We’ve seen our fair share of freak out moments over the last few days. Rumbles about the sudden “sayonara” to the default landing tab, the change to the tabs themselves, and general confusion about WTF is happening to dear old Facebook. Welcome to Facebook! Where change reigns supreme and sudden alterations are as regular as Metamucil.
While the changes will take some getting used to, there are a few reasons why you should welcome them with open arms instead of running to your therapist to rant. We’ve already outlined a bunch of changes that are new and exciting, but here are a few more calming words of wisdom on this front:
1. Losing the Default Landing Tab is a good thing. Maybe we’re just a bunch of positive Peters over here at the NS HQ, but the loss of this feature paves the way for much better brand consistency and engagement opportunities. Now you get to direct everyone who visits your Page to the same place, instead of dividing them into two separate camps. Pinned posts and sizeable tab icons give you complete control over what each and every individual sees when they navigate to your brand’s Page.
2. Moving the tabs up to the top– also, a good move. “But how will people know they’re there???” Let’s review: every Page is moving to this format, so people will learn. They’ll adapt. They’ll get used to it, just like they have with every other major change Facebook has pushed through over the last 8 years. And those icons? Adjustable real estate, so you’re not stuck looking at the same 4 boxes for eternity. Zuckerberg is handing you more powerful tools to work marketing wonders, so quit pouting because you just figured how to work the old layout.
3. Larger and more prominent graphics across the board. The old set up was dominated by text and stretches of white space, which, let’s face it: did nothing to help your brand gain control of your designated area. Facebook has altered the layout so that you are smacked upside the head with a blast of images and graphic content that you have full creative license over. Have you started imagining the possibilities? Maybe you’re just thinking about the extra work to build more graphics, but think about it this way:
A bigger and better canvas + innovative brand content = increased engagement and conversion.
Remember, the average user in social media has the attention span of a gold fish. Reports have shown that the majority of user time is spent looking at images, so hop on the Timeline bandwagon before your competitors drink you under the Facebook table.
GREAT post.
No need to panic about timeline and the missing landing tab.
I love Timeline for Pages and never understand the grumbling when Facebook changes something. It is the least expensive form of marketing known to mankind with over 850 million sets of eyes. Have you checked to see how much a website would cost your business?
I like the positive outlook since I have already been to my therapist about it.
I have North Social now. With the new timeline layout, do I really need to continue with it? How can NS work with the new layout?
Aren’t you supposed to avoid call to actions like the one in your first image? It’s against cover photo guidelines…