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"Facebook has officially announced Timeline for brand pages after dangling the carrot in front of page admins for some time now. The pages will be pushed live to everyone on March 30, but for now, you have some time to preview the new look and review your page before the changes take effect.\nHere are some ways that businesses can prepare for Timeline without throwing away everything we\u2019ve come to learn and love about brand pages thus far. \nRe-Visit, Re-Vamp or Create Your Social Media Plan\nThe layout of your Page is going to change once Timeline for pages is enabled, this much we know. However, Facebook and its purpose in the social media world hasn\u2019t changed at all. Facebook has always been and will remain a communication tool. For businesses, it is a way to create two-way communication between your brand and your audience. Even if the layout looks different, the capabilities will still be the same. From a design perspective, pages will be more aesthetically pleasing, but timeline for pages is just an enhancement to an existing product, and the rules are all the same or possibly even better.\n\n\nSEE ALSO: Why Facebook Timeline Will Be Huge for Brands\n\nIf you have a social media plan that\u2019s working for you, stick to it. If your plan could use some adjustments, now would be a good time to see what has been working and what hasn\u2019t and how Timeline can assist with some improvements. If you\u2019re winging your social media plan day-by-day, this is a good time to sit down and hash out why you have a Facebook Page in the first place.\nStart Preparing Your Timeline Image\nOne of the most exciting features of timeline is the large image featured at the top of the page. Facebook has given a lot of real estate to that image, and businesses should use it as an opportunity to feature something powerful and captivating. Businesses can leverage the image by changing it out frequently, featuring a weekly special or a reason for people to like your page. The possibilities are endless, so start thinking of what you want people to see when they visit your Page.\nNeed some help crafting your cover photo image? These five tools will work, as well as this new option from Aviary.\nGo Through Your Company\u2019s History\nWith Timeline, businesses owners will be able to reference company events that preceded Facebook itself. Go through your company\u2019s history and mark milestones, such as the date you were founded, your first customers, when you moved to a new location, when you added new services, or increased staff. Fans love to see businesses add a personal touch on a Facebook page, and everyone loves a good startup story. Take this opportunity to tell your business\u2019 story, add personality, let people know how it all began and talk about how you got to where you are today.\nDo Some Spring Cleaning\nNow is a good time to moderate your Facebook page and evaluate the people you have involved. Look at your admins \u2014 are they all necessary? Update your information, add videos and photos and make sure your location data is up to date. One of the features of timeline is a map, so you\u2019ll want to make sure that people can find you. \nRelax, Everything Will Be OK\nFacebook doesn\u2019t typically force its users to make a huge change overnight. Like we saw with the switch from personal profiles to Timelines, we have a grace period that, in this case, lasts until March 30. Businesses will have time to think about the changes, adjust their pages and prepare before making the switch.\nFacebook values the level of functionality and engagement that third-party apps offer, including sweepstakes, contests and landing tabs, and all of those features are still going to exist in some form. Let the third-party apps worry about the kinks and the aesthetics and remember that your fans are still visiting your page on a daily basis to get the same engagement and attention they\u2019ve always received from you.  With all the rumors we\u2019ve heard, Facebook pages are about to be better than ever.\n\n\nFacebook Timeline: A Powerful Tool for Brands\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1. Cover photo potential\nHere, Coca Cola uses snazzy design to make a strong visual impression on visitors.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2. Cover photos for teams\nManchester United uses its cover photo to reflect the inherent passion, camaraderie and joy of sports.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3. Timeline leveraging history\nDating back to 1878, Manchester United can use Timeline to honor its rich history. This photo shows the club's league championship from 1908.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4. Timeline for callouts \nHere, Manchester United leverages Timeline's strong visual elements by starring a specific current post, making it appear twice as wide.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5. Coldplay cover photo\nColdplay's Timeline cover photo hints at the wealth of potential the new format holds for bands and other performers.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n6. Ben &amp; Jerry's cover photo\nBen &amp; Jerry's cover photo further illustrates Timeline's potential to make a strong first impression on Page visitors.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n7. Ben &amp; Jerry's Timeline\nBen &amp; Jerry's timeline itself showcases the new brand platform's strong visual elements.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n8. Ben &amp; Jerry's milestone\nHere, Ben &amp; Jerry's uses the new format to call out an important company milestone -- its introduction of several new flavors in 1999.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n9. Timeline makes Pages more social\nWhen you visit a Page, you see how many of your friends have liked the company, as well as friends' relevant public posts. Here, Ben &amp; Jerry's serves as an example.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n10. Different cover photos for different Pages\nRestaurants can leverage the new design by showing off what they serve. Here, Starbucks flaunts its coffee beans.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n11. How many of your friends like Starbucks? \nFurther evidence of how Pages are more social with Timeline.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n12. A local twist\nHere, the Page of Manhattan's Magnolia Bakery shows how, for local businesses only, a map appears in the row of apps below the cover photo.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n13. ESPN's cover photo\nESPN's cover photo is an intriguing shot from the set of its iconic Sportscenter show.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n14. Baby's first show\nHere, ESPN highlights its first Sportscenter broadcast with a doublewide photo in its timeline.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Livestrong's cover photo\nLivestrong chooses to make its logo the central theme of its Page cover photo.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n16. Starring an important message\nLivestrong starred this post that provides resources for people under emotional duress as a result of cancer. Starring it calls extra attention to the post by making it twice as wide as others.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n17. A Livestrong milestone\nOrganizations similar to Livestrong can highlight specific milestones, such as the opening of new services. This post celebrates the debut of Livestrong's Cancer Navigation Center.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n18. Meet the admin panel\nTimeline introduces a new format for administrators of brand Pages, and one that should be simpler to use.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n19. Getting to know you\nThe admin panel features notifications, analytics, messages and, yes, a help menu to ease your transition to the new set-up.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMore Coverage of Facebook Timeline for Brands\n\nFacebook Timeline Brand Pages Are Here [PICS]\nTimeline for Brands: How to Prepare for Your Company\u2019s New Facebook Page\nFacebook Timeline for Pages: Which Brands Will Win and Lose?\nFacebook Marketing: Why News Feed Still Trumps Timeline Pages\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2012/02/29/facebook-timeline-brands-prepare/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20Mashable%20%28Mashable%29>