Social Media Talk: Facebook One Column Page Timeline

If you’re a social media marketer (or community manager or whatever you call yourself) like me, you probably have this love-hate relationship with Facebook. With all these changes that happen abruptly with little announcement (or sometimes none at all), there are times you’d feel you and your at Facebook’s mercy. Read what the Daily Dot has to say about this (as shared by Mashable). One of the recent changes Page admins are dealing with right now is the new Page Timeline.

The new Facebook page layout is right-aligned and simple without looking cluttered.

Back in March, Facebook asked admins to sign up for the new layout which, based on my experience and among the fourteen pages I am managing, only one got it. Last week, Facebook made another announcement about turning all pages to the new layout by the 12^th of June. Of course, admins have the option of changing their page as soon as the news came out. This includes a tour of the new layout for admins and also the option to delay the change. From Facebook, “Admins that want to update their Pages before switching to the new design can wait up to two weeks before making the switch. However, every Page will automatically switch to the updated design two weeks after the tour has been viewed.”

On the bright side, Facebook should be our ally in marketing, not the enemy and there are some things we should note with this new change coming in. What I particularly love about this is that tabs are positioned in the right places, the top navigation menu and the left column, to give everyone (both admins and fans) easy access to things they want to see on the Page.

To know more about the redesign and changes, visit the Facebook FAQ here.

Why I Think the New Facebook Page Layout Is Heaven-Sent To Marketers.

If you’re a social media marketer like me (or whatever you call yourself), you probably know what I’m talking about. That Facebook NewsFeed algorithm is a pain in the ass. The new layout is a mixed emotion kind of thing (wow!, whoa!, wtf?, etc.). Facebook ads probably has ROI if you know what you’re doing. Hello marketing friends, welcome to social media (although recently it’s Facebook in the spotlight, Twitter will have to take a back seat for a couple of days with its recent changes).

I kind of avoid talking about my job that much because of several reasons. First, I might vent out and that would hurt my reputation (trying to keep everything I post PG-13 at least). Second, I might break a few company policies and cost me my job. Third, I have a lot of things to explain just to give you an idea what my job is like. Fourth, I hate being technical about things.

But this. God, I just love the new Facebook pages layout.

It’s been out for weeks now and I am so, so, so glad I made that decision to turn the pages I manage to adapt the new layout. It is easy to manage the posts. And no, I’m not talking about the Insights tab, we’ll get there later. The layout is so user-friendly, I can even teach an intern to navigate through it in five minutes!

I am assuming our fans see the same thing I see everyday on our page, and if they are, then I must say it’s definitely working for me as a marketer. It’s very simple: cover photo, important details, and stuff posted by the page. It does kind of look like the old layouts where all posts get pushed down to the bottom when a new one is published, but I think it makes the audience focused on what you just posted.

In my nearly three years with this job, I have been recycling the same status updates within a year. And with this new roll out, boom! Fans are finally starting to notice the latest update that gets posted because THAT IS THE FIRST THING THEY’RE GOING TO SEE!

I don’t know about other pages’ fans but mine even comments things that are totally irrelevant to the update. Not that it’s a big deal, but that simply means my engagement’s going up. I honestly think it made fans lazy to scroll down because the posts now take up a huge space. They’re bigger. I just feel bad for my older updates, but hey, if your fans are really that into you, they’ll take time to scroll down and keep reading your content.

So this is another reason why I don’t like to talk about work. I jump from one thing to another because there’s a lot going on! :p

Jejemonation.

According to UrbanDictionary.com, a Jejemon is:

1) Usually seen around social networking sites such as Friendster and Multiply, jejemons are individuals with low IQs who spread around their idiocy on the web by tYpFing LyK diZS jejejeje, making all people viewing their profile raise their eyebrows out of annoyance. Normal people like you and me must take a Bachelor of Arts in Jejetyping in order to understand said individuals, as deciphering their text would cause a lot of frustration and hair pulling.

CAUTION: THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE BREEDING! THEY CAN BE SEEN WRECKING GRAMMATICAL HAVOC ON FACEBOOK TOO!

2) Jejemons are not just confined to trying-hard Filipino gangsters and emos. A Jejemon can also include a variety of Latino-Hispanic fags who enjoy typing "jejejejeje" in a wider context, much to the disdain of their opponents in an internet MMORPG game such as Ragnarok and DOTA.

3) Basically anyone with a low tolerance in correct punctuation, syntax and grammar. Jejemons are usually hated or hunted down byJejebusters or the grammar nazi to eradicate their grammatical ways.

