Customize your Facebook Brand Page Timeline to Build Brand Identity

 Customizing your Facebook Brand Page Timeline

Without a doubt, you are more restricted in choosing the information you offer and how you present it on Facebook than on your own website.  Despite this, there is still huge scope for adding your branding elements and structuring a page which will lead to high consumer engagement.

What many business owners don’t realize is the extent to which their Facebook pages can be customized to encourage visitors to become a fan, stick around, engage and return again and again.  The work goes beyond visual elements, from different landing pages depending on the source page from which they arrive at your Facebook page, to different applications providing different user experiences tailored to you audience.  Accompanied by a solid social media strategy, a well-designed Facebook page can increase consumer engagement, reduce marketing costs and open your eyes to the opportunities abound in online marketing.


Although much of the work does go beyond visual elements, with the introduction of Timeline in early 2012, the powers that be at Facebook have given it their all to ensure that brands do make their pages talk with images, as much as words.  This, combined the personable communication style that Facebook users prefer, make “behind the scenes” style marketing a great was to get fans to connect with your brand.  You should always ask yourself, “if my brand was a person, what type of person would it be?”  And the answer to this should be central to every interaction across your Social Media platforms.  Social media is all about making brands accessible, and giving your brand a “human touch”.   

Facebook Cover Photo

With some studies showing that consumers pay far more attention to your page’s cover photo, than content on your wall, it is important that it tells the story of your brand and captures the viewers interest and even their heart as soon as they land on your page.
Milestones

When you start a page, go to the effort to create a Timeline of your brand, your business or whatever you are marketing.  Milestones may include memorable moments, advances, product releases, community events – whatever has been important in your brand’s history. In doing this, visitors to your page can learn about your company and feel more connected to you.

Highlight and pin your best posts

Draw more attention your brand’s most important information by “highlighting” it. “Highlight” your favourite posts, dragging it across the width of your page and use large images to maximise impact.  “Pin” your posts to the top of the page (they become unpinned after 1 week) to extend the life of the content. It not only becomes the first item within the Timeline itself, but this size is increased too.

Advertise on Facebook to increase reach

Reach Generator can expose fans to content increasing it by as much as over 75%, according to a study by AllFacebook in January.  

Run Facebook Contests to Boost Engagement

Competitions create buzz.  People love to win, whether high value items, or something as low cost as a t-shirt.  What is important is that prizes be relevant to your brand, and to the target audience.  Keep the rules simple to ensure lots of people enter, stick within Facebook Guidelines and run all promotions on apps.

The ultimate goals, when starting a Facebook page for your business, are getting relevant fans, getting them to stay on your page, and getting them to engage and share.  Time and effort spent on customizing your page with beautiful images, attractive presentation, apps geared towards your audience and dialogue and events which engage your audience will help you create brand evangelists.  Pages that have true meaningful value for consumers are the pages that are adopted.  Turning  a "Like" into an "Advocate" requires a visitor experience which  surpasses expectations.