Facebook users awoke this month to a completely new page layout. And it wasn't an April's Fool joke. The New Timeline format was announced last September. Many folks had already made the switch on their personal profiles. Business and organization pages were forced to switch on March 31. The overwhelming reaction has been frustration, confusion and despair. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the change, don't give up, just go back to school. I recommend you consider a History class, your own history. Last week I attended a 30-minute webinar sponsored by Hubspot and Facebook. The key to the new layout is to record your organization’s history.

• When were you founded?
• What were the important milestones along the way that lead to your success?
• What innovative breakthroughs are you experiencing right now?

The four part series, broadcast monthly, will explore how to leverage the new format. I really like the 30 minute format, there's no time for idle chatter. The best part of the first session was the 9 tips presented near the end:

1. Start by setting your Cover (brand) and Profile (logo) images.
2. Add Milestones, the important events in your organizations history.
3. Pin important stories to the top of the page (lasts for 7 days).
4. Post at least twice a week with the focus on 'Lightweight Interaction".
5. Manage your page through the new Admin Panel.
6. You can now respond to a personal message sent to your page.
7. Take time to rearrange your views + apps.
8. Use the Star function to highlight specific updates (formats them fullwidth).
9. Claim your Vanity URL (visit Facebook.com/username/).

Resources

Use the links below to attend the on-demand recorded Webinar to learn all the details or visit a successful implementation of the new Page Timeline. On-demand Webinar The Economist - articles from our history starting in 1840.