On AIM or YM:

miSzMaldiTahh111: EoW pFuOh!

You: Huh?

miszMaldiTahh111: i LLyK tO knOw moR3 bOut u, PwfoH. crE 2 t3ll mE yur N@me? jejejejeje!

You: You are a jejemon! Don't talk to me, you uneducated retard!

miszMaldiTahh111: T_T

So in my words, Jejemonation is Jejemon Domination, as seen in my Facebook account:

There's no stopping them, really. To see for yourself, click on the picture to zoom. Or better yet, log on to your own Facebook account and change the language setting to "Leet Speak".

Ca-ching!

People wonder why I have a bulky wallet.

Not that it's full of cash (that's a rare moment), it's full of my cards.

Name it, I think I've got it. Bank cards, debit cards, loyalty/privilege cards... And I forgot the reason why I have that much loyalty cards. Let's see... I have the Wise Card, Suki Card, Laking National, Powercard, Pizzanatic Card, TK Amazing Card, McDo Card, Bench Lifestyle Card, Gonuts Card... And I'm planning to get about a couple more cards.

I'm not going to explain each card's perks but when I got them, they all seemed sensible to me. (Now I'm thinking I'm too much of a shopaholic to be buying all those plastics.) And tonight, I think they all really made sense. I got to shop cashless! Wooot! (And I didn't use the debit card!)

I can still hear the Bench saleslady's question, "Mam, would you like to add more to your purchase? You have xxx left in your card." Music to my ears. ;-)

Anyway, when I got home mom ranted about Facebook. It only occured to me tonight that my account was updated. Literally. Overhauled. Made-over.

 

Pfft. Oh please Facebook don't copy Multiply's interface. I hated that one. (But I still love my Multiply account more.) Anyhoo. Speaking of cashless spending, I'm thinking of upgrading my Multiply from free to premium. And charging it on the debit card, of course. ;-)

Writer's Block.

When I was getting dressed this morning, I had a lot of thoughts in my mind. Sensible, intellectual, blog-worthy thoughts. I can't believe three hours later they have all flown out the window. I don't know where they went, my mind is definitely empty right now, and is being forced to think what to write.

I may still be on writer's block. I am slipping, my so-called talent is now fading away. (And to think some people want to have this gift, or whatever you call it.)

Anyway, days ago I mentioned people are getting bored with Facebook, and that I joined Tumblr.

For me Tumblr is just a sophisticated version of Twitter. And no, I don't have Twitter. Because I don't have that much time to Tweet and share to the rest of the world my thoughts on a one-liner basis. But on second thought, I might consider Tweeting as to challenge myself into creating decent updates limited to one line. Maybe next week.

So going back to my Tumblr. I'm actually enjoying it. Posting on-the-spot is fun. And it does make sense even if I don't include any descriptions or text whatsoever. And seeing a lot of people share this huge number of pictures, links, quotes and what-nots in the site is overwhelming. I think I'm following 16 people and I get about 3 to 5 updates every couple of minutes. And I have the option to reblog their posts, without being branded as a copycat because they're automatically credited. :-)

But as much as I am enjoying it, I suddenly came to realize that reblogging is starting to annoy me for a couple of reasons. First, I find it annoying because of people like this friend of mine who keeps reblogging of what I think is all the updates that she gets every minute. (Seriously girl, don't you have a life? Post at least a couple of original pictures or words. It'll help increase your Tumblarity more.) And second, the reblog option is my writer's block's escape. I think I'm becoming dependent on it. I think I was alarmed earlier when I saw that my activities were 60% more of reblogs than originals. (And for someone like me who's OC with being unique, that kills.)

Which, I think, is a good thing. Because I was able to reflect on it, hence seeking refuge in my blog to coming up with something original, a post that was really conjured from my little mind. But honestly, I am loving Tumblr. Really. I'm betting my allowance for today that I will be reblogging again after this is done. But I guess I just have to post stuff which the other 2,426,114 publishers haven't posted yet.

Twenty minutes ago, I scrambled up my brain to recall whatever was on my mind this morning. Now, I have a wordy entry. Maybe at some point, I just have to be honest with myself that I am just procrastinating.

And oh. If you're up for it, follow me on Tumblr. :-)

Just Keep Swimming, Swimming, Swimming.

I think my brain was too shaken up this morning when I had one of the earliest intellectual discussions over a long period of time. In Facebook.

But isn't that the whole point of Facebook and all the other social networking sites out there that came around like mushrooms and disappeared like sand castles in the beach when it's time for the high tide? And that is basically the reason why I am blogging right now, instead of taking my noontime nap.

