Published On: March 21, 2012

By now you’ve probably heard of the new Facebook Timeline profiles, but what you might not know is that all Facebook fan pages will be updated to Timeline on March 31, 2012. This mandatory update means you’ll have to make some changes to ensure your fan page looks good. Why is this update happening? As the world’s largest and most popular social network, Facebook wants to provide a unique experience for users. The company is doing just that by rolling out a completely novel style to how we share information about ourselves. The Facebook Timeline design is all about helping you tell your personal story by highlighting your favorite moments, pictures and activities.

Facebook Timeline turns your online identity into something beyond just a static profile or page. It’s your story: what you’ve been through, what you’re up to now, and where you want to go in the future. The new update gives you a unique opportunity to spruce up your business’ Facebook page so it becomes more personal and inviting to your fans. Remember, Timeline is more about evoking emotion and creating connections, not just sharing a random swath of information. Here are 3 ways to help you get started with your new Facebook Timeline fan page.

Whether your dealership has been around for years or just had its grand opening, it will have some history and a past to tell. Fans love seeing old pictures and news about celebrities to see how they looked in the past and how far they’ve come along. It’s no different when someone becomes a fan or loyal customer of a company. Facebook Timeline lets you share information that extends as far back into the past as you’d like to go. Gather old photos, news clippings and other interesting things from your past to share on your Facebook fan page. This will help create an image for your car dealership as a lasting member of the community. It’ll make new and returning customers feel like you’re part of the neighborhood, and that your company has endured through the times to continue serving them today.

The first thing fans will see when they visit your fan page is the cover photo, followed by a smaller link for “Photos” and “Your Stories”. Craft a cover photo that captures the true essence of what your dealership is about so that it gives people an immediate impression about your brand and business. Avoid adding any calls to action, contact information, or sales messages, as Facebook forbids any instances of marketing messages in your cover photo. With the new Timeline update, your photos will be displayed in a larger scale, so you’ll need to make sure the images you upload are in high resolution. Build and maintain a warm relationship with your fans by only sharing relevant and valuable posts and photos.

You can use your Facebook fan page to share fun facts and guides that are helpful to locals around the neighborhood. Another great idea is to share photos and news releases about how you are involved in local charities and non-profit organizations. As an example, two of our clients are heavily involved in community events and organizations. Manhattan Beach Toyota and Clarkdale VW are both sponsors of non-profit organizations around their community, and they’ve successfully integrated information about what they do on both their dealership website and Facebook fan page. Add news and photos about how your car dealership is an active part of the community, and you’ll build a stronger connection with fans and loyal customers.

As much as people care about what you did in your past and where you are now, they’re also interested in your future aspirations. Complete your Facebook timeline by providing hints and details about new initiatives, goals and ongoing projects your company is currently pursing. Potential customers and fans alike want to know what you’ve been up to recently, but they’re also intrigued by new developments that are still unfolding. Are you planning to upgrade your location or start an expansion project? Is the manufacturer working on new improvements for vehicle performance? Give fans something to talk about and establish a unique identity for your car dealership by unveiling new changes and future projects on your Facebook fan page. This will help build anticipation and create the perception that your company stands out because it continues to pursue progressive changes and updates.

These are just a few ideas, but they’re powerful suggestions to help you get started on creating beneficial information to highlight on your Facebook fan page. The Timeline update won’t happen until the end of March, so you still have time to piece together the story behind your brand and your company. For more ideas and help, feel free to contact us.