So I thought it’d be helpful for me to share a few tricks for how you can use North Social apps to make your brand’s Facebook Page shake hands, roll over, and of course stand out from your competition.

For starters, you can use the Photo Showcase or Show and Sell apps to highlight specific products a la P.L.A.Y. (Pet Lifestyle and You), or create a community of pet lovers like Lowcountry Dog Magazine, who updates the Deal Share app to keep dog lovers in the loop about the newest and coolest toys. This is worth checking out, as they’re creating a Facebook community for dog-lovers, which makes their Page a destination rather than a one-time Like.

Lowcountry Dog’s admins are also harnessing another great tool – the weekly promotion. By creating a Freebie Friday using our Sweepstakes app, they’ll be sure to see a huge spike in their Page visitors and likes on Fridays!

While  P.L.A.Y. is using a social commerce app to highlight some of their amazing pet products, they’re also using the Video Channel app to highlight their “Warm Bellies Initiative” which donates beds to homeless pets. Way to generate some goodwill for pets still awaiting homes!

Lastly, The Honest Kitchen is using the Sign Up app to allow potential customers to try their product risk-free. This is a great way to get fans to interact with your brand, i.e, using the application on the Facebook Page, and also giving potential customers a chance to make informed decisions about a product. We pet owners can be picky about what our furry, feathered or scaly friends eat, so this is a really smart move on The Honest Kitchen’s part.

Just because our interests circle around purchasing jackets for our cats doesn’t mean we don’t matter. Pet owners annually spend billions of dollars on pet food, vet care, and accessories – so use Facebook as a way to leverage your connections, and turn Page visitors into involved customers!

Well, the day is quickly approaching (9 days and counting), so now’s the time to prepare for this change. As of March 30th, your old familiar Facebook Page with your North Social apps located on the left hand side of your page and represented at 520 pixels wide will become a distant memory.

On the 30th, our new and improved Timeline apps for custom Facebook Pages will go live (insert loud approving applause here), enabling you to promote your custom apps and promotional campaigns through a much more engaging 810 pixel-width canvas.

Our team wants to make extra sure your transition to the new page layout is as efficient and hiccup-free as possible, so we’ve put together a helpful Q & A to point your future Facebook Page marketing efforts in the right direction.

Please note: if you’re busy working on developing or designing new apps or programs for your Facebook Page or fielding panicky calls from clients, you’ll want to take a moment to soak up the following:

Q: Will old North Social app images (designed at 520 width) still work on a Timeline page after the 30th?

A: Yes. Breathe easy. All of your existing apps won’t suddenly break. Your existing 520 pixel width artwork and copy will still be viewable, likeable, sharable, and clickable.

Q: When will North Social Timeline-ready apps be available to subscribers?

A: On March 30th we will release a Timeline version of each app in our suite, which will replace all install links on our site.

Q: Will my North Social apps installed before March 30th be automatically updated to the wider Timeline apps?

A: No. To take advantage of the new Timeline apps after March 30th, you’ll have to: 1) remove the old app from your page; 2) go to www.northsocial.com to re-install the new Timeline version of that app; and 3) design and upload artwork to fit the new wider specs (below).

Q: What if I install my old 520 width images on a new Timeline version of an app?

A: First off, why would you when you have a much bigger canvas to promote your brand and promotional campaigns? Secondly, the new Timeline app versions will ONLY support the new 810 wide image sizes. Meaning, if you install a new Timeline edition of one of our apps and then install your old 520 wide artwork, it will expand and look as though you’re using the stretch effect in your Apple Photo Booth. Not a good look for your brand.

Q: Can I still like-gate my North Social Apps?

A: Yes. Your effort getting fans to like your page has not been wasted. Carry on with “like-gating” your valuable content and offers.

Q: Can I still set a default landing tab?

A: No. But even though the timeline lacks a default non-fan landing tab, you can still deep link to a specific tab from your other marketing communications, online properties, and ad campaigns.

Q: Can I customize the app icons and names of my North Social apps?

A: Yes. Both. We’ve created a generic icon for each app but strongly recommend you customize these to draw even more eyeballs and clicks to your apps and promotional campaigns. To do so, go to “Manage” from the admin panel and choose “Edit Page” in the drop-down. Under the “Apps” section, click “Edit Settings” for the specific app image (111 x 74 pixels) and name you’d like to update.

