The new Timeline layout is mandatory for all page owners, now we are all trying to work out the best way to layout our page.

 Some of the new rules for the Timeline layout are:

1. Your Timeline cover cannot have any promotional or calls to action in the design.
2. Then can be not arrows pointing to your Timeline apps
3.  There is no more ‘welcome’ tab promoting them to Like your page anymore

Page admins now have their work cut out for them in terms of fostering high engagement and moving their fans to take fast action. Pretty much these days, if you are not providing great content and engaging with your fans then your page is invisible.

Now that the old faithful default landing tab (also referred to as the ‘welcome tab’), businesses really need to get creative and use the custom apps or the Timeline Facebook apps and direct visitors to take action.  These apps are now featured directly under the cover photo.

I have found the best way to make up for the loss of engagement with a default landing tab is to drive visitors to your custom app instead. Custom apps are prime real estate when optimised.

Here is where they sit on your page:

To make the most out of these custom apps, you need to create a custom app strategy for your page.

Once these custom apps are in place you need to promote and drive traffic to these apps, so you can increase the ‘likes’ on your page and increase your email database.

Here are some examples of some custom apps that will help you drive traffic to your Facebook page:

Fan Offer

Offer your fans an exclusive offer for liking your page!  A great way to increase likes and increase your sales.  Rewarding fans with an exclusive invitation to a special event, enter a competition to WIN… , Download a coupon or get a discount code to buy products.

Showcase App

Showcase products, images, slides, a menu… the possibilities are endless.  Images can be linked to information on your website, and an option ‘Buy Now’ button converts your Facebook into an online store.

Opt-In App

Create contact forms, online surveys, and invitations to capture valuable information directly from your Fan page.  Includes optional ‘Fan Gating’ (ie. must like page in order to see content).

Promoting and driving traffic to your custom app

One of the biggest challenges you will face once you have created your custom apps is driving traffic to them.

Use strong call to actions to get the attention of your fans in the app thumbnail image (dimensions -111 x 74 pixels).

Ways to drive traffic to your customs apps are: facebook ads, send an email out to your database, post the offer on your Facebook wall, also promote the offer on your website.

If you would like help in creating your Facebook Timeline custom apps, please contact us here.