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Facebook has done it again—they’ve flipped the switch and made another drastic change: Your Artist/Band Facebook page will soon be a Facebook Timeline.
Early adopters are split down the middle on whether this latest update is an upgrade or a setback; but no matter if you like it or not, all Facebook Pages (including band, brand, author, and company Pages) will automatically update to Facebook Timeline on March 30th.
Ok. Take a deep breath. If Timeline is mandatory, we might as well get used to it.
For Facebook newbies, the video above will walk you through all the new features.
For Facebook veterans, here is a quick list of all of the new features and how to use them.
Where do I begin?
1. Upload a cover photo – (851 x 315 pixels)
This is a large, banner-style image that will be the first thing visitors see displayed at the very top of your timeline page.
2. Update your profile pic – (180 x 180 pixels)
Now that your Facebook timeline has a “cover photo,” you might want to update your profile pic.
3. Arrange your apps – (and customize the app images– 111 x 74 pixels)
Only 4 apps/tabs can be displayed now on the Timeline homepage (though up to 12 can be displayed in an expandable app/tab area). Be sure to feature your MusicStore for Facebook!
4. Add a “founded” date –
This allows you to go back in time and add pictures and videos from before the date you created your Facebook page (so you can tell the complete story of your band).
5. Put past album releases and photos into your timeline –
Now you can dig back into the archives to tell the story and discography of your band, from your very first practice to your latest gig.
6. Add milestones –
This feature allows you to set a “milestone” for big events like label signings, big gigs, album releases, awesome reviews from Magnet, the New York Times, etc. Milestones, just as the word implies, mark your key moments across the Timeline. The dimensions for Milestone images are 843 x 403 pixels.
7. Pin a post –
Pinning a post features it at the very top of your Page for up to 7 days. Pinning works particularly well if your post has a picture in it, since it’ll be even more eye-catching. After the 7-day period is over, the post will return to its place in the Timeline according to its date.
So, what old Facebook features are disappearing?
You can no longer set your landing page to a custom page or app. The landing page for fans visiting your Facebook page will now be the Timeline Wall. So whatever time or money you spent having a nice landing page made in order to collect email addresses, encourage likes, or giveaway MP3s,… sorry! You should’ve bought that new guitar amplifier instead.
The 5-picture photo strip goes bye-bye. Not a terrible loss, since it’s been replaced with real estate for a large banner-style image called the “Cover Photo.”
Have you made the switch? Are you using Timeline to promote your music in interesting ways? Let us know in the comments section below.
-Chris R. at CD Baby
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