Facebook page layouts change way too often. We’ll just be comfortable with a design and they roll out something new. It’s a bit like when a supermarket changes the layout, it’s disorientating and it can take us a while to find our way around.
Over the last few weeks many Facebook users, myself included have seen a dramatic change in the way content is ordered on our pages, but it’s not just the layout that’s changed.
Watch Below To Find Out More About The Latest Facebook Page Layout Change
New Status Update Box
This appeared for me a long time before the full new templates. The old status update box has been replaced with a simplified version. Post suggestions have been added underneath.
The downside of this new simplified update box is that many of the advanced image options have disappeared from the main page.
If you want to create a carousel, slideshow or canvas you’ll need to do this from the ‘Publishing tab’.
Editing The Layout
The new layout demotes your page posts by pushing them further down the page. They are replaced by segments or ‘Templates’ that showcase video, photos, notes, reviews or events depending on the type of page you have.
You do have some control over what appears here. Click on ‘manage tabs’ on the left-hand side of your page and you can choose a different template. However, at the moment you can’t customise your template, you are restricted to those offered by Facebook.
The Something You Need To Know
It was whilst trying to change template on a clients page that I discovered the biggest and most dramatic change to pages.
Only full page admins can make changes to the template. That means that page managers you have added who have second tier access (editors) are restricted to what they can do. Up until now, the restrictions were basic. Page editors couldn’t add or remove admins and couldn’t add apps.
Restricting an editors power isn’t limited to the page layout either. We can no longer access data from lead gen ads even though we’re able to create them.
Why Are Facebook Demoting Page Posts?
Facebook have been restricting reach on posts coming from Facebook pages. The last update to the algorithm hit many business pages hard. Unless you are getting a lot of shares on your posts you’ve probably seen a dramatic drop in your organic reach.
Facebook seems committed to keeping users on site. They don’t really want you leaving. Features like Instant articles and Lead Gen ads are all pushing us to stay within the walls of Facebook longer.
This new page update is helping businesses showcase themselves even if they don’t post regularly, even if their posts don’t reach many people.
Does this signal a move towards pages becoming more websitey? Is Facebook hoping that businesses will abandon their websites for Facebook and keep their users there longer rather than the wider web?
Only time will tell. I think it would be a mistake to abandon our websites but the new pages will certainly compliment our existing online presence.
What Do You Think?
Do you have the new layout? Do you love it or hate it? Let me know below.
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