Two major changes are underway this week on Facebook that may affect the way your profile or page handles content that flows from Facebook applications. These changes were part of the Roadmap announced in Oct 2009. Here are the changes you should be aware of: 

1. Tab Page Width Allowances are changing from 760 pixels to 520 pixels. 

The Tab page width changes began rolling out yesterday.  The old page width of 760 An example of the 760 page width is the McDonald’s  McCafe tab, while the Happy Meal  tab page complies with the new 520 width requirement.  Apps such as FBML, Profile HTML and Welcome tabs, allow users to copy HTML code from a website into facebook. These apps are the ones to check for width compliance because the width is controlled by the code an user copies into each instance of the application rather than by a developer who manages the width inside the application itself. 

 

2.  The Boxes Tab is going away. Wall tabs will serve apps instead. 

The Boxes tab has historically been a container for facebook applications to flow content from multiple applications. 

 For example, Facebook  apps like  Social RSS, Slideshare, Discussions, Photos and Favorite Pages have stored content to the Boxes Tab on a page or profile.  More recently, applications have provided the option for a Wall tab for each application. So, pages or profiles will have a Tab for Social RSS, another one for Slideshare, another for Favorite Pages. You get the point. Anyway, Boxes are leaving. In preparation, add the Wall tab in your Application Settings for the apps on your page or profile. 

 According to Facebook Developers blog, these updates are designed to simplify navigation for users, reduce complexity for developers, and enable Facebook to build the next generation of tools for business with Facebook.

If you aren’t sure how to use Page Tabs for business, stay tuned for next week’s article: 5 Ways to Use Page Tabs for Business Growth.

If you have other questions about facebook or social media for business? Ask Michelle at facebook.com/socialmediaexplained.