8 things you need to know about the new Facebook pages

1. Like it or not, all Facebook pages will be switched to the new timeline format on March 30, 2012. If you’re not ready to make the switch right now, use the next few weeks to play around, visit pages that have switched and think about how you want your page to look!
2. If you want to preview how your page looks in the new design, visit your page and look for the alert notification at the top of the screen. Choose the “preview” button.
3. See that “publish now” button on your preview page? Don’t click that unless you’re absolutely certain you’re ready to make the move. There’s no “undo” if you change your mind.
4. Cover photos (the large image that stretches across the top of the new Facebook page – the same as on Facebook many profiles now), can be used to create a big impact for visitors to your page. Use it wisely! The correct size is 851 x 315 pixels. If you upload an image that’s smaller than this, it’ll be stretched to fit, and that may not look pretty.
5. Your page’s profile picture will now only be seen as a small image. Make this your logo or photo, and make sure it fits within the space!
6. There are no welcome page settings! This is bad news for anyone who relied on landing tabs (pages that first-time visitors see) to encourage “likes”, e-mail newsletter sign-ups, download giveaways and more. The tabs can still be accessed by clicking on the small boxes below the cover image (this is where all photos and apps will appear), but it’s really not the same. And if you think that you can just add something to your cover photo to alert visitors to your tabs, think again. Facebook says: “Note: This space is not meant for promotions, coupons, or advertisements. Your cover photo should not be primarily text-based or infringe on anyone else’s copyright”. In addition to that, they also state: Cover images must be at least 399 pixels wide and may not contain:
   • Price or purchase information, such as “40% off” or “Download it at our website”
   • Contact information, such as web address, email, mailing address or other information intended for your Page’s About section
   • References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features
   • Calls to action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends”

7. The good news? You can highlight important posts by clicking on the star icon in the top right corner of the post. This will stretch the post across the width of the page. Use this to draw attention to anything you want page visitors to know.
8. Also, if you post special news you can “pin” it to the top of the page so that it remains there for up to seven days before “returning” to the date. Do this by clicking on the pencil icon and selecting “Pin to top”.

So, have you made the switch yet? What do you think of the new Facebook page designs?