Facebook Cover Photo Guidelines

Has your account been upgraded to the new Facebook (FB) Timeline already? I upgraded mine a while back, when it was still pretty new. I didn’t really like it at first because it was disorienting, and what’s up with the cover photo anyway? But, as weeks passed I’ve learned to love everything that the new Facebook has to offer. Including the cover photo.

You may know that the Timeline feature is available now for Facebook Pages as well. I decided to try and make one for the fan page of this blog, just to see what it’s like to have the Timeline on a page. The ideal size for a fan page and personal account cover photo is 851 pixels wide and 315 pixels tall. The recommended size for a Facebook group cover photo, on the other hand, is 800 pixels wide and 200 pixels tall.

Aside from the size, here are a few dont’s to keep in mind while making your cover image (found on the FB help page):

Your cover photo may not contain:

• Price or purchase information, such as “40% off” or “Download it at our website”
• Contact information, such as web address, email, mailing address or other information intended for your Page’s About section
• References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features
• Calls to action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends”

Also, Facebook says you cannot pay/incentivize other Facebook users to upload your cover image to their personal timelines for promotional purposes. I don’t know the consequences of violating the above no-no’s, but I’m a good girl, so I’ll be following those guidelines to the letter. 😛

How about you? What does your Facebook cover photo look like? And does it follow the FB guidelines?