The New Facebook Layout
Perhaps you have noticed the new layout on your personal Facebook profile. The reaction that users are having to continual changes to Facebook are best summed up by an entertaining cartoon by The Oatmeal – This is what happens when Facebook changes it’s layout.
New Facebook Subscribe and News Feed Options
Last week, Facebook announced improvements to Friend Lists and a new Subscribe button to help you see more of what you care about, and less of what you don’t.
In addition, the News Feed updates used to slide down in chronological order so it was tough to zero in on what matters most. If you only checked it to Facebook occasionally, you may have missed important updates from the people closest to you. Now the News Feed acts like your personal Newspaper – If you haven’t visited Facebook for a while, the first things you’ll see are top photos and statuses posted while you’ve been away. They’re marked with a blue corner in the top left corner of the status update.
This is all well and good, once you get used to it – but it may have a profound impact on the effectiveness of your Business Page on Facebook
Secure Browsing on Facebook
Facebook secure browsing was introduced in January of 2011. I use it, and recommend you do as well.
Now you will be required to change your URLs in the custom tabs of your Facebook Page to use the https links instead of the http links as well. Even though it is yet another technical hassle for developers and business owners, ultimately, it’s a good step becuase the use of SSL and HTTPS makes Facebook a safer place for all of its users, and increases the trust that your Fans will have in the content on your Business Page.
SSL Connection For Your Business Page Tabs
Are Your Facebook Custom Tabs About To Break? One of the big developments in March 2011 was the Facebook Page overhaul to support for iFrames and depreciate FBML (Facebook Markup Language) in Fan Page custom tabs. Now, another upcoming Facebook change may have a large effect on your company Facebook page: on October 1 2011, all content displayed on custom tabs will need to be served from domains secured with an SSL certificate.
This will ‘break’ break many companies’ custom Facebook tabs and Welcome Pages.
Not great news… If your webmaster is snoozing, your business could be losing.
Think Your Page Might Be Affected?
RedCliffe Marketing Labs points out some great detail about Facebook Secure Browsing:
If you are using a 3rd party application then they *should* have taken steps to be compliant and you are unlikely to suffer an interruption.
If you engaged a Facebook Fan Page designer to make your custom pages then you should be following this up with them now and seeing what they have arranged.
How To Secure Your Tab Page Content
If you are a techie, this tutorial will be very helpful for you to comply with The New Facebook Page SSL Requirement.
If you are small business owner, and your head is spinning – I would be happy to provide social media consulting services if you are having difficulty with your Facebook welcome page.
