Facebook is beginning to roll out the new timeline design for personal profiles for more users. If you haven’t looked at your profile yet, you should go check it out now. It may look similar to this.
Basically, your updates, updates posted to your wall by others, and updates you are tagged in show up on the right column. All of the stuff that was previously beneath your timeline cover photo (about, friends, photos, places, notes, etc.) are in the left column. Also added to the left column are sections for music, movies, TV shows, and books you like plus sections for services you use like Instagram, Pinterest, Quora, and so forth.
Editing Your Sections
The first thing I thought when I saw this new layout is that I didn’t necessarily want some of these sections on my profile. Fortunately, that’s not a problem. Just hover over one of those sections and click on the pencil icon.
Using this menu, you can choose edit all of your sections.
While the About, Friends, and Photos section are mandatory, the rest of the sections can be toggled on and off as well as rearranged.
Promoting Your Facebook Page on Your Personal Profile
If you haven’t already set up your page to come up on your personal profile, now is the time as the new About section is the first thing beneath your timeline cover photo to get noticed.
To do this, go to your About tab, and add a position that relates to your page (writer, blogger, owner, marketer, etc.) under the Work and Education section. Make sure your page appears when you start typing in the company name.
Updating Your Timeline Cover Photo
In case you haven’t heard, the rules for timeline cover photos has changed. You can now have up to 20% text in the image you use. Amy Porterfield has a great example of marketing your business with your personal profile timeline cover photo.
She even cleverly uses the “job title” as a call to action to get people on her personal profile to click through to her page.
If you’re not sure how much 20% of your timeline cover photo is, you can use the free tool on Mari Smith’s blog to test your own cover image – or your competitor’s!
Adding Pages & Links to Your New About Tab
Speaking of your About tab, that’s changed as well.
Note that you can add your pages to the About tab information and be sure to add your most important pages here. You should also add links to your main websites and even other social profiles under your contact information.
Beneath what is shown above, people can scroll through to the same sections in the left side of your main timeline design. Anything you toggled on or off using the Edit Sections option will also be shown (or not) in this area.
Highlighting Updates & Photos
Unfortunately, the new timeline layout means no more stretching a special status update across two columns. The only way to attract attention to an update is to use the Highlight option, which just adds a little ribbon to the top right of the update.
You can highlight multiple status updates on your timeline. This can help make your updates stand out over others posted to your wall or tagged with your name.
You can also draw attention to special photos in your albums by highlighting those as well. Just hover over a photo of your choosing and click the star icon. Your photo will then be expanded to cover four squares.
The Future Design of Facebook Pages
Is it inevitable that this same design will eventually roll out to Facebook pages? I’m hoping not as I would miss the ability to stretch updates across multiple columns and would hate to lose my custom tabs, especially now that I have two of them linked directly to my websites.
You can read how to do that here. It’s free and quick to implement, so you won’t have much to lose even if Facebook eventually does change the layout for pages.
Your Thoughts on the New Facebook Timeline
What are your thoughts on the new timeline design for personal profiles, and how would you feel about this design ending up on your Facebook pages? Please share in the comments!
Oh, and if you like this article, be sure to like my page on Facebook too!
104 replies on “5 Tips for the New Facebook Timeline for Personal Profiles”
The new Facebook profiles seem awesome. Your guide on using sections on profiles is helpful. And it would give more exposure to our facebook company pages, if we promote them on our profile page.
Glad you found the tips useful James! 🙂
Great tips, thanks Kristi. I especially liked your tip about hiding sections in your profile. Didn’t know you could do that.
I think I like the new timeline structure, although I need to train my eyes now to go to the right place!
Yes, just have to get used to it. Kind of feels like a step back to the older version of Facebook.
Hi Kristi,
Oh yes…I did notice the changes and explored all the options just today. I didn’t like it all that much and preferred the earlier option. I guess any kind of change takes time getting used to. 🙂
Even the highlight option that was there earlier is put aside by just placing the blue ribbon as an option, and that’s hardly noticeable.
I wonder if next is going to be the Fanpage change overs. I hope not – not so frequent 🙂
Thanks for sharing these tips with us. Have a nice day ahead 🙂
I miss the full-width highlighting of posts. That made things really stand out. The ribbon sort of works, but you have to go back and highlight all of the important ones to apply it.
