Facebook Shakes Up Business Pages

Salons have just 30 days to prepare for the most radical makeover to Facebook business profiles since inception. Facebook announced today that it is rolling out a version of its Timeline layout to business pages on March 30th, giving salons a month to prepare.

One of the key differences, which will have a profound effect on how businesses have traditionally attracted attention on Facebook, will be the way information is presented to the user.

‘The timeline redesign will force salons and spas to re-think how they engage with their users as this new format relies heavily on activity and how effective a salon is at getting people talking and sharing information,’ said Valorie Reavis, founder of Linkup Marketing.  ‘Facebook is only interested in providing users with relevant and interesting information about what their friends and trusted sources are doing. That’s its business – showing only the most engaging post to its users and filtering out the stuff they don’t care about.  Salons will have to think about how they can become more interesting and engaged with their audience to stay relevant on Facebook.’

The new layout will include a cover image that spans the top of the profile, a smaller profile image, a chronological layout of the company’s activities on Facebook and a new tricked-out administrator panel that also allows messaging on the page.  

Salons are already facing an up-hill struggle following the launch of Timeline to personal users late last year when smaller actions such as ‘likes’ dropped off the newsfeed and began appearing in the Ticker on the right of the screen.

‘Salons need to create campaigns that drive engagement and get people talking on page and interacting,’ says Valorie. ‘Contests, questionnaires and interesting trivia can all help attract attention. But businesses must take a long-term approach to this part of their marketing mix, rather than dipping in or out if they want to be truly effective on Facebook.’

For a run-down of how to re-design your page before March 30th, visit the linkup marketing blog for step-by-step instructions:  http://www.linkupmarketing.com/?p=1489

-Valorie Reavis

Valorie Reavis is an international online and social media marketing guru with Linkup Marketing, focusing on search engine marketing, salon email marketing programs and social media marketing for salons and spas. If you have any queries for Valorie email her at [email protected]

Related: Top 5 Questions about Facebook  | Facebook Identity Crisis  | Continuing the Conversation  | Get Started with Email Marketing  |  Reaching Consumers Using Local Search Engines  |  Strategic Positioning of Keywords for Salons and Spas  |  Online Marketing Tips for Salons & Spas  |  Give Your Salon Website a Soul

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