This document provides an overview of changes to Facebook pages with the introduction of Timelines in 6 key areas: [1] commenting, [2] post layout, [3] private messaging, [4] highlighting posts, [5] pinning posts, and [6] cover photos. Pages can now respond to private messages, highlight important posts, and pin one post at a time. The document also outlines best practices for using cover photos that humanize the page.

1. THINGS TO KNOW
ABOUT TIMELINE FOR
BRAND PAGES
An overview of the Basics
Lori Miller
Sales Marketing & Research
WHNT News 19
March 2012

2. We Look At Timeline Differently
http://www.sociableblog.com/2012/01/09/facebook‐timeline‐vs‐old‐profiles/

3. http://www.sociableblog.com/2012/01/09/facebook‐timeline‐vs‐old‐profiles/

4. WHAT WE SEE
1 ‐ Cover picture
2 ‐ Profile picture
3 ‐ Personal info
… with longer
fixation on personal
information
http://www.sociableblog.com/2012/01/09/facebook‐timeline‐vs‐old‐profiles/

5. Design Demands Multimedia Content
http://johnbell.typepad.com/weblog/2012/04/does‐facebook‐timeline‐drive‐up‐
engagement‐.html

6. Mulimedia Wins by 14%

7. Change #1:
COMMENTING

8. 2 COLUMNS
FOR POSTS

9. DEFAULTS TO
“HIGHLIGHTS”
VIEW
NOT IN
CHRONOLOGICAL
ORDER…

10. For example :
Did this screengrab on
March 23 2012
But I see Lee Marshall’s
post from July 2011
here at the top…
( based on “affinity” so
my view will be
different than another
admin’s view)

11. Posts by others
grouped together
here
It’s a condensed
version
Click See All to
use …

12. No way to chronologically mix “Posts by Others” with “Posts
by WHNT” in the same view

13. CHANGE YOUR VIEW TO “POSTS BY OTHERS”
Omits the WHNT posts, so you only see other
people. (This only changes what YOU see).

14. OR, USE ADMIN PANEL TO “SEE ALL” NOTIFICATIONS

15. Change #2:
PRIVATE MESSAGES

16. Fans Can Direct Message Pages Privately
Pages can’t send messages,
you can only respond to
users that have already
contacted you.
You can choose to disable
this function

17. Change #3:
HIGHLIGHTING
(making widescreen)

18. You Can Star Posts to Make Widescreen
PICK THE STORY
HOVER AND
CLICK THE STAR
TO HIGHLIGHT

19. NOW IT’S
EXPANDED
TO FILL
BOTH
COLUMNS

20. Change #4:
PINNING TO THE TOP

21. You Can Pin An Important Post to Top
• Go to the really
important post
• Hover over the pencil
to get the drop down
• Select PIN TO TOP

22. You Can Pin An Important Post to Top
• The story is now
at the top ‐‐ and
will stay there
for 7 days
• Marked with
small, orange
flag
• Only one pin at
a time
• Unpins
automatically

23. Change #5:
APP BOXES

24. No More Default Landing Pages, Like Gates
Still permitted, just
cannot be the
default landing
page

25. Now, You have App Boxes

26. And You Can Change the Order

27. And the most obvious change #6:
COVER PHOTOS

28. BEHIND THE SCENES / ACTION SHOTS

29. EMOTIVE

30. HUMANIZING

31. CREATIVE

32. Rules for Cover Photos
• No references to Facebook features such as “Like this Page”
• No purchase or pricing info such as “40% off”
• No calls to action like “Download at our website”
• No contact information such as web address or phone
number

33. local example ‐ personality

34. local example ‐ show and tell

35. local example ‐ clarity

36. local example ‐ nostalgic

37. Lori Miller
lori.miller@whnt.com
@lorimillerwhnt
facebook.com/blorimiller
linkedin.com/in/blorimiller