business (with options like Founded, Started, etc.)

2. The New Banner Image

Banner measurements are 850px wide by 315px high
Timeline pages favor visual content so a properly formatted banner image is essential
There are RULES about what CANNOT be in a banner image these are;
- Price or purchase information, such as “40% off” or “Download it at our website” (BANNED)
- Contact information, such as web address, email, mailing address or other information intended for your Page’s About section (BANNED)
- References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features (BANNED)
- Calls to action, such as “Get it now”, “like my page”, “Tell your friends” (BANNED – This one Facebook are specifically knuckling down on breaches)

3. Profile Image

New profile image is featured with an offset embedded appearance
Measurements are 180px by 180px for best resolution
Enhance this by using the Thumbnail feature to correct how it appears in the avatar in news feeds and when you post.

4. The About Section

The new About section is found below the Profile Image
There are 2 versions available (physical location or no physical location)
Physical Location business About section will feature type of business, address location, phone contact details, and Opening hours
Non-physical location About section will feature the type of business followed by the small Business Summary (Tip: ensure this section includes your web address)

5. The New Tab Boxes

Tab boxes or Tab buttons replace your little left-hand side menu
Tab button images are customizable
Only 4 tabs are visible and always beginning with the Photos tab
All other tab buttons are visible by selecting the dropdown menu arrow to the right of the 4 viewable tabs.
Tabs are located above the fold directly below the banner for maximized visual exposure and presence.

6. The New Custom Tabs (Landing Pages)

The new page width for custom tabs landing areas are 800px wide
This added page width maximizes real estate and optimizes visual value.
The option to select a DEFAULT landing page is now obsolete. Everyone lands on the Timeline no matter what.
There are now new ways to direct traffic to your landing pages via images and linked URLs in ads etc.

7. Featured & Pinned Posts

Timeline allows for the featuring of posts which span the width of the 2 columns
Timeline allows for Pinned posts which last 7 days and pin a specific post to the top of the Timeline for immediate attention and exposure upon audience landing.

8. Private Messaging

New private messaging for pages means you can interact and engage privately with your audience and answer pending messages at your convenience without leaving Facebook.

9. Build Your Audience Feature

Invite friends using various methods

10. Admin Panel (Dashboard)

For admins ONLY this panel opens automatically when you visit your page
It is a summary of all the action your page is receiving
It features your Page Engagement, Insights, New Likes, New private messages, etc.
Admin menu options can also be found here for backend page editing.

Here’s to your many Successes & Milestones,

(and Remember to post them on your Facebook Timeline for Business page)

P.S. Remember, these changes are happening March 30, that’s in 8 days.