R Smith, Author at Be Social, Get Success

Yesterday I posted about the changes to Facebook’s Cover Text rules. Today I will be talking about more changes in the next few weeks. Seems like we just got used to the new timeline and now it is going to change again! I’m not complaining. I like change and I especially like some of the changes I have heard are coming our way in the very near future.

You know how when you look at your timeline and you have to switch back and forth between the two columns to read your posts in order….this will be a thing of the past. You will have a single column timeline….YEA!!!!

A few people already have this change and my guess is after Tuesday’s press conference, Facebook will begin the rollout.

Other new features include going back to a tabbed design and the ability to organize and hide sections of your profile. Also old sections that we haven’t seen in a while are returning. They include “Books” and “Notes.”

If your cover image did not need a makeover because of the 20% text rule, you may need one with the profile cover change coming our way. The cover is still the same size, but the profile picture is moved further to the right and sits lower in the cover picture. It also has your name in white OVER the cover image.

If you have subscriptions turned on, your subscribers will now be known as followers, which seems to make sense. This change has already occurred on my page. See the picture below.

What will change on your personal profile.

You can learn more details and see pictures of the new timeline on Mari Smith’s page.

I honestly like most of these changes. Currently they are only for your personal profile, but I’m sure it is just a matter of time till they are moved to the business pages, so get prepared. I’m anxiously awaiting Tuesday’s Press Meeting to learn more.

Let me know what you think of the proposed changes in the comments below.

You have probably heard that Facebook is changing the rules for their timeline covers for both business fan pages and personal profile pages. All this happens on January 15, 2013.

Effective on January 15, your cover photo can NOT include more than 20% text. How much is 20 percent? Consider dividing your timeline into fifths. You could do this vertically or horizontally. Five columns or five rows. Either way, you would have an idea of what 1/5th would be.

This blog post from eosGrafx shows you some ideas regarding what area you can use for text.

Also the picture below depicts the size of area that can be used for text.

Picture compliments of Caroline and Davina at Useful Graphic Design Tutorials.

As you can see, you are limited to the amount of area that text can be used. The focus is on pictures, which is what we all enjoy seeing anyway!

Facebook also is using a new technology to measure this on pages. I’m sure we will learn more about this grid technology in the coming days.

Make sure you know and understand all of the rules. There are several other rules we need to follow as well. These pertain to both business and personal profile pages. I have listed them below.

1. No images with more than 20% text.
2. No price or purchase information, such as “40% off” or “Download it on socialmusic.com.”
3. No contact information such as a website address, email, mailing address, or information that should go in your Page’s “About” section.
4. No references to Facebook features or actions, such as “Like” or “Share” or an arrow pointing from the cover photo to any of these features.
5. No calls to action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends.”

If you fail to follow the rules, Facebook can remove your photo or remove your page permanently. Facebook has recently removed pages for including a “Call To Action” on their cover photo. You can learn more about removals here on a Socialfresh post.

Facebook has called a press conference for Tuesday, so I’m sure there are other changes coming as well. Stay tuned for a post once we get more information.

How do you feel about Facebook limiting the amount of text that can be used? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.