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    Facebook Page Layout Changes: How Marketers Should Respond

    by Kristi Hines / December 12, 2016

    social media how toHave you noticed changes to your Facebook page layout?

    Wondering how to use the new features?

    In this article, you'll discover how to navigate and capitalize on the latest Facebook page design changes.

    Facebook Page Layout Changes: How Marketers Should Respond by Kristi Hines on Social Media Examiner.
    Facebook Page Layout Changes: How Marketers Should Respond by Kristi Hines on Social Media Examiner.

    See What's Changed for Your Visitors

    The first and most crucial thing to note is the new Facebook page layout for visitors. The previous (or current, if the new design hasn't rolled out to you) page layout looked like this.

    This is what the previous Facebook page layout looked like.
    This is what the previous Facebook page layout looked like.

    As you'd expect, sections like Videos are in the right sidebar along with the other sections that you could mostly hide or show at will, with the exception of a few required by Facebook.

    Now, let's take a look at The Awkward Yeti's Facebook page with the new design. First, you have the top section of your page, comprised of the Facebook cover photo, which is displayed as currently stated by Facebook Guidelines:

    • 820 pixels wide by 312 pixels tall on desktop browsers
    • 640 pixels wide by 360 pixels tall on smartphones
    • Loads fastest as an sRGB JPG file at 851 pixels wide by 315 pixels tall and less than 100 kilobytes in file size
    This is the new Facebook page design.
    This is the new Facebook page design.

    It also has the tab links in the left sidebar, just as before.

    The big difference is the order of your Facebook page's timeline. There's the box where visitors and fans of the page can leave a comment, followed by your Facebook Shop or Services. Previously, the Shop or Services section would be followed by your pinned or latest posts. Now you see boxes for Videos and Photos next.

    This is just one of the many ways the new page timeline can be ordered.
    This is just one of the many ways the new page timeline can be ordered.

    Videos and Photos are followed by your most popular posts.

    Your most popular posts appear after Videos and Photos.
    Your most popular posts appear after Videos and Photos.

    Next, you'll see the standard most recent posts.

    Your regular posts appear after your most popular posts.
    Your regular posts appear after your most popular posts.

    Why are the sections in this particular order? It's based on the order of your page's Shop, Videos, Photos, and Posts tabs in the left sidebar.

    The order of your Facebook tabs determines the order in which those sections appear on your page.
    The order of your Facebook tabs determines the order in which those sections appear on your page.

    Hence, if you want one of these five sections (Shop, Services, Videos, Photos, or Posts) to be in a specific order, here's what you'll have to do.

    #1: Customize Your Timeline

    To change the order of your page's timeline (if you have the new Facebook page design), click on the Manage Tabs link in the left sidebar.

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    Click Manage Tabs in the left sidebar of your Facebook page.
    Click Manage Tabs in the left sidebar of your Facebook page.

    This takes you inside some of the new or updated Facebook Settings sections, such as the Edit Page section.

    The Edit Page section of your Facebook page Settings is where you can reorder your tabs.
    The Edit Page section of your Facebook page Settings is where you can reorder your tabs.

    This is where you can reorder your tabs. You'll also find a direct link to a tab by clicking the Settings button next to the tab.

    Reorder your Facebook tabs as desired.
    Reorder your Facebook tabs as desired.

    If you move your Posts tab above your Videos and Photos tabs, you'll have two posts above your videos and photos, followed by more of your most recent posts in your timeline. Either way, your posts will be in two sections. It's just a matter of whether those sections are one after the other or separate.

    After you reorder your tabs, your Facebook layout will mirror that order.
    After you reorder your tabs, your Facebook layout will mirror that order.

    Of course, if you have Shop and Services tabs, you'll want those tabs to appear first.

    Place your Facebook Shop and Services tabs at the top.
    Place your Facebook Shop and Services tabs at the top.

    In this case, your page's timeline may look more like this:

    This is what the Facebook page layout looks like if you position your Shop and Services tabs first.
    This is what the Facebook page layout looks like if you position your Shop and Services tabs first.

    In the Edit Page settings, you may have noticed a Templates option above the tab-ordering options. Templates allow you to get the features you want for your page in terms of the right buttons and tabs.

    Click the Edit button next to Templates to see your Facebook template options.
    Click the Edit button next to Templates to see your Facebook template options.

    When you click the Edit button next to the current template for your page, you can scroll through your page's template options.

    Look through your Facebook page's template options.
    Look through your Facebook page's template options.

    Each template provides details about buttons and calls to action that will be applied to your page (which you can customize later).

    Find out which buttons and calls to action come with your Facebook page's template.
    Find out which buttons and calls to action come with your Facebook page's template.

    The template description also lists the tabs that will be added to your page (which you can customize later).

    You'll also see a warning that if you apply a template to your page, your current template will be replaced. This means that if you have a Services tab setup, for example, and you choose a template without a Services tab, your Services tab will disappear.

    Get details on the tabs for your Facebook page's template.
    Get details on the tabs for your Facebook page's template.

    #2: Update Your Media

    To capitalize on your new timeline boxes for media, make sure that your most recent and ongoing photo and video descriptions link to relevant products, services, or your website in general.

    If you have the time, create more quality media to go with improved posts for your Facebook page. The Photo and Video boxes on your timeline will show the most recent photos you shared on your page, and thus your latest, best-quality media.

