New layout and dimensions for Facebook event photo

Hey there,

Just a quickie. A colleague in a Facebook group for Social Media Managers of LGBT choruses (yeah, I know, talk about niche), pointed out a change to Event pages.

In case you haven't had any reason to look lately, most of this should look familiar. This is a screen shot from an event page for Dance Place, where I work.

Notice that brand new button in the upper right hand section? Yeah, if you "Add Event Photo" it looks like this now.

And that new "cover" photo takes the place of the "profile" photo.

Here's the thing, as is stated at inlinevision's post on New Image Size for Facebook Event Images/Banners:

It’s a simple banner so why create another template? ...because Facebook only shows a small portion of the event image on your Facebook page in the thumbnail preview for Events, as well as a slightly different part of the image on the Events listings page.

Like so.

Inlinevision has a template you can download at their site, and all they ask is for your email in exchange. But if you're a DIY kinda social media person, the dimensions are roughly 714-731 by 200 pixels. I give the range because those are the two numbers I've read.

But for uploading sake, Facebook requests that it be at least wider than 400 pixels. Yeah...I know because I tried uploading something smaller than that.

It's tricky, right? You've gotta design something that looks good when fully displayed, as well as when a cropped thumbnail shows up in people's news feeds when it's shared. Which is why you might just want to download Inlinevision's tempalte!!

So yeah, new event photo dimensions and layout. Make sure your graphic design person knows!!

- JR

Facebook 101: "Like" it as your page

Hey there,

So in the world of Facebook, where a "Like" is social media currency, if you manage a FB page, either for yourself or your arts company/organization, take some time every day to use Facebook as your page, particularly when it comes to Liking other page's posts, as well as fans' comments.

If you go to the edit page tab, when you click on it, the final option should say "Use Facebook as [name of your page]". Select this and you're good to go.

Now if you look in the upper right hand corner, your Page's profile picture and name should be where yours normally is. Click on the Facebook logo and you'll see the News Feed based on all the pages that you've added to your own page's favorites.

Just in case you don't know how to do this, if you're on Facebook under your personal profile, just click  on the gear icon on the right and you should see an option to "Like As Your Page". If you manage more than one page, you'll get to pick one.

But I digress, when you are using Facebook as your page, well it's pretty self-explanatory.

As you can see, you can like other pages' content. I'd recommend doing this for any organizations that you receive support from (particularly local and state arts agencies or foundations), that you might work with, arts advocacy groups, service organizations for your discipline, or even companies doing similar work in your area.

And not that you have to do it all the time, but every now and then. Maybe start of your day by using Facebook as your page for 5 minutes, or do it before you head home. I would even encourage doing so when you aren't at work.

I also recommend at the very least that you "Like" any fans' interaction with your own page, when they leave a comment on your post, RSVP to an event, etc.

My one suggestion is that you do not "Like" your own content.

Not only is it a given that you like your own content, but it seems a bit...well...I would say it's the social media equivalent of patting one's self on the back or speaking in the royal we.

Anyway, those are some tips for "Like"ing things are your page, on Facebook. Let me know what you think, have you done this? Will you be doing this now? Any other suggestions for what you do as your page, beyond sharing your own content?

- JR