If you are in any way involved in the Facebook community, or have a Business Page, I can guarantee you have heard the following: “This new Timeline is horrible!” or “Facebook changes again! I swear, I am going to delete my account!” Among other comments. Sound familiar? Surely, it does!
I will be the first to admit, Facebook changes all the time and from a consumer perspective, that can be frustrating, because simply, people do not embrace change openly. History has taught us this, and this is why franchising is such a successful business model (However, that is another discussion..).
Of course, constant change is slightly more comfortable for businesses, as they usually are in the constant adaptation process, considering technology of our time and many other factors. That said, with so much change and adapting in our lives, both personally and professionally, it would be nice to have something so prevalent in our lives (Facebook) stay the same, or at least not change as often. Well, Mr. Zuckerberg does not feel that way! And you know what? As much as I can sometimes feel annoyed with having to learn new policies two weeks after they were previously changed, I agree with the Facebook methods! Change is GOOD!
When something changes, specifically when something in technology changes, it usually changes for the better. Becoming more advanced, interactive, accommodating of the needs of those who use it. Sure, we will have to learn a few new things in order to feel comfortable with the product or service, however in the long term, it truly makes our lives simpler. I cannot complain with that!
So, I am sure you are wondering, “Get to the point – What makes Timeline for Pages better? Right now, it is only frustrating me!” I hear you, loud and clear! You are not alone, many business owners and marketing professionals feel just like you – And that is why you are reading this post! It is not only my job, but my mission to help you along this journey, so let’s get rolling!
The two greatest features of Timeline for Pages is the enhanced feed and the Timeline, itself! Social media involves creative marketing, thinking outside of the box, and Timeline truly challenges this.
Enhanced Feed
The feed on your new Timeline for Pages now has many features that assist in promoting what is most important for your brand, while you are still able to consistently update your page to interact with Fans. The Pinned post feature allows you to pin a post, such as an image or promotion, to the top of your page for up to 7 days. This is great for when you are offering promotions, discounts, freebies or have an image of a new product. It increases the likelihood of retrieving feedback from your Fans on what may be most important for that 7-day period. Also, depending on what you have pinned, it can increase sales and your bottom line.
The Composer feature allows you to simply keep your Fans updated with daily activity, news, or any other general information. It is very important to not only promote your business, but to also engage and share information, giving your Fans value and ultimately keeping them happy to ‘Like’ you.
You can Star or Hide posts in your Timeline that may be very important or not important at all. It is great to have the option of hiding something not so useful, making room to star information that is most important.
With the Larger Stories option, this makes sharing an image more attractive than ever before. A great way to show off a product, service or engaging image, this feature encourages your Fans to stay on your Fan Page for longer periods of time, which has been proven.
Milestones
The Milestones feature, which is a part of the enhanced feed, is my favourite. This option allows you to share your brand’s story, where the Fan will truly feel connected to it as if it were a person. This is the place to show the highlights and lowlights of your brand’s success, and we all have both! Sharing the hardships and successes that made your brand what it is today creates authenticity, which everyone connects with. Your business should not aim to be perfect, because all of us who are sensible know that nothing is perfect. Those who show the many experiences in a business journey will be both admired and respected. We all have a story.
This aspect of Timeline allows you, as a business owner or marketing professional, to go wild with creativity, test new ideas and find what works best for your market and audience. Don’t be shy! Mark your history.
What Else Can Timeline Do?
Now that we have covered the main changes Timeline has provoked, Let’s move on.
There are many other great features, helping to create more leads and engage more people. Remember the Welcome Tab? It was a real shame for many when they could no longer use this feature – However, that is simply not true! Using the Facebook Developers page you can create your own app that is hosted on your website, adding the web file to your Facebook Page. Now, to warn you, this is a quick but semi-complicated process, however you should still do it! This is a great way to capture email addresses, building your lists and eventually converting them from leads to sales! Check out this article for the exact steps on how to do this, and if you need help, feel free to Contact us!
I hope this article made you excited about Timeline, rather than dreading it. It is an evolving tool and there is much to be explored, while all of it benefiting your social media journey. Please feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, or leave us a comment!
Thanks for reading!
Like this article? Convinced that social media is a businesses reality? Let us get you there, get in touch with us and we will show you what your brand can do! Click Brand-e Media Ltd for Services, below, or top-left, Contact Us!
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