On March 10th Facebook rolled out a major change to its Pages in order to bring them closer in look and functionality to individual user profiles.  For the most part I am really liking (pun intended) the change as it will really improve  your ability to connect with your audience. The most obvious changes are the visual impact of the new layout that gives a more compelling look and feel to Pages.  There are also a number of functional changes that will allow your business page to interact and operate more like the way individual users do.  Facebook has also greatly increased your ability to build richer application experiences using iFrames, which I addressed in another email and blog post last week. In addition to having applications that perform better, you and I will also have greater flexibility in the way they name them.

I thought it would be helpful to you to see these changes so I created the following image and a numbered summary of each new or relocated feature.

1 – Photo strip above the Wall (with most recent photos you posted or tagged)

2 – Tabs move over to the left panel, in the form of a list (maximum of 6 above the fold)

3 – Profile picture reduced from 200 x 600 pixels to 180 x 540

4 – Blurb box that was below the Page picture moved to info tab

5 – Pages can Like other Pages, not just favorite them

6 – Featured Pages and Admins

7 – Page category

8 – Choice for Wall posts between “Everyone” and Page posts only

9 – Mutual Friends and Interests section

Here is a quick list of the functionality changes:

• Ability to interact on Facebook as your Page
• Ability for admins to post and comment around the site under their Page’s alias
• News feed of updates from Liked Pages
• Pages can now feature iFrame tab applications
• Email notifications when users post or comment
• Photo Strip Instead of Tabs Above the Wall
  The replacement of tabs with the photo strip at the top adds a dynamic, colorful element that will significantly improve the look of the average Facebook Page. The photos are drawn randomly from the most recent ones you posted to your Wall and those you tagged, but does not include photos posted by fans. Users can hide undesirable photos. The new left nav placement of tabs also allows for longer tab names. As you can see I have used this feature on my page to create a series of images that highlight my main services.  I have also seen some pretty darn creative photo series setup in this area.
• Expanded Functionality For Fan Page Admins
  By enabling Fan Page admins to comment in the name of the page itself and to interact with other Fan pages, Facebook has finally made it possible for brands to truly engage in tremendous interactive engine which powered its growth among individuals. Your power as a page administrator is increased in a number of other ways, including the ability to set filters on your Wall so that visitors see relevant posts first, and to view all the content and get notices whenever someone posts to your wall.

I hope you found this an easy way to see and understand all these changes.  I really think these changes are going to have a very positive impact on the ability to build relationships between you/your brand and your audience.  If you have any questions or concerns please contact us or leave a comment!