Here we go again….another change from Facebook. But this time, it is a very welcome change for anyone owing a Facebook Business Page. Without too much noise, Facebook released new guidelines last week about new rules for Facebook timeline cover photos.
Would you believe me if I tell you that all limitation on what kinds of information you can include in your Facebook timeline cover photos are gone?
Yes – it’s true. You are now allowed to:
- Include your contact details – phone, email, website etc
- Present discounts, offers, purchase and price information
- Make explicit calls to action; such as Like Us!, Call us! etc and even include arrows pointing to the Like button
- Use visuals that direct fans to like or share your page
How fantastic is that?!
But hold your horses – Before you brief your designer with various ideas you had but couldn’t use until now – Facebook ‘s new cover photo guidelines are not without rules, that you strictly need to obey. And when I say strictly – I mean it. Facebook has indicated that they will be policing new rules more strictly then in the past.
What are Facebook’s New Cover Photo Guidelines?
- Old limitations about the content are gone
- The one and only rule is – the so called, 20% Rule. This means that no more than 20% of your Facebook timeline cover photos can include text. That’s it!
Sounds simple, but how do you determine what is 20% of the image?
With every change comes an opportunity and various developers have already created tools that will help you identify this percentage and to help you determine compliance with this Facebook rule.
Test your Facebook Cover Photo here
I guess I should also mention that cover photos can’t be deceptive, misleading or infringe on anyone else’s copyright. This is law, not Facebook guidelines. You should also refrain from encouraging people to upload your cover photo to their personal timelines.
What’s the big picture to this Facebook timeline cover photo changes?
With Facebook announcing changes to the look of the news feed and with increasing the maximum size for photos by almost 20 percent to 720 pixels, images are truly becoming more and more important and stars of the news feed.
Even the latest iPhone version update allows you to take a new cover photo with your iPhone and upload it via camera roll. Same goes for iPad.
With all these changes and importance that Facebook is giving to visual content, you need to start asking yourself how you are taking advantage of this virtual real estate for your business. Is your branding strong? What can you do to strengthen your brand positioning with fans and customers?
Are you using all creative possibilities yet observing the rules?
While it might seem that Facebook is relaxing its rules, it’s actually becoming more rigorous policing them. So what are you doing to stay on top of its terms & conditions?
But let’s leave this hard topic about observing the rules for next time….I know you are keen to get that order in to your graphic designer.
I would like to see your creativity – so why don’t you show off your new Facebook timeline cover photos – just paste a link to your Facebook page in comments below. I’m keen to see…