Facebook Changes the Rules Again, Are You Ready?
Don’t you just hate it when once you finally get something figured out that someone comes around and changes all the rules?
This is just the case with Facebook as they are changing the rules this weekend as they will no longer allow the creation and in some case the modification of custom FBML pages or tabs and instead move toward the implementation of using iFrames,
For those of you that already have custom content on your Facebook Places Pages it is important to note that you will not lose any of the content that you have already created and you will still be able to edit the content, however you will not be able to add any new FBML tabs or pages.
Like many of our readers, the thought of having to learn a more complex system to teach at our SEO seminars and for use on our clients sites sounded a bit overwhelming so last night we started looking around the web to find a solution that was both simple, affordable and easy to understand.
Just hours before we began our search a new application was launched by Wildfire Interactive called Fan Gate iFrames for Pages.
We downloaded it to try it out on our Facebook Radar Detector Review page and in less than 30 minutes we had their new application installed and operational.
Another nice plus is this application is FREE for the next three months and those who start using the application now will be grandfathered in as free when they do start charging.
Fan Gate allows you to create a custom image for your landing pages or custom HTML so we began the process by creating two custom images, one for Non-Fans view and one for Fans view.
The main reason to have unique Facebook Places welcome pages is to encourage non-fans to become members by pressing the like button. This then allows your posts to show their Facebook wall and allows you to send messages to their Facebook e-mail account.
So remember to have an incentive and a call to action on your non-member image so that they follow through and also your image must be 502 pixels wide.
So in our example the incentive for our non-members to press the Like Button was getting a 10% off discount and to also receive notification of other special offers.
The next image we created was a welcome screen for our members and again our intent is to move them off the Facebook Fan page and onto our main website to spend money.
After we created the images we then went to Wildfires Website to install the application.
Next the iFrames application will ask you for your permissions within Facebook to install the application.
Once you allow this, you are then asked to select the fan page that you wish to add the application to.
Next you’re asked for your contact information.
After completing this form and agreeing to Wildfires terms and conditions you will then get the next page, which is a dashboard to control the application.
- Fan Gate on or off. When “on” is checked, non-fans will see different content. When you check “off” the page will show the same content to both fans and non-fans:
- Fans view – where you can upload a custom image directly from your desktop and Wildfire will host it for you. Or if you select the Custom HTML option, you’ll see a small field to enter your code (ideally created in a WYSIWYG editor).
- Non-Fans view – ditto above! Use an image or HTML.
Once you have inserted all the content for your fans and non-fans all you need to do is press the Save and Preview button and your done.
You can see this application live on our Facebook radar detector review page to see the final results.
Please let me know if you choose this app or if you integrated another by using the comment area bellow and what your thoughts area, we would love to share them.
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Comments
9 Responses to Facebook Changes the Rules Again, Are You Ready?
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sweet spot.
I think the best feature of the Wildfire app is the ability to target new visitors with different images vs. your existing fans. Custom messaging at it’s finest!
Thanks for sharing the details Roy.
Thanks for the post very helpful.
I have one concern though: Is this the best way to now direct fans to your wall? Previously you can have non-fans land on the custom FBML, and then direct current fans directly to the wall. Now it doesn’t seem like you can do that. Is this truly the best way to accomplish that now?
Seems like an unnecessary click for current fans…
With this app those are this is the only option, that is why I put an arrow on the bottom of the image. One good thing is that they will be able to see your offers when they enter
The arrow and directing makes sense. However, it doesn’t make as much sense for an application (or game) page on Facebook. Where you rarely offer something to current fans. They want to go to your app page to see the latest news, not the same image and have to click elsewhere to get to your wall.
Thanks for your help RadarRoy
Good point…
Hello,
Very nice post (it saved me a ton of trouble), I had some general questions about the usage/setup of Facebook if the authors here (or fellow commenters) could help out;
1. Is it mandatory that I create a personal Facebook page? I ask because I was able to create a page for my business (which is a new website – not yet launched) without being prompted to create a personal page.
2. As you mentioned, a vanity URL cannot be obtained until you have 25 “likes” but I am concerned if I canvas “likes” I may loose the name I want, to highjacking… is there a safe way to do this?
3. Is it against Facebook policy to use a business (fan) page for the purpose of selling my own products “or” affiliate products?
4. Any idea why the Like button disappears when you login? What I mean is… if I visit your facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/RadarDetectorReviews... without being logged into my own account, I see the Like button at the top of your page, but if visit your page while I am logged in, the Like button is gone. This happens for every fan page I visit, so I assume it is also happening to mine which means people will not be able to Like my page if they are logged… I must be misunderstanding something, yes?
Hope someone has the time to help me… thank you!
Ross.
Hi Ross, thank your for your comment
1) No it is not necessary to create a personal Facebook page, but by doing so it will help promote your new website
2) Never Spam, but I am sure that you have family and friends who will like your fan page and like it
3) No, it is not against Facebook Policy to sell stuff on your Fan page, infact there are several ad on applications that do just that
4) You only like a “page” once so that is why you don’t see that option to like it again
Hope this helps
Hi Radar Roy,
Thanks for the answers, regarding Item 4. this behaviour is present 100% of the time, even when I do not Like a page… in fact I have never “liked” any pages as of yet simply because I am brand new to the Facebook craze.
Is it possible when you visit a fan page while you are logged in to your own facebook account you automatically “like” that page? Or do you actually have to click the “Like” button?
Here are the exact steps;
1. Do not login to your facebook account
2. Visit a popular fan page (i.e. http://www.facebook.com/cocacola)
3. You will see the Like (at least I do)
Now repeat these steps but log in to your facebook account first, and the Like button is gone (at least for me)
This happens every single time, even on your fan page (I wanted to Like it but as soon as I log in, the button vanishes.
Ross
I just went through the process myself of not clicking on the like button on Coke and when I returned it was there for me