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    If you don't have media or the urge to create media from scratch, check out stock media sites that offer both stock photos and video. There are plenty to choose from including Bigstock, Shutterstock, VideoHive, PhotoDune, iStock, and Depositphotos.

    Find some photos and videos that represent your products, services, or business in general and upload them. To optimize them, make sure that the photo and video descriptions link to relevant products, services, or your website in general.

    Note that the only photos that will appear in your timeline Photos box are the ones that you upload directly to your posts, not the ones that appear as thumbnails for a link or otherwise.

    Facebook Image Guidelines

    Facebook recommends the following guidelines for images:

    • Photos should be 720px, 960px, or 2048px wide.
    • Avoid compression by uploading a photo with a file size less than 100KB.
    • Save photos as JPEG with an sRGB color profile. This may or may not be the default based on your photo or image editing tools or software.
    • Change album settings to upload HD by default.

    #3: Add Partner Apps and Services

    Depending on your business, you may want to check out the new Partner Apps and Services option under your page Settings.

    Click Partner Apps and Services in your Facebook page Settings.
    Click Partner Apps and Services in your Facebook page Settings.

    Click the Add Service button to see the services that are currently available.

    View all of the available Facebook partner apps and services, as well as services that are coming soon below.
    View all of the available Facebook partner apps and services, as well as services that are coming soon.

    If you find a service you already use for your business or one that you could use, it may be worthwhile to see if that service can help you get clients directly from Facebook.

    #4: Link Your Instagram Account to Your Page

    If you want to start advertising on Instagram using the Facebook Ads Manager, you can link your Instagram accounts to your pages in your page Settings.

    Link your Instagram account to your Facebook page in Settings.
    Link your Instagram account to your Facebook page in Settings.

    #5: Cross-post Your Videos for More Engagement

    If you have multiple pages on which you want to share your videos, you can set up a cross-posting relationship between pages. This allows the pages to share videos and video post insights.

    It's simply a matter of adding the other page to your Crossposting settings and vice versa.

    Set up a cross-posting relationship between two Facebook pages.
    Set up a cross-posting relationship between two Facebook pages.

    Now you'll start seeing the Crossposting tab on any videos you upload to the pages connected via your Crossposting settings.

    When you upload a new video, you'll see a Crossposting tab with all of the pages connected via your settings.
    When you upload a new video, you'll see a Crossposting tab with all of the pages connected via your settings.

    From here, if you were to select all three pages shown above, those three pages and the page you posted the video to would have the video, plus the organic insights for the video itself.

    #6: Get Familiar With the New “Write Something” Box

    Another change coming to Facebook pages is a redesigned Write Something box, which is geared towards helping you connect with your customers and get the results you want.

    Some options will vary based on your page and its features. For example, page owners without a Shop section won't have the option to get people to view a product.

    Typically, you'll see something like this:

    These are the new Facebook page posting options.
    These are the new Facebook page posting options.

    Each option allows you to choose the related posting option or goal, such as Share a Photo or Video.

    These are your options for Share a Photo or Video.
    These are your options for Share a Photo or Video.

    This is what you see if you click Get Messages:

    Here's what you see for the Get Messages option.
    Here's what you see for the Get Messages option.

    These are your options for Create an Event:

    Fill out these details to create a Facebook event.
    Fill out these details to create a Facebook event.

    If you click Create an Offer, fill in these details:

    Provide these details to create a Facebook offer.
    Provide these details to create a Facebook offer.

    Here's what you see for Write a Note (the features of which are similar to notes on a profile):

    Create a Facebook note.
    Create a Facebook note.

    Here's what you see for Get People to View a Product:

    This is what you see when you click Get People to View a Product.
    This is what you see when you click Get People to View a Product.

    Use the Tag a Product feature for your post tag to include the product link from your shop.

    Include product links from your Facebook shop.
    Include product links from your Facebook shop.

    If you simply want to get your original posting options box back, click in the Write Something box itself (above the default posting options).

    You can still access the original Facebook posting options.
    You can still access the original Facebook posting options.

    Depending on your page category, verification status, whether you sell products on your Facebook page, and so on, you'll have some or all of the features using the icons shown above. From left to right, these icons let you:

    • Post photos or video, which would appear in your timeline Photo and Video boxes.
    • Add what you're doing or how you're feeling.
    • Check into a particular location or event.
    • Select your preferred audiences for this post.
    • Tag any third-party brands or products per the Branded Content Policy (blue verified pages only).
    • Tag products from your shop in your post.

    When you're finished with your post, you'll be able to (as usual) select your advertising options (Boost Post) and publish, schedule, or backdate your post using the Publish button or drop-down arrow to the right of it.

    In Conclusion

    Facebook has slowly been making changes to pages over the past couple of weeks. Some of these features may not be available to you yet, and some may continue to change before they'll be fully released to everyone. In the meantime, keep an eye on your pages for any new updates.

    What do you think about the changes that have or could be coming to Facebook pages? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

    Facebook Page Layout Changes: How Marketers Should Respond by Kristi Hines on Social Media Examiner.
    Facebook Page Layout Changes: How Marketers Should Respond by Kristi Hines on Social Media Examiner.

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    Tags: Facebook

    About the authorKristi Hines

    Kristi Hines is a freelance writer, ghostwriter, and copywriter who develops blog content, ebooks, emails, lead magnets, and website copy for marketing agencies, B2B, and SaaS.
    Other posts by Kristi Hines »

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