ATTN Facebook Admins: Two Changes to the Static FBML App That You Need to Know About
[tweetmeme] UPDATE :: Facebook Appears to Back Down on Landing Tab Limitations
That didn’t take long! No word yet on limiting the Static FBML boxes on the left side of Facebook Pages to two. That’s not as big a deal as eliminating the the Default Landing Tab options would have been.
Seemingly every time I login to Facebook these days, something is different. And thus far, I am not a Fan, er, Like the changes. That’s no secret. Well, there’s two more changes that Facebook Admins need to know about and they are related to the Static FBML App:
1) You can no longer create a Custom Tab and make it your Default Landing Tab.
Using the Static FBML App you used to be able to create a Custom Tab and then under “Settings” make it your Default Landing Tab – meaning the Tab that potential new Fans see when they land on your Page for the first time. Not anymore. Not unless you have 10,000 fans or the Page admin works with their ads account manager. [TwtPoll: Does your nonprofit have 10,000 Facebook Fans or more? twtpoll.com/p798fx] I am an Admin for numerous Pages, and it hasn’t happened to all of them yet, but the company has publicly announced this new change.
2) You are now limited to two Static FBML Boxes on the left side of your Facebook Page.
You used to be able to have four boxes. Now you can only have two. For example, see the “Make a Difference” and “Get Informed” boxes on the left of EcoViva’s Facebook Page. If you currently have three or four, it is important to note that the extra boxes don’t disappear automatically. It happens if you start moving around and changing boxes. So, if you like what you have now, don’t move around or change any of your boxes.
Obviously Facebook is moving full steam ahead with their revenue model and will likely continue to chip away at the Facebook Page toolset – unless of course you buy advertising. I realize that Facebook has to make money, and they are. Apparently, the company is on schedule to make one billion in ad revenue in 2010. But nonprofits, universities and businesses have helped Facebook become the powerhouse it is today by sending out untold millions of emails, Tweets, blog posts, etc. to their supporters asking them “To become a fan!” We helped them achieve their 411 million users. They couldn’t have done it without us. A reality that seems to escape them completely.
Related Links:
Ask Facebook to Launch an Ads Grants Program for Nonprofit Organizations
Odds Are, Your Nonprofit Has a Community Page
How Facebook Community Pages Undermine Nonprofits’ Official Pages in Facebook Searches
Four Reasons Why Nonprofits Should Reconsider Facebook
Webinar: Advanced Facebook for Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofit Tech 2.0 Blog :: A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits 
Thanks for the info. Keeping up with FB changes is a full-time job!
What really stinks is that we killed a project earlier this year when they said that the boxes in the sidebar were going to be discontinued.
It never happened and we missed an opportunity.
Bummer.
This is incredibly disappointing. I was going to set up a customized default landing page next week. Your lack of enthusiasm for Facebook is spreading to this unhappy user.
Yeah… I feel duped. I have promoted this company. I advocated that nonprofits use Facebook, and then just all these changes [Community Pages trumping Official Pages in Facebook searches being the worst] in the last 6 weeks makes it clear – at least to me – that they don’t respect their users. Did you see this? Maybe I am wrong. Maybe great changes are on the way… you think?
Wow. Just read the article. Goes to show how they “value” their customers. I was really looking forward to adding that landing page. They are much more welcoming than the wall. Fortunately, I didn’t have my coworker start designing and putting the coding together. Thanks for the tips. You are one of my most valuable resources on Twitter. Are other customized landing pages already grandfathered in?
Yeah… I thought they were going to kill Boxes all together instead of just limiting Admins to two. I still think they are. That’s seemingly how FB does it. A little change here, and a little change there… and then one morning you wake up and the Boxes are gone, or the Tabs have been re-sized (another rumored change). I think there are more changes to come. Look at this way Charlie… Facebook missed the opportunity. Pissing off (excuse my language) their most valued customers (Page Admins – the people who buy the advertising) is just not a smart business move. Kinda blows my mind that they seem to not care, seem to think they are invincible. We all now how that story/fable plays out.