Guess what? There’s another update for Facebook! Whether you dread or look forward to these changes, it’s good to be prepared. You may have heard about this update back in March when Facebook switched a few pages to the new design, but the widespread roll out begins this month. In order to make sure your page looks its best for your users, it’s important to understand what’s new so you can effectively update your page when you see this alert after sign-in:

What to Expect

No More Two-Column Design

With this change, your activity will no longer be divided. Instead of going back-and-forth, it will flow in a single column on the right side of the page with posts displayed vertically from newest to oldest. This new layout will allow for a wider display and when users view your business page, it will look similar to their News Feeds and mobile displays, making it easier for the them to digest content.

Business Information on Left Side

The new business page features default People and About sections on the top left side. In addition to these features, there will be sections below such as number of page likes, website address, contact information, hours of operation, friends who like your page, photos, and videos.

Tabs are Hidden

Instead of boxes appearing under your timeline, your tabs are now simply text and the extra content is accessed within the “more” drop-down. Some have expressed concern about the hidden tabs, but these tabs generally have a small impact. Because only 2% of fans ever return to your page,  it is important post relevant content in order to drive traffic.

The Back End

The owner’s view of the business page has also been altered. Admin tools are now easier to access and they allow for more customization. It’s important to be aware of the new and relocated tools in order to use them effectively when they appear on your business page.

 

Manage Sections

Other than the default People and About sections, you will have the ability to reorder information on the left side of your page. This gives you the opportunity to put whatever sections you deem most important to your business above the fold where users can see them.

 

This Week

Information about ads you are currently running, new Page likes, unread notifications, and messages are now on the top right side in a section called “This Week.” To find out more, you can click each individual section.

 

Easy to Use Navigation

With the update, administrative navigation will exist at the top of your screen no matter where you are on the page. The tool will include categories such as Page, Activity, Insights, Settings, Build Audience, and Help.

 

 

Pages to Watch

Found under Insights, this tool will allow administrators to create a list of competitors’ pages to compare their performance with. Although some company comparison was accessible before the update, brands will now be able to see the number of posts created by each company and the total number of engagements they each saw that week.

 

 

The Wrap-Up

Now that you’ve reviewed the business page redesign, you will be prepared for the switch. Remember, this new business page update will be rolling out within the next few weeks so be on the lookout!

 

This page was updated on 1/26/18.