Q: Where are my North Social apps located?

A: Admin Panel > Manage > Edit Page or you can access them by clicking the app icons before your cover photo.

Q: How do I change the position of the North Social apps?

A: Facebook has changed the view of your photos and applications. Now’s your opportunity to elevate your most important and featured apps to the top of your new Timeline Page navigation (you can feature 3 custom app icons in the first position). Your Page visitors can access more apps by simply clicking the arrow to see those apps that are below the fold.  To change an app’s position, hover over the icon until you see the pencil, then choose to swap positions with another app you have installed.

While all North Social apps will include hint text on the Admin Panels of the apps indicating the new sizing, we’ve put together this helpful list of new sizes so you can design your new Timeline-ready North Social apps without experiencing a delay in the launch of your Facebook promotions and social media marketing campaigns.

North Social Timeline App Specs

Lastly, while re-designing images to accommodate the new Timeline layout and tab width dimensions may seem like an abrupt change that you didn’t necessarily request, view it as an opportunity to re-imagine your custom Facebook Page and social brand.

Yes, the new layout change and bigger app canvas is truly a catapult for taking your Page to a whole new level, as Timeline opens up powerful new avenues to 1) promote branded content; 2) ramp fan growth; 3) increase engagement; and 4) prove social media ROI.

Still have questions about the new North Social app dimensions or the Facebook Timeline layout? Look for more announcements and actionable tips on our Facebook Page, website,  this blog, our support forum, or you can always email our cape-wearing customer support team at support@northsocial.zendesk.com and they’ll get back to you in a flash.

Cheers,
The Team at North Social

It’s always been our goal to help educate and inspire the social media community on how to achieve more with less, so it was a very easy decision to join forces with SMC to promote industry best practices.

“As the biggest community of social media evangelists, we wanted to make sure that we’re practicing what we preach when it comes to the social media marketing strategies and tactics used on our own Facebook pages, of which we have more than 300 across our network,” said Kristie Wells, President and Co-Founder, Social Media Club. “We selected North Social to add more functionality and customization to our fan pages because of their deep selection of easy-to-use Facebook apps and they share our passion for empowering the social media community to get more out of their social media marketing efforts.”

SMC’s flagship Facebook page is already up and running with North Social apps. Look for their largest and most active chapters to roll out our suite of apps on their Timeline pages in the next few weeks as well as collaborate with our team on education initiatives.

As for the Wonder Twin reference, I’m not really sure who is Zan and who is Jayna just yet, we’ll let you decide…

You can read the full press release here.

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.

Relax.

Our cape-wearing team at North Social is on top of the situation.

We’ve put together some helpful (anxiety relieving) information to show you what the new changes mean and how you can continue to run your North Social apps without missing a beat.

Remember, this isn’t the first time Facebook has announced a significant change, and it won’t be the last.

Just know that each time Facebook has changed directions – 1) when tabs actually looked like “tabs” on top of the page; 2) when tabs switched from FBML to iFrames; 3) When app width switched from 760w to 520w; and 4) When https connections to apps switched – the North Social team has responded as quickly with painfully honest transparency and we’ve experienced nearly zero down time during each shift.

Please Note: We’ll be making platform updates, changes, and new apps that take advantage of this shift.  This isn’t the end, it’s a rocket booster that can take your page to a new level.

While change can sometimes be difficult to embrace, it can also open up new opportunity.

Now’s the time to seize it.

The Timeline layout represents what brands have always wanted; the ability to be more social with their current and prospective fans.

So here’s what we already know and what you can do to prepare:

1. The Like Button

Yes, the thumb still matters. Your effort getting fans to like your page has not been wasted. Carry on with “like-gating” your valuable content and offers. Even though the timeline lacks a default non-fan landing tab, you can still deep link to a specific tab from other properties and ad campaigns.

2. Killer Cover Photos

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, right? Well, in the case of the new Timeline interface, wrong. More real estate (851w x 315h) means more opportunity to make a favorable brand impression. Remember, you’ve got one shot to impress. Make sure your imagery and messaging resonates or you could be hanging out all by yourself. Look at some of the cover creativity already popping up.

