Create a FaceBook Landing Page

 

Last night I finally made a landing page for my Official Author Page on Facebook. It’s easier than I thought and there are two ways to do it. So, today I thought I would set out some easy instructions.

Creating the information

First method  This is the easy way. It uses photoshop or any other photo manipulation software. Basically it involves creating an image of what you want to appear in the main section of your page and saving it. In order for it to it be clear it needs to be a decent resolution. I suggest 96 dpi or higher and between 500 to 520 pixals in width. For example:

 

Next, upload it somewhere online, either your file storage on your site or wordpress. I use PhotoBucket but anywhere that can provide a direct link is fine.

Second Method  This is for the slightly more adventurous. It uses HTML coding but I am going to walk you through some examples. Simple coding isn’t as scary as you might think.  Create only a header and upload or if you prefer the title can be written in code too. All other information can be written directly to the page.

Add the Welcome Page

This is the same for both methods. Go to the Facebook you want to add to. Click Edit Page – Apps. This will take you to a list of apps. You want to find Static FBML. If it’s not on your list, use the search. It will bring up a page with you simply click add app. Go back to your list.

Mine says Welcome because I’ve already changed it but you get the idea. Hit Go to application. This takes you to the page where you will fill in the information. Change the Box Title of the page to Welcome or whatever you like.

First Method In the FBML box use this code

<img src="INSERT DIRECT LINK TO IMAGE”>

 Save changes. Go back to your page. You should now see your welcome page on your list.

Second Method

If you are using an image header add it in the same way as the fist method. If you want to use code, skip it.

Now for the coding. There is one important thing to remember when wrapping text in code. That is to open and close. <> open and </> close. If you don’t close the format will continue onto the next line of text.

The simple coding I used.

Font Color      <FONT COLOR="#insert color number">text goes here</FONT>   LIST

Font Text       <font face="Insert font name, insert second font name">text goes here</font> If using an unusual font add a second as a back up in case the first doesn’t show on some viewing devices. 

Font Size        <FONT SIZE="3">text goes here</FONT> 

Bold                  <B>insert text</B>

Italics               <i>insert text</i>

Center  Text    <center>text goes here</center>     To align left leave this out.

Other coding required

Return line      <br>

Space between lines   <p>

Image code   <img src="INSERT DIRECT LINK TO IMAGE”>

Link      <a href="Link to destination">Text to show or Image code as above</a>

The best way to get the look you want is to play around. Here are some easy examples based on what I used.

<center><FONT SIZE="3"><font face="times new roman">Welcome and thank you for visiting my official facebook page. <br>Please take a moment to click the "Like" button above. </font></FONT></center>

Welcome and thank you for visiting my official facebook page.

Please take a moment to click the "Like" button above.

 

<center><FONT COLOR="#603913"><FONT SIZE="3"><B><font face="charlemagne Std, Times New Roman">Reviews</font></FONT></FONT></B></center>

Reviews

 

If you want only one word in italics or bold, place the code only either side of the word or words.

Carol’s love of writing about anything not entirely “human” emerged, and the premise for her debut novel, <i>Shades of Atlantis</i>, was born.

Carol’s love of writing about anything not entirely “human” emerged, and the premise for her debut novel, Shades of Atlantis, was born.

 

<a href="http://www.CarolOates.com"><center><FONT COLOR="#603913"><FONT SIZE="4"><B><font face="charlemagne Std, times new roman">Visit me at CarolOates.com</font></FONT></FONT></B></center></a>

Visit me at CarolOates.com

So there we go. Easy enough. I hope. Before we go on to setting the home page add new profile picture. If using a long image like mine, remember FB will only pick up a small square of it.

Setting as a Landing Page

Now we have the welcome page you want it to be the first thing people see. When going to your own page it won’t be. Again we go to EDIT PAGE or EDIT INFO and then Manage Permissions.

Set Default Landing Tab to Welcome or whatever you named your page. Save changes.

Giving your Author Page an individual User Name

Have you ever noticed how some pages have a string of numbers after the page name. Well, now there is a way to change that. You will need 25 likes for this to work.

This is easy and even if you don’t add a welcome page, everyone who can do this should. It makes the URL cleaner.

http://www.facebook.com/username/

Use the drop down menu to select your page and check for available names.  Save changes. *This can only be done once for each page, so be sure you are happy with your choice*

On to the Bounce

Here's how this works:

If you are an author, click on "Get the Code Here" to get the link. Copy and paste that link in your blog post. Then hop right on and add your blog url to get added to the list.

If you are a reader, you get to bounce from blog to blog and meet some great new authors and maybe find some new books to read.

So everyone hop on and go for a bounce!