Have to say, I’m a hater on the new timeline. I think it’s confusing, and I’m always discovering people have written me notes on my wall that are hard to find — they’re now boxed into a little sidebar. Hoping they’ll soon evolve it to the next thing, which will be better than this format.
I think it takes about a year or two before a major revision. They’re not very feedback friendly. 🙁
I think it was first rolled out in New Zealand and now I believe they have started rolling out the new design for users in the United States..
I really like the info you gave here thought it would take some time for the new timeline to be update for Indian users. 🙁
Thanks Rajeesh!
Your facebook cover page looks awesome like you… I have tried it yet… Let me try it out.
Thanks Kaushal! 🙂
The new timeline design of facebook is really amazing. You have given some awesome tips to make more attractive the facebook timeline for personal profile. I like the way to add pages and links in new about tab and the highlighting ribbon. Thanks for this great post.
You’re welcome Jennifer! 🙂
I am from Bangladesh and I am also viewing this new timeline. It is kind of jostling, but I love the new interface. changes are always welcome in facebook as I know there are a lot more yet to come.
I don’t know if they are always welcome… there’s always a large group of complainers. 🙂
Awesome post it looks like you’re enjoying the new facebook design I love it myself it really rocks finally Mark has done a great update 😀
Thanks for sharing this amazing post keep it coming 😉
I’m not sure I’m enjoying it just yet, but I am living with it. 🙂
I am beginning to notice some of the changes but not sure if I like them. But I suppose if you can edit what you want then its not to bad. I suppose the whole thing is more suited for pages rather than personal profiles.
I believe that there are no restrictions (especially the 20% text rule) on personal cover images. It only applies to Pages, where you are not allowed to have more than 20% text in the Cover Image: https://www.facebook.com/help/468870969814641.
I figured that rule was universal, but in reality, I’m not sure anyone should have more than that amount of text. It would defeat the purpose of it being a photo. 🙂
I think they were paranoid that the Cover Image would be just one huge ad. Funny that Google+ never had that worry! 😉
And I don’t think I ever saw a Google+ timeline cover that was an ad either. 🙂
“In case you haven’t heard, the rules for timeline cover photos has changed. You can now have up to 20% in the image you use.”
Up to 20% can be what exactly?
Nice catch Ron. I meant to say 20% text. 🙂
Thanks for the tips and highlighting the changes – I did notice today that things were different but I really had not had the time to dig into them.
I especially love the part about hiding certain sections that show up on our profiles now – I don’t want the world to know that I am a SongPop addict 😛
I didn’t want the world to know how many TV shows I watch (even though I don’t have cable). 🙂
I really started using facebook last year for business and realised the tabs can’t be accessed by a mobile device (using mobile view)..i think facebook is missing a trick here and i hope the new mobile updates catch up…
Great post, I missed the update about allowing domains in a cover photo. Good to know! thanks
Letting people add text to cover photos is a huge perk for marketers! Lots of creative timelines coming out now. 🙂
BTW, how does the Empower Network work for you?
Recently switched to my own blog instead of using theirs (for the most part). About their blog though, all I’ll say is that I still tell the geo targeting script and people sign up to EN here and there as well. That was existing traffic I brought to the geotargetingscripts.com domain though.
Interesting sounding script. Thanks for sharing Keith!
Thanks for this post Kristi!
Well, I didn’t like this new timeline from facebook. The earlier one was quite good & pretty impressive. I don’t understand why they keep experimenting? why don’t they stick to one? I don’t want this timeline for pages. I wish they roll out new as soon as possible.
The only thing that stays the same about Facebook is that nothing will stay the same for very long. They’re keeping Facebook marketers in business though – no one can keep up with it all. 🙂
New Facebook layout is much more clear that the previous one, also much lighter. I suppose this open many opportunities to emphasize important content. Certainly, I haven’t thought about any new strategies related to this, but I think ideas will become clearer soon.
As old strategies die with the new layouts, new ones arise and usually are more powerful than the last. 🙂
thanks for the article kristi..yes facebook is rolling out new updates with time but i Dont like some of their updates but this one seems great. i guess its derived from Google+ , recently google+ has changed the profile structure and facebook is doing the same
It’s funny that now, Google+ has changed their layout completely. They’re going to constantly battle about who has the newer layout. 🙂
Awesome Post Kristi. i am FB lover this transformation looking great novelty my facebook cover page Thank you very much to share me this information.
