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You are here: Home / Facebook / Facebook Changes The Rules (Again) Are You Taking Advantage?

Facebook Changes The Rules (Again) Are You Taking Advantage?

March 28, 2013 by Jan Kearney

Chaos reigned supreme in the Facebook camp this week.  Did Facebook change the cover image rules for pages?  Was it a mistake?

Facebook changes to cover images

Facebook quietly updated their page guidelines with no announcement, basically taking away many restrictions on what you can put on your cover image.  Mari Smith reported the changes over on her page on 20th March. 

Facebook changes cover image rules march 2013image credit Mari Smith

On the face of it, this is brilliant news!

However, not everyone could see the changes Facebook made to the rules.  Some people were still served with the old guidelines.  Within hours, an Australian and New Zealand Facebook Small Business Manager stated that the guideline change was temporary.  Confusion much?!

It was a bit like the Hokey Cokey for a couple of days – in, out, in, out and shake it all about…

Inside Facebook later confirmed the rule change went into effect on 6th March, two weeks before the news broke.

Fun and games over, what do the changes mean for you?

When it comes to Page cover images, the only restriction is now the 20% text rule.  You can:

  • Ask people to like your page
  • Include your special offers
  • Add your contact details

Perhaps even better, when someone likes your Page an image is added to their newsfeed. 

Facebook cover image changes - added to newsfeed

The changes to the guidelines are a great opportunity for small business owners on Facebook.  I’ve already changed over a few cover images on Pages I help maintain using Timeline Slicer Pro to quickly create the cover.

Don’t forget when you change your cover image to add a description with a call to action and a link if needed.   Local businesses should tag the image with their location too.  Take full advantage of the opportunity now available to you.

All together now, “Knees bent, arms stretched, Rah! Rah! Rah!”

Over to you…

Are you taking advantage of the Facebook changes yet?  Will you be adding your offers and promotions to your Page cover image?

Facebook Changes The Rules (Again) Are You Taking Advantage? by Jan Kearney
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Filed Under: Facebook Tagged With: Facebook cover, Facebook local business pages, facebook rules, Timeline slicer pro

About Jan Kearney

I believe that every business, no matter how small or how local can use the power of the web to gain more customers. I offer no bull coaching and mentoring so small business owners can strategically put the web to work for their business. I've been called a "compass" and a "navigator" and probably a few more names that aren't suitable for a profile!
Connect with me on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest

Comments

  1. Ginny Carter says

    March 28, 2013 at 3:12 pm

    I’m shaking it all about as I type. They don’t make it easy do they 🙂

    • Jan Kearney says

      March 31, 2013 at 8:38 pm

      Haha! I can see you putting your whole self in, whole self out… On the bright side, if this stuff was easy, we’d be out of work, Ginny 🙂

  2. Bonnie Gean says

    March 29, 2013 at 1:02 am

    Don’t you just love how they make all these changes QUIETLY and let their customers find out the hard way? Not very impressive service, but then again when has Facebook ever been impressive?

    • Jan Kearney says

      March 31, 2013 at 8:44 pm

      I know how you feel, Bonnie – Facebook is almost part of life now though for many people isn’t it?

  3. Joy Healey says

    March 29, 2013 at 3:20 am

    Another job for the to-do list! But it’s a very welcome change.

    Thanks for recommending the tool to make my life easier.

    Joy

    • Jan Kearney says

      March 31, 2013 at 8:45 pm

      A change for the better for a change, Joy 🙂

  4. Debra Moser says

    March 31, 2013 at 8:56 pm

    Hi Jan, I have to admit I’m just getting used to FB and haven’t noticed it really. Thanks for sharing.

    • Jan Kearney says

      April 1, 2013 at 12:28 pm

      Facebook, snuck the rule change in without anyone noticing 🙂

Meet Jan Kearney

I believe that every business, no matter how small or how local can use the power of the web to gain more customers. I offer no bull coaching and mentoring so small business owners can strategically put the web to work for their business. I've been called a "compass" and a "navigator" and probably a few more names that aren't suitable for a profile!
Connect with me on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest or Discover More About My Local Business Online…

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Jan Kearney
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