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Many people (including me) were very skeptical about Timeline when it came out. And I will be the first to admit that it looks confusing and disorganized. But I switched my personal Facebook page to Timeline about a month ago. Now, I can honestly say that I'm glad I did.
Timeline allows you to be creative. You can design your Timeline cover photo just like you design a shelf or mantel vignette or any room in your house.
The Timeline cover photo is there to tell people about the owner of that Facebook page. Use that to your advantage. I recently designed a cover photo to use on my personal Facebook page.
My cover photo is actually made up of several small pictures of things that I like. They sort of describe who I am. I decided to do this because I couldn't think of just one thing that was "me", lol. I did this using Picnik (for the Polaroid frames) and Fotoflexer (my new favorite photo editor).
I activated my blog's Facebook page today. I used the header to my blog as the cover photo but I'll probably change it later. I've already been thinking of things to create for it.
I used some pictures from Pinterest on my personal Facebook page cover photo. I pin stuff that I like, right? What better place to get pictures from that describes me and what I like? Of course, I had to put a Pinterest icon in there...my current addiction, haha.
There are some "rules" for creating your Timeline cover photo. I copied these from Facebook's website.
Cover images must be at least 399 pixels wide and may not contain:
- Price or purchase information, such as "40% off" or "Download it at our website"
- Contact information, such as web address, email, mailing address or other information intended for your Page's About section
- References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features
- Calls to action, such as "Get it now" or "Tell your friends"
(my cover photo is 800 pixels wide....the 399 pixels they mention in the rules is the minimum)
This can be a very good idea for blogs with a Facebook page. The cover photo that you choose tells people about your blog. Does your blog feature home design, crafts, food, gardening, books? Highlight them in your cover photo. Put pictures up of your finished projects, room makeover, painted furniture, food, garden, favorite books, etc....the list can go on forever, lol.
Do you have an etsy shop or other type of business? Use the cover photo to advertise (remember the rules above) or just to show people what your store is all about. Be creative!
The Facebook Timeline is here to stay whether we like it or not. Use it to your advantage. I'll leave you with two really good articles about Timeline cover photos.
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/creative-facebook-timeline-covers/
http://designmodo.com/facebook-timeline/
Check them out...they will get your creative juices flowing :)
Update: PicNik closed it's site soon after I wrote this, however, a similar online photo editer (PicMonkey) openedShortly after. It offers a great facebook timeline photo template in it's "collage" section.
Linking to:
The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday
It's A Hodgepodge Life's Hodgepodge Friday
My Repurposed Life's Catch As Catch Can
Happy Hour Projects' Freestyle Friday
French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday
504 Main's Tickled Pink
Naptime Crafters' Friday Favs
Marriage From Scratch's From Scratch Friday
Tatertots and Jello's Weekend Wrap Up Party
Funky Junk Interiors' Sat. Nite Special
Too Much Time On My Hands' Get Schooled Saturday
Wayward Girls Crafts' Wayward Weekend
I Gotta Create's Blog Tips Cafe
Positively Splendid's Saturday Seven Party
C.R.A.F.T.'s Making Monday Marvelous
Debbiedoo's Newbie Party
You're Talking Too Much's Meet Me Monday
The Delectable Home's Show and Tell Linkup
It's A Hodgepodge Life's Hodgepodge Friday
My Repurposed Life's Catch As Catch Can
Happy Hour Projects' Freestyle Friday
French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday
504 Main's Tickled Pink
Naptime Crafters' Friday Favs
Marriage From Scratch's From Scratch Friday
Tatertots and Jello's Weekend Wrap Up Party
Funky Junk Interiors' Sat. Nite Special
Too Much Time On My Hands' Get Schooled Saturday
Wayward Girls Crafts' Wayward Weekend
I Gotta Create's Blog Tips Cafe
Positively Splendid's Saturday Seven Party
C.R.A.F.T.'s Making Monday Marvelous
Debbiedoo's Newbie Party
You're Talking Too Much's Meet Me Monday
The Delectable Home's Show and Tell Linkup
I'm still playing with Timeline for my blog. But I like your idea of using your header. May just have to steal that one. I like the new format. Although as in all things new, it takes a while to get used to.
ReplyDeleteWow this is GREAT!
ReplyDeleteI'd love for you to come link up this post at my From Scratch Friday linkup going on now!
Christina @ Marriage from Scratch
http://marriagefromscratch.blogspot.com/2012/03/from-scratch-friday-5.html
This is on my list of things to do this weekend, so I was excited to see your post about it. I'm not thrilled with the timeline set-up, but we don't exactly have a choice. Might as well make it work for us!
ReplyDeleteHi Shasta - my timeline is up and running. I used my blog header for the big photo and am still playing with a small pictures as I'm not happy with it right now. Would love for you to check it out.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/New-House-New-Home-New-Life/200875219985788
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWe're just starting a link up party and love it if you'd share there (if you are interested): http://www.waywardgirlscrafts.com/2012/03/wayward-weekend-week-6.html
Thanks for sharing this at Wayward Weekend! (I'm Jaime's sister, LOL.) I just converted my author page to the timeline view today, so I was definitely interested in this.
ReplyDeleteIIRC, the exact dimensions FB uses for the cover photo are about 850x315, and they'll stretch or squeeze your image to fit in at least one direction. You can allegedly reposition which part of the photo it focuses on, but I could only actually move it on one of the photos I tried.
Thanks!
This is SO great! Thank you for sharing this wonderful instruction sheet! Very helpful!!!! Best To you! -Beth @ Flair-for-home.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post! I love the new FB timeline. I like your cover photo idea. New linky follower!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I've switched over the the timeline on my personal page, but I haven't worked on the blog's page yet. You may have inspired me to get it done today.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this. I was wondering about the Timeline.
ReplyDeleteyeah, not happy with the change. I don't handle change well. I will however roll with the punches. Just too much going on right now to think about it.
ReplyDeletethanks for linking up to catch as catch can.
gail
Thanks for this - I really need to update my facebbook headers, I've just been too lazy to do it. I love your inspiration. Thanks for linking up @ the Delectable Home.
ReplyDeleteShasta, thanks SO much for educating me about this timeline thing and creating a cover. Looks like I need to get busy!! Thanks so much for linking up to the Blog Tips Cafe linky party over at my place! http://igottacreate.blogspot.com/2011/12/fresh-new-year-blogging-tips.html
ReplyDeleteI like your covers, not all but mostly are pretty and if want see other sweet cover i recommend ,
ReplyDeletewww.facebookcovers.info, it's a site like your that i recommend , i hope don't demand you.
Every Facebook user's are using Facebook Timeline Cover and having a beautiful cover photo is really impressive. It is also got attracted to everyone who will search your facebook. Thanks for sharing this ideas. Keep it up.:)
ReplyDelete