Facebook is on the move, making some quiet (but noticeable) changes to the layout of Pages.
We first heard about the changes from Mari Smith, a social media thought leader and premier Facebook marketing expert, and immediately we realized that Facebook's rolling out these changes a little differently than normal. Usually, when Facebook does a design roll-out, they do it Page-by-Page, but it appears that this time around Facebook is rolling out the changes on a user-by-user basis. For example, my co-worker is able to see the new Page layout whenever she visits any business Page on Facebook, while I still have the "old" view.
There's no official word from Facebook about when the changes will roll out to all users but here's a sneak peek at what's to come.
Changes to Facebook Pages on Desktop
1. Smaller Profile Photos
It appears the profile photos/images have gone down in size from 180×180 pixels to 90×90 pixels. Facebook's auto-sizing existing profile images, however, we recommend that businesses keep the new smaller size profile picture in mind. If you currently include text in your profile image, you may benefit from updating to an image-only photo as text will be more difficult to read, especially on small mobile screens.
2. Cover Image Sizes Remain the Same
For now, the cover image size hasn't changed, it remains at 851×315 pixels. For businesses that are co-ordinating their cover image with their profile picture, you may need to adjust your images so they align properly. For inspiration on creating an awesome cover photo, check out these 25 ways to make a statement with your cover photo.
3. Page Tab Links Have Moved
In the previous Page layout, Page tab links appeared in the middle of the cover image and aligned with the profile picture. In the new layout, Page tabs have moved underneath the profile and cover images and are aligned left.
4. Like, Message and Share Buttons Have Moved
Along with the Page tab links, the 'Like', 'Message' and 'Share' buttons have all also moved underneath the cover image. They remain aligned to the right.
5. New Option for Viewing Page Layout
Business Pages now have the ability to view their Page as a visitor. By clicking on the three dots next to the "Message" button, admins can select "View as Page Visitor" and this will change the layout of the Page. When viewing as a Page visitor, a notification box appears at the top of the Page, reminding admins that they are viewing as a visitor and allowing them to easily switch back to managing the Page.
6. Call-to-Action Buttons Have Moved and are More Noticeable
Perhaps one of the biggest, and most exciting changes - at least to me - is that the call-to-action buttons have moved and are now blue. Call-to-action buttons on the new layout can be found underneath the tab links.
Changes to Facebook Pages on Mobile
Facebook has also pushed a variety of updates to Facebook Pages for mobile.
Here are the changes to Facebook mobile, according to Facebook.
1. New and more prominent call-to-action buttons
On Facebook mobile, the call-to-action button is placed beneath the cover photo and stretches across the entire screen, making it bigger and more noticeable. (I like it)
2. New sections for Pages
According to Facebook, "we're announcing two new sections for Pages. The new Shop section helps retail businesses bring their products to the forefront of their Page, while the new Services section enables professional services businesses to showcase a list of their offerings at the top of their Page." The new sections can be found underneath the 'Like', 'Message' and 'Share' buttons on mobile.
Photo credit: Facebook
3. Improved Page Layout
A new Page layout for mobile makes it easier for people to navigate to a Pages tabs and sections. According to Facebook, "we're giving each Page section a corresponding tab, just like how videos and photos have their own tabs. When this new layout launches in the coming weeks, Page visitors will be able to click on the tab associated with a section to see more details."
Photo credit: Facebook
As we hear more about when these changes will roll out for all users, we'll be sure to keep you updated.