I’ve been asked many questions on: How to you put a facebook timeline cover image on, and wondering really what is allowed.
We will look at the basics of a Facebook timeline cover images, how to put it together and what is important to put on your profile.
Let’s check out the New Features of the Facebook Timeline Cover Images
Check out the new features, you’ll see is the ability to add a large “Cover” image. You’ll also be able to see the Cover images of all other Facebook users who have switched to the new Timeline. (After December 21st, everyone on Facebook will have their profile replaced with Timeline).
What is a Facebook Timeline Cover?
The Cover is the large image that appears at the top of your new Timeline. This is your place to get creative and let your friends and extended community know a bit more about you. Facebook states:
We’ve found that people have a better experience viewing your timeline when they see a cover that is as unique and individualized as you are….
An easy way to ensure your cover image is unique, is to choose an image from your life, like a photo from a wedding, day at the beach, or birthday party. If you want to use a photo to show solidarity or express support for a cause or organization, you can still post a status or a photo and feature it on your timeline. These can be great for videos!
Facebook seems to be dissuading users from showcasing anything other than a personal image. However, keep reading…
What are the ideal Cover dimensions?
Your Cover should be at least 720 pixels wide. If it’s any narrower, you’ll be asked to select a different image. I’m seeing various reports that the ideal dimensions should be 850px wide by 315px high. The profile picture is resized to 125px by 125px. Cover images tend to get pixelated, so it’s best to load a high-res image. A great way to edit is in paint, PowerPoint, and even copying your image using Jing to capture your image on the computer. You can see the pixel size when you capture an image on the computer.
Who can see my Cover image?
Cover images are public by default – just like your profile pictures. This means ANYONE visiting your profile, whether you are friends or not, will be able to see your cover image. You don’t have to add a Cover image, but you may as well!
What Is Allowed? Is business-related content allowed on Cover images?
It seems there’s some confusion as to what you can/cannot have on your new Timeline Cover image. I have scoured Facebook’s Help Center and Terms and have found nothing to directly indicate that it is not permitted to have any business-related content on your Cover. Generally people already put little icons on their personal pic, so it seems like the same way or outlook when deciding on a cover image.
BUT, the first time you go to upload your Cover image, Facebook may display the following message:
Image credit: Karen ClarkClearly, Facebook want to prevent users from outright commerce on their profile/Timeline, and use of the Cover image for advertising. But outright commerce surely means something like users shouldn’t sell advertising space? Or, that we should have no commercial content? Hm.
The one rule Facebook has in its Terms regards how we cannot use our profiles commercially is this (Section 4.4):
“You will not use your personal profile for your own commercial gain (such as selling your status update to an advertiser).”
This rule has been around for several years. It makes perfect sense – users cannot derive financial gain directly from their profiles. That’s what Facebook ads are designed for. And, of course, Facebook (fan) Pages are the primary product Facebook offers for building a business presence.
I activated my Timeline back in December and noticed the Developer route. Noticing entrepreneurs are proud to display exactly what they do in their timeline, and allows others an opportunity to join the crowd talking about it.
Now, let me digress for a moment to talk about the Subscribe option…
Facebook Subscribe Button
When Facebook introduced the Subscribe button, a noticeable shift occurred.
Subscribe is designed for those Facebook users who are journalists, celebrities, political figures, and other people too…. Secret Millionaires?
Allowing subscribers is a simple way to broaden your conversation on Facebook, while reserving personal updates for people you know well.
The way Subscribe works is any and all Facebook users can sign up to get the PUBLIC posts in their News Feed of any user who has enabled Subscribe. NOTE: Subscribe is optional. To enable Subscribe, if you haven’t already and would like to, go here.
Facebook is really pushing the Subscribe option (maybe to compete with Google+? Shh!). For Facebook users that have enabled Subscribe, the button now shows in the Comments plugin on websites, so you can easily find and subscribe to new people. Plus, Facebook recently introduced the Subscribe button plugin for websites, which you can see in action below. Feel free to subscribe to my public updates.
Though it would seem the Subscribe option is designed for public figure types, a large number of Facebook employees, for example, have enabled his/her Subscribe button. And, clearly, many folks are following suit whether they consider themselves a “public figure” type or not. (See your Subscription suggestions here).
In addition, Mark Zuckerberg himself was one of the first public figures to MERGE his fan page into his personal profile, thus having only one presence on Facebook. (Of course, Zuckerberg owns Facebook and has many business pages too!)
At the time of the Subscribe launch, Facebook approached several “power users” to see if they too would like their fan pages merged into their profiles. (For the record, I was not one of the folks approached – and I’m, quite frankly, more than happy to maintain two very different channels on Facebook.
There is demand for the fan-page-to-profile merge; it’s not available as an option to anyone who wants it yet, though. I see many perks to the different options each on has.
What should be on your Facebook Timeline Public Profile?
1. Must have Personal Pictures – 10 is a good start. This helps grab attention and can relate to their own experiences.
2. About You – Include a personal background to relate to others, build repport and add a story to keep them wanting to learn more.
3. Personal Problem – We all have one, share it!
4. Solution – Tell your story, why, and any experience you have.
5. Call to Action – Invite friends, subscribers to send a message, blog, just do something!
6. Describe exactly who you’d love to work with, connect with, character traits you would love to see in others that want to connect with you. Attraction Marketing!
Public Profile with business-related content?
Given Facebook offers users a single “public profile” presence with Subscribe option enabled, it’s perfectly feasible that such public figures may wish to have business-related content on their Cover, yes?
What are your thoughts? Is it important to you to be able to feature something related to your business on your Cover image? Do you think personal profiles (now Timelines) should be strictly personal? Or, are you one of the folks eagerly awaiting the option to merge your fan page (likes) into your profile (subscribers). Share your answers in the comments below! And, of course, if you know the definitive answer as to what users can/cannot feature on Timeline Cover images, do share below too!
Helpful related posts:
- How to Master Facebook Timeline in 5 Quick Minutes (wired.com)
- Facebook Timeline: The Complete Guide (mashable.com)
- New to Facebook’s Timeline? This is what you need to know (thenextweb.com)
- Timeline: Now Available Worldwide (facebook.com)
- Facebook Timeline: 9 things you need to know (usatoday.com)
- How to Use Facebook’s New Timeline Feature (and Hide Your Embarrassing Old Posts) (lifehacker.com)
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