How to Set Up a Page:

You can click “HIDE” at the top right of your page to close the Admin panel while you set up the details of your page. Also, see the Facebook Guidelines to make sure your images meet requirements.

1. Upload a Profile Picture- This is often where you display your logo. The image will appear as a 160×160 px image in the left of your page. Make sure your dimensions fit the designated area. You can also change what part of the image appears in the box by scrolling over the profile picture, click “edit profile picture,” “edit thumbnail,” and drag the image to the area you want displayed.
2. Upload a Cover Photo- This is the larger image that appears at the top of your page. Here is a great place to include some inspirational images that depict your mission, along with some short copy which provides further explanation.
3. Fill out your Description Fields-

• Address: include your address so supporters can “check in” to your nonprofit when they visit. This will help promote your organization via other social media platforms like Foursquare and SCVNGR.
• About: a short sentence summing up your mission. Do you have a tagline? Here’s the place to put it
• Company Overview: What is your cause? What are your goals? Who/what are you helping? How are you helping?
• Description: More specific details about your organization such as company history, founders, etc.
• Mission: sum it up in a few words
• Contact Fields: add your website, email, and general phone number

4.  Add tabs/apps: Tabs are the four boxes displayed under your cover photo. Here, you can add applications that will help with interactivity on your page.

• Social Media Apps- What other social media sites are you on? Twitter, YouTube, SlideShare? If you’re active on another social media platform, add their app to your Facebook page. This will synchronize all of your online accounts, leading supporters to your various resources and also help build your following.
• Custom Apps- You can design apps specific to your cause, that display as mini websites within your Facebook page. Here, include images, videos, copy with a call to action. Here’s a great example from the Salvation Army.
• Donation Apps- Provide a way to receive donations directly from your Facebook page with apps like causes and HelpAttack!.
• Other Apps- There are hundreds of apps on Facebook. Some other good app type examples are RSS feeds, email signups, events, etc. See some more examples here.

5. Customize your tabs: Facebook lets you change the image and name of each of your tabs to better reflect your brand. Check out the examples below for inspiring ideas! Here’s how to change the name and image of your tab:

• Click the number to the right of your tab area to open all tabs.
• Hover your mouse over the tab you’d like to edit. A pencil icon will appear. Click it.
• There will be a list of options. Go to “Edit Settings.”
• A small window will pop up. Fill out the fields: “Custom Tab Name” and “Custom Tab Image.” The image should be 111×74 px and either a JPG, GIF, or PNG.

Examples of Great Nonprofit Timeline Pages:

 

To learn about best practices, read Part 3: Best Practices. Also, you can read Part 4: Important Terms to Know to get you familiar with the Facebook lingo!

Tags: facebook, SMF 101, social media for nonprofits

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