Thanks Sneha! 🙂
Hello Mrs Hines,
I am glad to meet you and your interesting site,
I enjoyed very much this post because it’s simple, practical, easy to understand advice. I have already changes some things in the About section of my fb page as a results of reading this post. If the rest of the posts are like this one I can say I am lucky I found you.
Thank you very much
Silviu
Glad to virtually meet you too Silviu! 🙂
I like what you have done with your Facebook Page design. I love your profile photo page. Please tell me that is your backyard in the background and I’ll be so jealous 🙂
Thank you for the advice about setting your page to come up on your personal profile in the new About section. I’ll check that out and make those changes pronto!
Thank you Kristi!
Sam Martinez
I only wish Sam! That’s actually the Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix. 🙂
Facebook new Timeline layout seems very elegant to me. I am using the new design from last two weeks, and given a lot of time to it in understanding the new features. I really liked the call to action in job title, furthermore, I didn’t knew the edit section feature.
Just like always, you have shared valuable tips here.
Glad you found the tips useful Hamza! 🙂
Hi Kristi,
The design seems clean to me, and quite easy to edit.
Thanks for sharing the breakdown!
Ryan
You’re welcome Ryan! 🙂
Wow, I was surprised with this update and it looks very cool.
I’ve heard it was in the works for a while. I’m just waiting for pages to change next.
It’s as if we have a new update every week. Making me crazy! Thanks for making it easier on us. 🙂
You’re welcome Alison! 🙂
Facebook continues to tinker and change things up. Hard to keep up with at this point, sheesh. Very cool to see a detailed description of new features, how things are laid out now, this is certainly helpful and will illuminate a few headaches. Who knows, maybe one day our social media sites won’t change every week and force us to rush to learn their new layouts and features. Until then, thanks for keeping us informed.
I think they will keep changing. Each network has to up the next. 🙂
I see that you use your Personal Profile as kind of a marketing tool, and you also have a Page. I’m struggling with which to focus on as my main outlet for sharing my comedic work and my comedic life. I find it a lot of work to be posting on my Profile AND my Page. And I feel like I’m splitting the Likes and Comments I get between the two pages, which waters down the perceived amount of interactions, you know? Do you have advice on whether to use my Profile, my Page, or both? Is that covered in one of your seminars?
It’s a tough call. Profiles aren’t meant for business, yet Facebook makes it increasingly harder for businesses with pages to get their message seen. When the new newsfeed launches for everyone, it’s going to get that much more difficult because people can sort their feed to friends only. That’s when it will be good to have connections on both – you can share your page’s update on your personal profile to give it more exposure.
So much great information. It’s a bit mind boggling since there are so many options. I’ve mostly kept my fb personal page for keeping in touch with family in far flung places and not at all for business.
I use mine for a little of both. I feel like Facebook almost wants you to do that since they opened up the subscribers / followers option.
Nice tutorial. I have everything so haphazardly organized on my own facebook page that I thought I will never be able to learn how to fix it. Mostly I don’t spend that much time on FB and by the time I am able to understand one of its feature something new would crop up.
The above tips are exactly how I would have liked to control my FB page.
Thanks Keral! 🙂
Thank you for the FB profile tips. Working on the page right now. Hopefully it works out and attracts. Great read. 🙂
Thanks Leon! 🙂
Hi Kristie,
I am a new reader of your blog but a very old reader of write-ups. After reading your first post here (this one) I have decided to comeback again to check more such awesome posts.
Facebook has done an awesome job by modifying the UI. I just hope they donot change it soon. I am going to apply your tips on my profile. Will see how it comes out 🙂
Nice to virtually meet you Debarshi! 🙂
New FB timeline is pretty good except for the fact that you won’t be able to highlight posts anymore, which was a FB unique feature.
Yes, I will miss being able to stretch updates across both columns to draw more attention to them. The little flag icon at the top right just doesn’t cut it.
I just want to change my FB timeline interface, I don’t know what is good ideas to do. Now, I got it, thanks so much, Kristi!
You’re welcome Trung! 🙂
The new facebook timeline really seems awesome to me. Thanx for this quick walkthrough..
You’re welcome Ansh. 🙂
Hey kristi
I personally don’t like the new timeline on Facebook. But it is also good to customize my Facebook profile in very innovative and new ways. Surely will get in habit of new timeline after sometime. But for now I don’t like it.
Btw thanks for posting this and letting us know about such wonderful tips.