3. Brand Profile Pic

Yep, you still have one. Except it’s now 180w x 180h. This is your opportunity to creatively tie in your profile pic with your cover image. Remember to use a high-quality image, as it will automatically scale down to a 32w x 32h thumbnail image. This is the image that will be the one that represents your brand in news feed stories, ads, and featured stories. For you design nerds, the profile pic will sit exactly 23 pixels from the left side of the cover photo edge and 239 pixels from the top.

4. Icon Candy

Facebook now allows you to adjust the way your custom apps appear on your Page to help draw even more eyeballs and clicks to your apps and promotional campaigns. Woohoo. Go to “Manage” from the admin panel and choose “Edit Page” in the drop-down. Under the “Apps” section, click “Edit Settings” for the specific app image (111 x 74 pixels) you’d like to update.

5. Pinned Posts

Now you can keep your most important posts from getting lost by pinning them on your timeline for the duration of a specific campaign. This enables brands to publish more often without burying their most engaging links, photos, videos, or promotions.

6. Bigger App Canvas

Timeline now gives you the option of promoting your apps and promotional campaigns in their full screen glory, a much more impressive (and less claustrophobic) 810w. Not quite the size of an IMAX screen, but the new enlarged width is definitely a crowd pleaser. Now it’s your job to turn those spectators into active page participants. Engagement anyone?

7.  Story Layouts

“Once upon a time, there was a brand that had a hard time getting noticed…”. Facebook now gives you the ability to tell your brand’s story in a more attention-grabbing way, by promoting larger photos, videos, and link stories and allowing your featured posts to be able to take up the full width of Timeline.  Some really cool new tools enable brands to upload entire photo albums and tell a more compelling visual story.

8. Brand Milestones

Timeline now gives brands the chance to jump into their hot tub time machine to take their fans on trip down memory lane. Feature any past videos, photos, or posts that you deem share-worthy.

9. Ad(ded) Engagement

Content is most certainly still king.  Now your posts can be re-purposed as ads, and users can interact with the them as if it were a post on your timeline.  They keep going, and going, and going…

10. Don’t Engage. Be Engaging.

While the Timeline layout offers up new opportunities for your brand, don’t forget the fundamentals when it comes to engaging your consumer. Entertain them. Inform them. Fill their stream with thought-provoking and valuable messaging or run the risk of losing their participation to a competitor’s page.

In the coming days, weeks, and months, our team will continue to monitor this change and pass on helpful information when we have it. If you have any questions about how how your brand can take advantage of these new opportunities drop us a line to support (at) northsocial.zendesk (dot) com.

Thirsty for more?  Check out our detailed Timeline resource in our Knowledge Base and watch for more thoughts on our Facebook Page.

What does your company do and what is your role there…besides running the Facebook page of course?

Boxiecat, is a the first subscription cat litter delivery service in the U.S. It saves time, eliminates the hassle of repeat trips to the store, and puts an end to lugging heavy bags of litter. Subscribers receive fresh litter delivered to their doorsteps on a schedule they choose. All subscriptions include free home delivery. Along with convenience, subscribers gain a greener way of getting litter. We also manufacture our own brand of cat premium clumping clay litter.

My role besides running the Facebook page is that of Marketing Director. I take care of letting the world know we are here.

Why does your company have a Facebook page?

We have a Facebook page because it’s a place where we can interact with cat lovers like ourselves who may be potential future Boxiecat subscribers or know someone for whom Boxiecat can be useful. We value that the ‘likes’ we get are lasting connections and when people share our posts there is potential for unexpected connections. That is of course the value of Facebook – sharing based on interests and discovery based on friends. It also is a great place for customer care and pre-subscribing questions. That goes both ways – we learn a lot from our subscribers through feedback.

What’s the most successful marketing program you have run using North Social apps on your page?

We like the Photo Showcase which we use a bit differently than many might. We’ve turned it into a “Subscriber Testimonial” gallery. We feature pictures of subscriber cats and subscriber feedback. It’s great to be able to update it easily without needing a developer. It lets us react quickly and optimize with our very best subscriber testimonials.

Document Display has also been very useful. We title it “Boxiecat In The News.” Instead of having all of our News updated on our site, we have one link going straight to the Document Display tab and can update it on the fly when we get new press.

What other companies do you admire for what they’re doing on Facebook?

We like Best Friends Animal Society. They have done a great job of staying branded throughout the site and creating useful tabs for adoptions, giving, ways to interact and work with them and more. They have a huge number of tabs and there is a lot to learn from them.