My college blockmate, Carol, is starting to get bored with Facebook. (Isn't everyone else?) Someone pointed out that maybe we need new apps to play with, to which Carol disagreed. I think she is right. Out of the 193 application invitations in my account, I think they all had the same concept of wasting your time to level up.

While they were at the peak of their discussion, I pointed out that my social networking accounts have a shelf life of about three years, and then they die. Why three? I'm basically a year or two ahead of everyone else in the social networking world that by the time half of my friends join the bandwagon, I'm done with it.

It's either I get bored, or everyone else is just copying this or that person's profile gimmicks just to get the same amount of traffic on their page.

Anyhoo, today I tried out Tumblr. As you can see, I am not the first to try it. Haha. Maybe I'm just looking for an escape. I heard Friendster is slowly becoming a Facebook clone. I wouldn't know, I don't check my account there anymore. As for my Multiply, I don't know. It has fallen a few ranks below Facebook as I figured out that most people there are just selling stuff. I can only find a handful of sites worthy of checking out. (And since I still haven't taken my hard disk from the desktop, I am left with nothing to upload, except recent pictures.)

Sigh.

I always thought I will never get bored with Facebook. But now that Friendster is just a a mere copycat and that my friends are starting to get bored with it, I think it's time I find a new networking site. Just to liven things up.

And no. I will not delete or cancel any of my accounts. Because backing them up in my system and reading them offline is just not the same as reading what has been on your mind in the past, along with the other 4 billion people online.

On The Rocks.

Dear Blog,

I'm sorry.

I know I should be writing more often. I don't know if it's because of the countless things I have to be doing these days, or *gulp* I'm just too lazy to squeeze out words I need to tell you. Either way, I know I've neglected you and I must make it up asap. I can't believe this is happening. Really. I hope you understand. It's not you, it's me; I'm not making that much effort to keep my word that I'll be telling you things everyday.

But I hope you'd still hear me out. I was not able to write to you these past few days because I was too hung up on shopping at Cuenca.Twice. With Monique.

*Oh please don't be jealous.* You see, this is the biggest bazaar in the south, and you know me, as an impulse buyer, this is like the Mecca of southern bazaaristas. 

Don't worry, I did not over spend, in fact, I stayed in the budget. *Aren't you proud of me?*

And speaking of spending, Monique and I decided to have the expenses challenge. 

Yes, blog, aside from my 28-day-rule (which is lifted up during bazaars), I accepted the expenses challenge. This will basically measure how much my lifestyle costs outside the daily allowance for food and transportation. *Can you imagine Monique branded my haircuts and mani-pedis as luxuries? I have yet to ask her if my bills are exempted too.* Which I think will keep me stuck in the house ergo hopefully give me more time to focus on us. *Unless she calls net connection, prepaid load, and phone bills as luxuries. :-(*


Oh. I also went to Nica's debut last Saturday night. 

The first one in like two or three years. Gahd, I'm getting old. *Is it too pathetic of me to be depressed of getting old?* Anyway, it was really fun. I got to hang out with my childhood friends. I taught them how to bartend, basically making Nica's flaming shots. It was the quickest lesson I taught (of which I am not really familiar with) because I have to do impromptu hosting. *Oh no, Blog, don't be mad or jealous. I'm not shifting from writing to talking...* Although I really want my own radio talkshow... AND! I didn't drink alcohol the whole night.

Promise. *Oh, I took the party pictures from Pao's FB.*


No you didn't just read that. I will keep on writing. And look, I've been really productive. I did the bridal fair last weekend 

*I owe you the details, don't I?*, then I dropped by my college to sponsor the college foundation day sometime this week too. 

And well, I am also stuck in the office doing my day job. *I will do some decorating next week for Christmas. :-)*

You know how important my job is to me, right?


I have a lot more to tell you. Please don't take this week against me. Let's just put it this way, shall we? The more that there's stuff going on in my life means me writing more to you. Fun, isn't it? You'll be hearing more from me soon. Even if it takes this long for me to tell you everything. Even if I have to write twice in a day. Just for you to be updated with my life, I will write.



Because that's really the reason why we're together right? *I hope you really understand, explaining to you is kind of hard, I didn't know where to start.*


Anyway, it's getting late. I got to get some sleep, and we'll catch up when I wake up. Ok? :-)




Love,


Patricia :-)






PS. Please don't be too overwhelmed when my entries pile on top of one another, and multiply or facebook will always be linked. I just have that much to tell you. :-)