Facebook Redesign Tips for Brands
Facebook’s future is shiny and new! Get the scoop on how your business can use some of the new and updated tools from FB5, the new redesign.
A conversation about technology and human connection. That was the main theme at Facebook Developer Conference F8 2019. Besides the Future of Facebook being private, it’s clean, fresh, and creating tools for your brand to grow.
What Do Marie Kondo and The New Facebook Redesign Have in Common?
The Facebook App redesign, known as FB5, has taken the Marie Kondo approach. Less clutter and more white space with a bigger focus on the things that spark joy! Communities and Stories.
Facebook’s Focus following F8: Groups front and center, Facebook Stories prominence, new circular logo, more ways to connect with the people and things your care about, and a much lighter design overall.
What does that mean for brands?
Main Message: If you don’t have a Facebook Group yet, now is the time to get started.
The Before and After Look of the Facebook Redesign
Below you can see snapshots of the Before (on the left) and After the Redesign (on the right).
Before
- Gray and White backgrounds
- Small Texts
- Groups hidden
- Myriad of text and different navigation options on the left
- Explore on the left at the lower left
- Facebook Stories on the right of the feed
- Event Reminders hidden on the right
- Games
- Create a Post was a large part of your top of the fold view
After
- Creating Space to Spark Joy! White clean lines — 👏👏Left navigation allows you to customize what’s important to you along with Events, Saved Items
- Easy-To-See: Contacts on the right — optimized circular images and in an easily seen place!
- Top Navigation: Facebook Stories front and center along with the Notifications, Watch, Profile, Marketplace, Groups, and Messenger (see image below)
- Suggested Groups on the Right Hand Bar
Social Media Tip: Facebook believes users should be focusing on Stories, Watch Together, Groups, Marketplace, and Messenger (as the top of their navigation showcase.) As a social media pro, these would be the 5 Facebook Tools to focus on.
Facebook’s New Logo Goes Round and Round!
From a branding perspective — the logo changing into a circle is a brilliant idea. The newsfeed showcases profile images in circular form already and with all the negativity and criticism around privacy, a refresh is a smart choice.
As Mark Zuckerberg said, “The app isn’t even blue anymore!”
Social Media Tip: Update your cover and logo to optimize the space on the redesign.
— Personally, I’ve already started to see the updates in my Facebook app. The new desktop website will be coming within a few months.
Social Media Tip: If the background of your logo is white, add a colored outline circle to it so it stands out in the new, very white newsfeed.
How does your logo look in a circle on the new design?
To the left⬅️, to the left…chime in Bey for Your Communi-tay!
Connecting you to the ones you love and what is most important to you was Facebook’s consistent message at Facebook Developer Conference F8 2019. Updates include seeing what’s happening around you, focus more on local businesses and communities, purchasing and shipping directly from Facebook, design of Groups and placement, recommendations, and more. Here are a few:
- Sharing is ❤️Caring. Users will be able to “Share to Groups” directly from their Facebook post.
- To the left⬅️, to the left… or just know that Facebook has dedicated their flow to Groups via the left side — making it easier to connect with interests you care about.
- 🎮Gaming groups a Twitch/Reddit — like feature of threaded conversations coming soon!
Local Communities — A 🆕 Events Tab
My favorite update to the Events tab is “Go with Friends.”
Users will be able to see friends interested in events and get the party started by “Waving” to friends in your business event. 🙌
Social Media Tip: Events should be second on your list of things to do as a social media pro. Getting people interested in your events can create community, connection, and ultimately get your brand in the newsfeed organically a lot more!
Live Now! Share your events page in a Group and add your Facebook Stories, in other events and much more. See below a snapshot:
👍The “Like” is more of an emoji-onal expression
Live Now! Have you seen the new like? It moves…Moves like Jagger. Need I say more?
Social Media Tip: Create a fun GIF on GIPHY and add your logo in circular form to comment on posts as the 7th emoji to stand out!
Facebook Marketplace is Cha Cha Cha CHangING!
Marketplace is taking notes from Offer Up and moving towards the eBay and Amazon model, shifting their style from a Craigslist like “local only” selling tool to an AI-focused marketplace.
- Shipping in Marketplace: Coming out this summer. Marketplace sellers will be able to ship items anywhere in the continental US. When a business lists an item on Facebook Marketplace, you now have the option to offer shipping. Create a new listing with the usual information and select “offer shipping” at the bottom. Once your customer receives their item, you’ll be paid.
- Shopping Communities Live-No Date on availability yet: Facebook is currently exploring ways to allow buyers to ask questions and even place orders directly from the Marketplace Facebook Live Stream. #Gamechanger
- Learn more about Facebook Marketplace for Businesses.
The Anatomy of a Facebook Stories
A Facebook story is a collection of sharable moments that disappear after 24 hours. Facebook believes that its Stories are at the heart of its community when consuming data and is the rising 🌟 star in everyone’s newsfeed. If you haven’t noticed yet, Stories has a prominent presence in Facebook, Instagram, AND Messenger app.
CTA… Optimize the Right Way!
Businesses will be able to add a button to their Page’s Facebook Stories, allowing customers the ability to interact with their Facebook Business Page.
Social Media Tip: Make sure your business page is optimized, such as an updated CTA, a relevant Pinned Post, and a cover image that is sized correctly.
Dark Mode
Taking notes from the recent Twitter update. On desktop, you will have the option to change your background to dark mode to give your eyes a break while watching videos.
What will your brand do to utilize the new spaces and places of Facebook’s new refresh?