If you could offer one key to success (big or small) to fellow page admins, what would it be?

One thing we’ve learned that may be useful for others in finding success on Facebook is keep posts fun and short. They are more shareable that way.

How can people connect with you online?

Visit boxiecat on the web at http://www.boxiecat.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/boxiecat, or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/helloboxiecat.

You’ve heard it before but it bears repeating; brands that have the strongest relationships with their fans are those that put forth the most effort. But even knowing that, why is it that most brands fail miserably at trying to keep their fans interested in what they have to say long-term?

While I don’t claim to be a third generation matchmaker with a 99 percent success rate (yes, I can be coerced into watching trash reality TV too), I do happen to know a thing or two about building solid relationships by engaging in meaningful two-way conversation (my high school prom date aside).

Did Neil Sedaka have it all wrong when he penned his #1 hit, “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”? I didn’t think so until Mark Zuckerberg came along with the easiest and most drama-free breakup tactic of all time. Brands be warned, if you fail to follow the simple dating advice below, you could find yourself on the receiving end of a dysfunctional Valentine’s breakup heart (the dreaded “unlike”).

1) Be interesting – If your fans yawn with frequency, step up your game. Peep your “talking about this” metric for a temperature check.

2) Be kind and funny – Not asking you to play stand up here, but you it wouldn’t kill ya to be a little less serious. Earnest is great, but people like a good time.

3) Don’t talk too much – Post frequency anybody? Seriously, allow time for them to get in a word or they’ll quickly pull out their phone during dinner and look for another brand to date.

4) Be a good listener – Smart brands are interested in learning more about their fans. Ask questions; throw in some nods when you agree. If it’s early in the relationship, you may not want to be quick to engage in petty arguments or debates, you don’t want to scare them away.

5) Don’t be self-congratulatory – The “me me me” shtick doesn’t get you a second date, and remember, friends always dish, so your dating pool could dry up uber quick.

6) Be polite – Hollywood may have taught us that the bad boy always gets the girl, but let’s face it, those relationships always end poorly. Don’t treat your Facebook page fans like one night stands. Make them feel special. Show them you’re committed.

7) Pick up the check every so often – Nobody likes a cheapskate. People “like” brand pages when they receive value-based offers and content.

Be punctual – Nobody likes to wait. Don’t disappoint your fans with lagging response times. Within the first 30 minutes after you post, your fans are most likely to comment, and they are sitting right in front of their screen hoping for a reply.

9) Don’t overdo the accessories – Do your wall postings try too hard? Just like wearing too much perfume or cologne, piling on extra toppings can distract. Keep it simple. Be natural. If you’re loading up with too much fragrance, it can actually make your date believe you’re covering up bad hygiene. Just sayin’.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

What does your company do and what is your role there…besides running the Facebook page of course?

I work with a range of companies and brands, including Gordons Gold Jewellers, my longest client. Gordons Gold is a local family jewelry store in London, Canada, which specializes in fine jewelry, diamonds and gem stones. For 4 years, I’ve handled the social media, graphic design, branding and online marketing.

Why does your company have a Facebook page?

Although my client values dedicated customer service in-person, they also recognize the importance of social media. Gordons Gold effectively uses social media to engage customers, build community and facilitate outreach. The store is not only a staple in the local community, but strategic social media has been a key element in also growing Gordons Gold into a nationally recognized luxury brand.

What’s the most successful marketing program you have run using North Social apps on your page?

Over the holiday season, we incorporated the Photo Showcase app to beautifully display a virtual jewelry catalog. We had customers comment in-store about how much they loved it, as well as sales as a result of having it on the Facebook page.

What other companies do you admire for what they’re doing on Facebook?

At the jewelry store, we are fortunate to work alongside some pretty impressive brands that also “get” social media. These brands include Hearts On Fire diamonds, Tacori, and the American Gem Society. These companies do an incredible job of engaging fans, publishing great content, and offering a very personal connection.

If you could offer one key to success (big or small) to fellow page admins, what would it be?

Constantly put your own goals and opinions aside and really focus on what the fans want. Take necessary measures to understand exactly who your fan is and why they ‘liked’ your page in the first place. Also, don’t forget to talk to them like a human being. Humans don’t want to be given a sales pitch! They want a relationship. That’s the most important part of building brand loyalty.

