Facebook just changed the way online promotion is done in FB again. In the large timeline cover photo, you're not allowed to create it into some sort of poster. They really want you to use a photo with very minimal words. You're also not allowed to sell or say "LIKE US" or "SHARE US" or have any telephone numbers and emails and https on that cover photo. When they say photo, they mean PHOTO.
Anyway, don't fret about this, because even if you have the ideal facebook cover photo made, I'm going to tell you to change it every week anyway. Why? Because the FB employees said so - during the launch of the FB timeline/coverphoto.
Trust me on this. Make a cover photo and change it regularly. People will notice it ---and you'll be more popular (in FB) because of this!
To download the PDF version of this page, right-click on the link below,
select "Save As" or "Save Link As"
MMI - Seven: Great Facebook Timeline Examples - PDF
1. Let's start with Funny and Witty, these can work but it doesn't really help your brand or company or presence on facebook. So use only if it matches your message that week.
But let me remind you that you can use these fun timeline covers, specially if people LIKE or share or comment on it in the week you're using it. Why? Because remember that LCS (Like Comment and Share) is your singular goal when promoting in Facebook. So anything fun is GAME.
2. Go to this site and look for a dramatic Facebook Timeline Cover : http://www.design-arena.com/2012/04/25-best-facebook-timeline-covers.html. Then use powerpoint to add your Facebook Page Name or company or message onto the image. Remember, you're probably going to use it only for one week so stop fretting about copyright.
These designs are soo nice they're too good to pass up. Remember the goal, it's not to sell, not yet. But to get attention. Yes you get attention by giving meaningful status updates but hey, you can get attention using someone else's art, so why not? If you're super concerned with copyright of images (legality) then get your images via this way: http://www.jomarhilario.com/2011/03/club-lesson-how-to-find-photos-for-your.html
3. Use Color to make both Cover Photo, Profile Photo (the smaller photo on the left) and the three icons (called Application Boxes) on the lower right consistent with each other. Starbucks does it using GREEN.
Pizzahut does it using RED:
So yes, the new facebook looks like company official websites. So using color consistently gives a more effective message to the reader.
4. Ok, something you've and I've never seen before can be done with those so called Application Boxes above (beside the number of likes are three boxes yes? they're called application boxes). Since you're not allowed to say "CLICK LIKE" or "FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK" or "VISIT THIS WEBSITE _______" on the cover photo, you can put small arrows on those images in the Application Boxes.
Here's the image sample I created in Powerpoint and cut and pasted in SnagitPro and printscreened (press print screen, then edit (cut up) in irfanview.com). Note: In irfanview, just download the software into your Windows computer, then open the powerpoint image that looks like that one below "Click Like". Then press PRINT SCREEN on the keyboard. Then you open Irfranview. Click Paste. Then drag the rectangle around the image below and press Control-Y to crop it (or select CROP from the menu). Then save it as a High Quality JPEG (image file).
And guess what, these arrows can point to the LIKE button and can have the words "CLICK LIKE"
5. Variation of #4 above, duplicate it for better effect.
6. Variation of #6, instead of encouraging people to like the page, give them an excuse to join your FACEBOOK contest! You don't know how to make a facebook contest? Here's a 90 minute tutorial created by this dude Jomar Hilario: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21-r5sIA4To
Here's a FREE OFFER on the application boxes:
7. Select photos from your photo albums and put a collage in your cover photo using this app: (application or website or tool, pareho lang yan) http://www.coverphotomagic.com/
In my example above, I featured photos from the previously held Hands On Workshop in Manila. Yes, it does help to make people want to be part of something you do. It makes a big statement to sell though the statement isn't verbal.
8. Do a simple contest or honor top customers or likers (people who comment, like or share your stuff). How? Just use this facebook app: http://www.booshaka.com/ - then as a reward for your top fans, feature them in the cover photo using #7's coverphotomagic app.
Yes, app means application or website or tool. Get used to it, that's what facebook calls the mini-programs like Booshaka and CoverPhotomagoc and Farmville (yes!).
8. If you know photoshop and are envious of these people's cover photos, please download hongkiat's template for photoshop and do it youself!
9. If you have a store, feature the inside of the store in the Cover Photo.
11. Use a version information or product feature that is meaningful to the reader. In shortstack (yes, them again) it says "Timeline ready" - w/c is timely because not many apps (there goes that word again) are timeline ready. So it's a big selling point. Though you cannot click on the icons on the coverphoto, it does help to put icons if they mean something to your brand, like in Shortstack's case.
Shortstack allows you to create many different kinds of tabs (application boxes) for the new facebook timeline, hence the need to show many different icons.
10. Make sure your ABOUT has an invite to LIKE and make sure it contains the Unique Selling Proposition or the Elevator Speech or in simple words, the great reason why they should like your page!
11. Feature your staff/employees/people behind the company on the Cover Photo. Starbucks once did this the other month.
Coming up : Tutorials on how to do some of the above!
Stay tuned!
