Lots of innovation from that creative bunch at Facebook revealed today!
Here’s the skinny on the Facebook announcements:
1. Timeline for Facebook Pages
Facebook’s Team reported:
– “Richest, most remarkable marketing canvas we’ve ever built. Everything you do on Facebook has to start on your page.”
– “While ads are good, stories are better”
Timeline is the launchpad for your Page stories. Your newsfeed becomes more important as Timeline will become the default for all pages. Final changeover is expected in 30 days for all Pages. What you post and what you share become stories in your newsfeed.
You will be able to “pin” priority stories to your Timeline to be at the top of your Timeline Page.
Custom tabs remain!
Each Facebook Page Tab will now be 810 pixels wide, much wider than the current 520 available now. Facebook is letting all Page Admins preview the Timeline before publishing and preview the Cover image for each Page.
Fan Page Admins can edit the custom large image for each tab shown in the Timeline. See details.
Timeline is the default for all Pages so it appears that fan-gating is going away. Instead use the “Pin” tool for your posts and also key in on graphics for your large tab image.
Facebook announced today a new story type called Offers. Offers allow you to get your promotions in front of users. It will be like “specials” where users can come and with one simple click claim and share the offer!
Additionally, visitors and fans can now message Pages directly when Pages have upgraded to Timeline. Page Admins will be alerted of Messages and they will be easily visible in the revamped Page manager area.
2. Reach Generator: Making sure your fans see your stories
With Reach Generator Facebook has created a tool to enable stories to get featured. Facebook noted that the average user saw 16% of the content available in their Newsfeed per week. Reach Generator allow you to reach more like 60-85% of your fans on a monthly basis. Stories using Reach Generator will be valuable for that reach and as well because they will create sub stories on top of stories.
Fact from Facebook: Fans are twice as valuable as viewers from a purchase decision standpoint. Ben and Jerry’s was able to increase ROI by 3x when testing Reach Generator.
3. “Premium on Facebook”
This is a new Facebook ad tool on steroids! It creates the most impactful way to distribute content on Facebook. You select Premium, Facebook analyzes your fan page user data and delivers the ad in up to 5 key locations that will work best. See image for locations for distribution.
In the newsfeed, you’ll see a 5-10x click through rate with promoted newsfeed stories. These premium stories will show up on mobile as well. Facebook Mobile features are scheduled for rollout later in March as well.
4. More Roles for Page Admins Coming
Facebook also announced that late in March there will be additional roles revealed for Facebook Page Admins. This is a welcome note for all Page Admins so that interns can have a lesser roll, Community Manager a more primary role and so forth. Watch for details.
FACEBOOK TIMELINE CONCLUSIONS:
Lots of opportunity with these new Timeline features from Facebook! Page Admins can create a much rich experience with Timeline on pages. Stories and communicating in the Newfeed becomes a more critical factor so tools like TabSite’s sister service Plan Your Post will be needed.
In addition, the new Page real estate of 810 pixels coming with Timeline makes fan page tabs much more like websites. Loads of content and goodies can be placed in this wide area. This is great news for TabSite as we get ready to launch Contests in March and for all Page Admins wanting to more strategically use Facebook for Marketing.
We’d recommend Page Admins use the Preview options in the Fan Page Admin area to get your Timeline ready but wait a bit until the dust settles and Facebook works out final kinks and bugs. You can prepare information for your Timeline to showcase past dates and events, figure out what you want to “pin” at the top of your Timeline, prepare your Cover image, and even update the large tab icons with graphics that will grab attention.
TabSite is working to finish the new Timeline 810 pixel width. Your tabs will work just fine now already if you upgrade to Timeline for your Page. We’ll announce when we have the 810 wide version ready and we’ll also be adding in the TabSite manager the ability to change the large icon image.
FACEBOOK’s PRODUCT GUIDE ON TIMELINE FOR PAGES (PDF)
So what are your thoughts on Timeline? Post below!
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