How can people connect with you online?

Gordons Gold Jewellers

Website: http://www.gordonsgold.ca
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gordonsgold

Phil Pallen

Website: http://www.philpallen.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/philpallenfan
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/philpallen

What does your company do and what is your role there…besides running the Facebook page of course?

Love and Pride is the first high-end designer jewelry online destination for people who believe in equality, diversity and tolerance. Our jewelry collections include engagement, commitment, wedding and anniversary rings, necklaces, pendants, earrings, watches and other accessories for women and men. Sometimes romantic, sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical…always captivating.

Love and Pride works with some amazing organizations such as The Human Rights Campaign and The Matthew Shepard Foundation where we donate 100% of the proceeds from these products directly to these organizations making a difference for the LGBT community and creating a society that is truly diverse and tolerant.

I am the head of social media activity at Love and Pride. I manage the Facebook page, our Twitter account, and the blog.

Why does your company have a Facebook page?

Facebook has been a valuable tool for Love and Pride. We use our Facebook fan page as the main way of interacting with our customers and supporters. It has been extremely effective in the ways of reaching out to new fans who otherwise may never have heard of us. Over the past year alone we’ve increased our fan base by 30,000.

Facebook serves as a great platform not only for the increase of traffic and customers to our site, but more importantly, we’ve been able to build a community around Love and Pride and the important causes that we stand for. Without Facebook, our influence would be nowhere close to what is today.

What’s the most successful marketing program you have run using North Social apps on your page?

Though we use several North Social apps effectively, perhaps our most successful and most frequently used app is the Deal Share. We like to feature about four products per month and we’ve gotten great responses from our fans every time.

What other companies do you admire for what they’re doing on Facebook?

Hoopnotica: http://www.facebook.com/Hoopnotica
Human Rights Campaign: http://www.facebook.com/humanrightscampaign
Matthew Shepard Foundation: http://www.facebook.com/MatthewShepardFoundation.MSF

If you could offer one key to success (big or small) to fellow page admins, what would it be?

Facebook is very visual. Be sure to use lots of images in your postings – it really helps to engage your fan base.

How can people connect with you online?

Twitter: @_loveandpride
Designer Blog: http://udibehr.wordpress.com
Tumblr: http://lookgooddogood.tumblr.com/

What does your company do and what is your role there…besides running the Facebook page of course?

We make fashion-forward accessories for iPhones, iPads, iPod touch, and more. We are a global company, selling our products just about everywhere but we’ve recently upgraded our product line and online presence, so we’re very excited to get out there and connect with our fans. So my day is about connecting with media, bloggers, Facebook fans, and more. Spreading the word on our products, sending out products for review. We want to put X-Doria products in front of as many people as possible, we know they’ll love them when they see them.

Why does your company have a Facebook page?

Facebook for us is a way to cut through the clutter and noise as much as possible to have a direct conversation with our fans. We have new designs we want to share with them, and when they have a problem, we want them to have an easy to use way to connect with us. We pride ourselves on our customer service, it is part of the X-Doria experience. We try to be as transparent as possible.

What’s the most successful marketing program you have run using North Social apps on your page?

We’ve just launched our first program with North Social but it has been a major success! Using the Sweepstakes app, we were able to add 1K fans in one day as part of our My Style is X event. We were starting from basically zero, fan-wise so we wanted to make a splash. We paired the Sweepstakes app with the Photo Showcase app. The idea was to draw people in with the Sweepstakes and lead them into Photo Showcase to check out some of our new designs. Facebook is a long term effort on our part, and we’re making the investment now to build our base as quickly as possible.

What other companies do you admire for what they’re doing on Facebook?

Although we benchmark ourselves on our competition, we admire most the smaller Mom and Pop operations that are out there using Facebook to make a personal connection with their customers. While we operate internationally, we want to feel connected to our customers in every region, to emulate that ‘local’ feel.

If you could offer one key to success (big or small) to fellow page admins, what would it be?

For us, it is most definitely that the old say, “If you build it, they will come.” does not apply to Facebook. At least if they don’t know that you’re there. So if you’re starting small like us, make your offer meaningful to your fans, and potential fans and carefully consider ad buys that can spread the word.

What apps are you using?