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12 things every marketer should know about the new Facebook timelines

Facebook logoThis is the first blog from one of our new contributors, Tonya Walker, who is a creative at blur Marketing.  Tonya Walker is a writer and experienced marketing professional. She founded Tonya Walker Marketing Group, LLC in 2008 and works across a diverse range of industries. Walker earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from St. Louis University and an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland University College.
 
Facebook is essential to every brand’s social media strategy and they have made big changes that affect the way marketers communicate with the public. The new Facebook timelines literally display user’s life stories from the time of birth to current day. As marketers, we must be able to leverage Facebook timelines to increase brand visibility and reach.

Here’s what you need to know:
  1. Although it has not been confirmed, Facebook has indicated that timelines may be coming to brand pages soon.
  1. Users have the option of sharing links on their own timeline, on a friend’s timeline, with a group, on a page they have administrative rights to, or in a private message.
  1. News feed content, not to be confused with ticker updates, is displayed based on an Open Graph algorithm that factors in the popularity, recency of the post, and the user’s activity history. Post compelling and engaging content more often to increase visibility.
  1. Historically, Open Graph only applied to websites and pages. With the new timelines, it now applies to applications/apps. Apps are now more interactive and integrated into the social networking experience. In a nutshell, user’s networks will see their app activity in their tickers and it may appear in newsfeeds and on timelines depending on usage and settings.
  1. ‘Likes’ instantly appear in friend’s tickers. Make sure you are asking users to ‘Like’ your brand page. With the help of customized landing pages you can also generate and qualify leads.
  1. Users ‘Check In’ when they visit a businesses physical location. ‘Check Ins’ are displayed in a user’s ticker for their entire network to see. This feature is only available to businesses that list physical addresses on Facebook.
  1. Users can feature stories or links on their timeline. This means the content will appear in a large rectangular box that occupies both sides of the timeline increasing the content’s visibility to the user’s network.
  1. Users have complete control over what is shown in their timelines and who is able to view it.
  1. Applications allow users to feature their activities (ie. listening to music, reading a book, watching movies, etc.). Apps update when used and activities are displayed in the network’s ticker.
  1. Frequent posts increase your content’s visibility. B2B marketers must also remember that Facebook is always accessible so the standard work week does not apply. Make sure you are engaging prospects and customers after work hours and on the weekends with useful content.
  1. Users can choose to display a large cover photo at the top of their timelines above their profile pictures. Check out how Mountain Dew is taking advantage of timeline cover photos.
  1. The ticker displays user activity to everyone in his or her network. This can work for or against you. Be engaging and monitor social activity.


How has your Facebook marketing strategy changed since the introduction of timelines? Have you discovered new ways to use timelines to your advantage?  
Share your ideas and thoughts in the comments section and don’t forget: if you want help with your Facebook and social media marketing it’s time to brief the Exchange.

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