Facebook Business Pages will be automatically upgraded to Timeline on March 30, 2012, are you ready?
I know, another major change for Facebook. Those of us who are marketing firms managing multiple Facebook business pages need to get up to speed quick! The most obvious change is the striking Facebook Timeline cover photos. As striking as it is, there are some important rules to follow and there are other Facebook TImeline Features to work into your marketing strategy.

New Facebook Timeline Features:

1. My favorite – you can now pin a feature story each week. Just hover over your your story and click on the pencil icon to make it a feature at the top of your Page.
2. Profile pictures are now square at 180 x 180 pixels. This image will still be what is seen when you post and what is need in your news feed.
3. You can rearrange the apps on the page. These are listed at the top of your Page no . Change the placement by clicking on the graphic, then tell it to switch with the app you choose to list your most important ones first, such as photos of your products, etc.
4. Your main page or ‘wall’ will be the default landing page – default landing tabs are gone
5. New Admin panel is much more user friendly and insights are right there.
6. Fans can now connect with you privately..

Let’s jump into the rules for the Facebook Timeline cover photo for business fan pages before you waste time creating one that Facebook deems illegal… (like I have included below!)  The image below breaks all the rules – it attempts to take advantage of all the prime real estate the large cover photo offers. No way, says Facebook! You can not include your company marketing and contact information or calls to action.

BAD! No, no! Above is a rejected Facebook Fan Page cover photo.

Facebook Timeline Cover Photo’s for Fan Pages – Do’s & Don’ts

Do

1. Choose a striking and relevant image for your business
2. Use an 851 pixel wide x 315 pixel tall image to make the most of the space.
3. Use your logo as your profile picture in square format.
4. Be consistent with your profile picture – don’t change it on a whim and ignore your brand
5. Pay attention to the ratio of text to imagery – 70% image to 30% text is a good guideline

Don’t

1. Include website, phone number, any contact info that can be found under ‘About’ section
2. Include prices or purchase info. (50% off or ‘download our ebook’…)
3. Include calls to action like: ‘Call today, Get it now…’
4. Include “Like”, “Share”, or an arrow in the photo pointing to any Facebook action, etc.
5. Infringe on others intellectual property.

New Facebook TImeline Fan Page Cover Photo - this one follows the rules

Does anybody else find it frustrating that a business can’t promote their contact information in the most prominent place on the page? It goes against everything I learned in graphic design school. Oh well, as I begin to explain to our customers who hold the same frustration, we dont make the rules, Facebook does.
So, have fun with it! Show off your Facebook Fan Page Timeline photos below. Share your links, we would love to take a look at the beauty  you created, and find us on Facebook.
Stay connected!