Facebook Welcome Page is Dead!

Facebook has done it again! As I was drinking my cup of joe Wednesday morning I gasped when I saw that my Facebook Fan Pages were completely rearranged! What was going on, time for new contact lenses, I thought. But then, I checked in with my network of colleagues, and sure enough, Facebook was up to something again! They told us the changes were coming up March 1, but then they caught us by surprise when they executed them on Leap Year Day!

At first it was pretty scary, like, now what!?? Then, once I delved into it with a little less resistance...it all became clearer to me. Change!!! It’s what inspires us, challenges us, and lights a fire under our butt because now we have to reconfigure our marketing strategies and, well, that’s gonna take a lot more cups of joe.

So here’s the scoop:

Cover Photo:

There are new restrictions on what you can and cannot have on your cover photo:

Images must be at least 399 pixels wide and MAY NOT CONTAIN (Yeah, they’re getting picky now!):

 • Price or Purchase information, such as "40% off” or “Download it at our website.” I’m thinking they don’t want us to get away with too much free advertising, just my 2 cents.

 • Contact info such as web address, email or other info that is intended for your Page’s “About” section

 • References to user interface elements, such as “Like” or “Share”

 • Calls to action, i.e., “Get my free gift now!”

So far, from the looks of it, they have single handedly destroyed Facebook marketing in one fell swoop!

...Or did they? Those little rascals have lots more up their little sneaky sleeves. 

And now for the BIGGIE!

You can NO LONGER have folks land on your Welcome Page! Yikes! Well, then I guess it is no longer a welcome page..hmm.

You can still have a “welcome” page, but you have to try a little harder to get attention for people to click on it, since it will be seen in the central section in the boxes.

However, some good news...wait for it...

and there is some.

Photos, likes and apps (tab pages) are now at the top of your page. Photos show up in the first spot, but--you can change the order of everything so you can put your best foot (or photo) forward!

You can “Pin Posts” to the top of your wall (smells a little like Pinterest... :) kind of like a “sticky” post.

New message feature, your fans can send you messages directly on your Fan Page!

This means more engaging opportunities to interact with your customers and prospects. Gotta LOVE it!

Tab pages will be much larger!

Everyone who has an existing Business/Fan Page will get the new design format on March 30. You can start designing your new page now, but I would hold off on publishing it just yet, since there are still a few bugs in their system.

These are just an overview of some of the recent changes. Truth be told, these changes will provide more flexibility for you to create more marketing opportunities and better branding. There will be a learning curve for all of us, but in the end, it will overall be a good thing. If you want to learn more about fan pages and Social Media in general you can go to:

http://www.bigdogzmarketing.com

Get a FREE Fan Page!

If you would like to try your luck 'o the Irish, you can enter our Free Facebook Fan Page drawing. Drawing will take place on St. Paddy's Day, winner will be informed via email. If you don't need or want a new Fan Page, you can give it away to a client or friend!

 TEXT your name and email address to: 630 277-9804

 or send an email to: Mary@bigdogzmarketing.com

 Put in the subject line: FREE  FAN PAGE DRAWING

 The drawing will take place on-line on Saturday, March 17, St. Paddy’s Day at 3PM CST. The winner will be contacted  via email .

 If you don’t need or want a new Fan Page, you can transfer it to a client of yours or a friend as a gift.

Let's Get Social!

Follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/yourbizpromoter

Visit us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/bigdogzmarketing