To download the PDF version of this page, right-click on the link below,
select "Save As" or "Save Link As"
MMI - Seven: Great Facebook Timeline Examples - PDF
Anyway, don't fret about this, because even if you have the ideal facebook cover photo made, I'm going to tell you to change it every week anyway. Why? Because the FB employees said so - during the launch of the FB timeline/coverphoto.
Trust me on this. Make a cover photo and change it regularly. People will notice it ---and you'll be more popular (in FB) because of this!
To download the PDF version of this page, right-click on the link below,
select "Save As" or "Save Link As"
MMI - Seven: Great Facebook Timeline Examples - PDF
1. Let's start with Funny and Witty, these can work but it doesn't really help your brand or company or presence on facebook. So use only if it matches your message that week.
But let me remind you that you can use these fun timeline covers, specially if people LIKE or share or comment on it in the week you're using it. Why? Because remember that LCS (Like Comment and Share) is your singular goal when promoting in Facebook. So anything fun is GAME.
2. Go to this site and look for a dramatic Facebook Timeline Cover : http://www.design-arena.com/2012/04/25-best-facebook-timeline-covers.html. Then use powerpoint to add your Facebook Page Name or company or message onto the image. Remember, you're probably going to use it only for one week so stop fretting about copyright.
3. Use Color to make both Cover Photo, Profile Photo (the smaller photo on the left) and the three icons (called Application Boxes) on the lower right consistent with each other. Starbucks does it using GREEN.
Pizzahut does it using RED:
So yes, the new facebook looks like company official websites. So using color consistently gives a more effective message to the reader.
4. Ok, something you've and I've never seen before can be done with those so called Application Boxes above (beside the number of likes are three boxes yes? they're called application boxes). Since you're not allowed to say "CLICK LIKE" or "FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK" or "VISIT THIS WEBSITE _______" on the cover photo, you can put small arrows on those images in the Application Boxes.
Here's the image sample I created in Powerpoint and cut and pasted in SnagitPro and printscreened (press print screen, then edit (cut up) in irfanview.com). Note: In irfanview, just download the software into your Windows computer, then open the powerpoint image that looks like that one below "Click Like". Then press PRINT SCREEN on the keyboard. Then you open Irfranview. Click Paste. Then drag the rectangle around the image below and press Control-Y to crop it (or select CROP from the menu). Then save it as a High Quality JPEG (image file).
Here's the result. Now you're asking me how is this done, right? First of all you must watch the Facebook Contest video I mentioned above to help you understand how to create Application Boxes (tabs) in Facebook. Instead of running a contest however, you just create a simple TEXT Application Box (it contains words only, words to convince people you're so likeable).
Of course if you insist on not watching the video then you can find other apps that help you make application boxes. Bottom line is, it's not about making application boxes. You simple CHANGE THE APPLICATION BOX IMAGE to the "Click like" image above.
And guess what, these arrows can point to the LIKE button and can have the words "CLICK LIKE"
5. Variation of #4 above, duplicate it for better effect.
6. Variation of #6, instead of encouraging people to like the page, give them an excuse to join your FACEBOOK contest! You don't know how to make a facebook contest? Here's a 90 minute tutorial created by this dude Jomar Hilario: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21-r5sIA4To
Here's a FREE OFFER on the application boxes:
But really, why not repeat the offer, it's more effective:
8. Do a simple contest or honor top customers or likers (people who comment, like or share your stuff). How? Just use this facebook app: http://www.booshaka.com/ - then as a reward for your top fans, feature them in the cover photo using #7's coverphotomagic app.
Yes, app means application or website or tool. Get used to it, that's what facebook calls the mini-programs like Booshaka and CoverPhotomagoc and Farmville (yes!).
8. If you know photoshop and are envious of these people's cover photos, please download hongkiat's template for photoshop and do it youself!
10. If you are a professional, use a photo of yourself in action. It'll be obvious what you're selling.
11. Use a version information or product feature that is meaningful to the reader. In shortstack (yes, them again) it says "Timeline ready" - w/c is timely because not many apps (there goes that word again) are timeline ready. So it's a big selling point. Though you cannot click on the icons on the coverphoto, it does help to put icons if they mean something to your brand, like in Shortstack's case.
Shortstack allows you to create many different kinds of tabs (application boxes) for the new facebook timeline, hence the need to show many different icons.
10. Make sure your ABOUT has an invite to LIKE and make sure it contains the Unique Selling Proposition or the Elevator Speech or in simple words, the great reason why they should like your page!
11. Feature your staff/employees/people behind the company on the Cover Photo. Starbucks once did this the other month.
12. After uploading the cover photo, make sure to edit the description - because once people click on the photo to see a more detailed (bigger) version, they'll see your message. Remove the promo text from services like CoverPhotoMagic, instead SELL what you're selling in the description. Yup, you can't sell on the photo but you can in the photo description. Neat huh?
Coming up : Tutorials on how to do some of the above!
Stay tuned!
To download the PDF version of this page, right-click on the link below,
select "Save As" or "Save Link As"
MMI - Seven: Great Facebook Timeline Examples - PDF
