After lots of buzz and a first appearance on personal accounts, Facebook rolled out Timeline for brands on February 29. While some brands have received the new format with open arms, others are a little unsure of how to create their new presence, so let’s take a little time to explain the Timeline and what it can do for your event.
Some have compared the new Timeline to a blog template that allows you to focus more on images and milestones. You are basically given a skeleton to fill in with your event’s unique story. Now, you can focus less on trying to sell yourself and more on showing your personality which will create a personal connection with fans.
Cover Photo
Not long ago, brands began creating default landing pages to display large images. While that will no longer be available with the new Timeline, Facebook’s answer to the situation was offering a cover photo. The recommended image dimensions for the large photo are 850 x 315 pixels.
While many people are excited about the possibilities of cover photos, please don’t forget your profile picture. This picture will still appear everywhere else on Facebook, so make sure it can stand alone and represent your brand.
Milestones
While the new timeline will automatically create a recent history of your event, you can also tell the story of how your event became the experience visitors have come to know and love.
You can add milestones as far back as the year 1000. You should use the information you already have, but take this opportunity to research your event’s history for new information. You may find interesting photos and stories that could also be used as marketing materials.
Make sure to call out important photos and events on your Timeline by clicking the star on a post that expands the photo to a widescreen view. You can even pin content so it will remain the top post for 7 days.
For some fans, displaying your history may reignite enthusiasm for your event. They may see something that reminds them of their experience when they were younger and encourage them to once again make your event a priority.
Because Facebook no longer has the issue of information being “below the fold,” your content has a much longer lifespan. Users will likely continue to comment and like posts long after their initial creation date, which means you need to focus more on quality of posts instead of quantity.
What’s next?
Brands have until March 30 to go live with their new Timeline, but some pages have already made the switch.
Here is our list of events to watch as you create your new profile:
- Missouri State Fair– Their cover photo collage gives you a look at the past and present of the fair to show you that they are an established event that has stood the test of time.
- Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo– You quickly see that this event has a rich history since their milestones go all the way back to the 1900’s!
- California State Fair– Their dates are right at the top for all to see.
- Montana State Fair– Touting a giveaway is a great way to increase fans and interaction on your page.
- Eastern Idaho State Fair– While their cover photos is whimsical, they remembered the importance of their profile picture as a Facebook wide representation of their event.