You’re welcome Kshitij. No one really likes Facebook’s updates, but there’s not much that can be done about it. Not like they listen. 🙂
The new profile design looks even better and the simplicity of it is showing pretty well on a personal profile.
I instead would like to see this design roll out onto the Facebook page as well.
All things aside, this is a well done explanation of the new design and you do have an eye for the changes 🙂
I’ll be sad to lose the custom tabs as they are on pages. It will be interesting to see how they would handle custom app content with this layout.
It seems this update is rolled out for most of the profiles. New look seems to be dull for me. But left sidebar looks awesome and simple. Overall it need few improvements
I think it gets more interesting depending on the number of other services you’re tied into – Instagram, Pinterest, etc.
I still haven’t got the time to change mine. It seems a lot of work to do, but with your guidelines it gets so much better. Thank you, Kristi.
You’re welcome Felipe. 🙂
I, for one, am glad that Facebook’s ditched the cumbersome two-column ‘timeline’ design for the more-elegant and simple single-column one.
2 big changes which Facebook has been rolling out steadily are (a) all comments now come with a reply button, which allow you to reply to a certain comment, giving updates and comments a thread-like view, and (b) an all new search bar called the Graph Search. Judging by those screenshots, it looks like you haven’t gotten either of those updates yet Kristi.
Also, it is essential to mention that (if I’m not mistaken) ‘highlighting’ an updates sticks it to the top of your profile and keeps it stuck there until you decide to take it down.
Thanks btw for info on updating sections and that you’re only allowed to use a set percentage of text in cover photos – the latter comes as news to me! 🙂
Sadly no, I haven’t gotten the new newsfeed or Graph Search. I do see the replies in page comments though. Not sure how I feel about them since you have to expand them all of the time.
The highlighting on pages will stick updates at the top, but not on profiles. It didn’t work for mine at least. 🙂
Great post. I updated my About section to link to my FB page — very cool. Had no idea I could do that!! Thanks!!
You’re welcome Emily. 🙂
The timeline changes are interesting. The personal profile pages used for business is a good idea. The timeline cover of Amy Porterfield looks quite good and its impressive. I think I might do such a thing.
Yes, her’s is a great example of mixing personal and professional together in one profile!
Hello Kristi Hines,
This is a good tutorial to modify Facebook timeline profile. I already updated my profile too. The new timeline looks more impressive & entertaining
Thanks Ahsan! 🙂
I always tend to be annoyed when Facebook changes everything up, again, but this time it looks pretty good. The first thing I noticed is something you pointed out too- I can put my company page in the “about” section on my own page right at the top! Thanks for some of the other tips!
Most people are. You spend so long adjusting to one look just to have to get used to another. It’s frustrating, especially for authors writing books on Facebook. Nothing stays the same for long.
Oh, I don’t think too much about my Facebook cover, until I read your post (LOL). I haven’t thought that has so much things to discuss like this 🙂 You really inspire me a lot. Thanks !
The timeline cover photo is very important – be sure to get one if you haven’t already. 🙂
Great post, especially the feature where you can connect instagram and other social networks to your Facebook timeline. Didn’t knew that feature, curious if it wil increase my traffic on my Instagram account.
I think it just creates more engagement on Facebook and helps people become aware of your Instagram presence, which will hopefully lead to new followers. 🙂
The new facebook timelines are owesome and much user friendly compared to the old profile pages. Being an active facebook user, your article has helped me in using my timeline in an effective way.Your tip to promote page by updating work and education sounds really cool and I think that this is an intelligent way for page promotion. Thank You Kristi for this, I am expecting more such articles.
You’re welcome Jees! 🙂
Hi Kristi,
Carol Amato, wrote a blog about all the special people in her life. You were one of them listed. I read a couple of your posts and can see why she puts you in high regard. Your post on Facebook is great and very informative! I will now, go, and put this information to use.
Thank you for your caring and sharing!
Sincerely,
Geri Richmond
Thanks for letting me know that Geri, and great to virtually meet you! 🙂
Hi Kristi, thank you very much for this post. I hid some of the sections I didn’t want to show, added my website to my contact info, and edited my Facebook page info. Thumbs up! 🙂
You’re welcome Aqiyl! 🙂
Contacting Facebook or any social media is a very tough process
thanks for sharing this cool post Sister 😀
Looking great Kristi! You can actually attract lots of followers just by changing, fixing and placing a very attractive and interesting FB profile picture and background.