I’ve been getting lots of requests for custom Facebook Welcome pages. Everyone wants to know where they can get one. I have several options for you and I share them below.
Why consider using a custom Welcome page?
Let’s face it: Online, looks are everything. A great design can make or break your success. The more professional you appear, the more authority you’re perceived to wield. Your Facebook business page is no exception. Creating a custom Welcome landing page in Facebook tells your visitors you take social media seriously. And they appreciate that. According to Mari Smith, visitors who visit your page and land on a custom Welcome page are 47% more likely to Like your page than if they just land on your Wall (which is only a 23% conversion to a Like). I’d say that’s worth a look. So how do you create a custom Welcome page on Facebook? There are two ways:
- Hire it out
- Do it yourself
Hiring Someone to Create a Custom Welcome for Facebook
I work with Karen Lewis of Simply Amusing Designs to create custom Facebook Welcome pages. Karen is a master at taking your goals, preferences, and personality and creating a design that fits your brand across several platforms. She can create a cohesive look for your Facebook Welcome page, Facebook profile picture, Twitter background, blog and/or website, business cards, etc. She creates the Welcome page design and I code the finished product. You can see examples of her work in the Simply Amusing Designs Facebook custom Welcome page gallery.
Creating Your Own Custom Welcome for Facebook
If you think you’d like to try creating a custom Welcome page yourself, I have a few links you’ll be interested in. I haven’t tried all of these options, but you can check them out yourself and see what you think. Some are free, some are paid.
- Pagemodo. This free application gives you several templates to choose from and is easy to use. I’ve created temporary Welcome pages with this application, but I find that the end result is not crisp. It looks like the application takes a grainy picture of the finished product and displays that. Try it out and see what you think. I’ve had some people tell me they are completely happy with the end product. It’s free. What do you have to lose?
- iwiPage. This looks like a pretty easy-to-use application. You install the free application on your Facebook business page, then click the Welcome link in your page’s left nav bar (under the profile picture). This app offers several very short tutorials to help you get up and running.
- Fanpage Engine by Hubze. Prices for this app range from $37 (access to two templates) to $67 (access to all templates) or you can have them develop a page for you ($697-797). I haven’t tried this application, but I’ve had colleagues who have been happy with the results.
- Wildfire Interactive. This app is free for the next three months. After that, it’s possible Wildfire will start charging a fee for the service. With the Wildfire Interactive application, you can create a fan-gated Welcome page. That means a fan must Like your page in order to see specific information on the Welcome page (e.g., a special coupon). Not interested in that? No problem. You can also create a page without fan-only content.
- HyperArts Blog. These are tutorials for true do-it-yourselfers. HyperArts writes tutorials for those who want to learn to code a Welcome page by themselves with no outside software help or WYSIWYG editors. If you’re comfortable with code, I encourage you to give it a try!
- How to Build Your Facebook Landing Page (If You’re Not a Programmer). One more for the DIY-ers in the house. This is a pretty straight-forward tutorial, but if you choose this route, you’ll need to do it quick. This tutorial implements FBML (Facebook’s version of HTML) and Facebook is discontinuing support for FBML on March 11, 2011. Any FBML installed prior to March 11 will be grandfathered in, but you won’t be able to install new FBML after March 11. I’m hoping they’ll update this tutorial with directions for installing with the iFrames parameters.
What Should I Include on My Custom Facebook Welcome Page?
Your custom Facebook Welcome page is the perfect place to set expectations. What people want to know is why they should Like your page and be part of your community. Your Welcome page is where you can
- share a fan-only coupon code
- showcase specific products (don’t forget to include a specific call to action and a link so they can complete the action)
- share your Twitter feed in real time
- bring in your blog’s RSS feed
- share your company philosophy
- explain what kind of information you share on your Wall and what fans can contribute
The possibilities are endless. What are you doing with your Facebook fan page? Did you use a service to create it? I’d appreciate your feedback on the services you used.
I used the “How to Build Your Facebook Landing Page (If You’re Not a Programmer)” tutorial, and I found it incredibly easy to use. I’m sure I’m not even using all the bells and whistles available to me, but for getting a more eye-catching Welcome page up, it really did the trick!
Thanks for the feedback on that tutorial, Stacey. I know my readers will appreciate it.
I think you can get a way here: http://www.fiverr.com/users/jillz/gigs/create-a-facebook-fan-page-for-your-webpage-or-business-within-2-days
This is cheap I think
Jillz Tom recently posted..top 10 premium wordpress themes of the week
Thank you for great tips, I should really do this.
Katja of Skimbaco recently posted..Fragranced Coffee Filter Flower Pom Pom Tutorial
You definitely should, Katja! After you have, please leave your link here so we can see it!
This is something I really need to do and I’ve been putting it off. Thanks for the tips!
Andrea (Lil-Kid-Things) recently posted..Simple Flower Boxes
I need to do this pronto. I have my design, just need to make it pretty.
I really REALLY want one!! I’ll be in your queue before too long!
I was looking to do something like this with our FB business page! Am bookmarking this so I can check it all out when I have some more time. Appreciate the ideas! Hopefully this will help our FB page visits!
What are the ramifications of FBML being discontinued? I have several tabs configured that way. Will I still be able to edit them?
FishMama recently posted..Free Personalized Gifts for Kids
It’s so funny because I just hired a designer to overhaul my site. One of the things I am having done is a matching FB page. Now after reading this I’m going to have to tell her I want a landing page. It may cost more, but after reading this I see the importance it has to building my brand. Thanks for all of the tips.
Candice @ Fashionably Organized recently posted..YOU by Crocs- Comfortable Shoes
FishMama,
If you already have FBML installed and working on your FB page, you’ll be grandfathered in for an undetermined amount of time. The general consensus is that FBML that is already installed will be fine indefinitely. Although FB is phasing out any new installations, those already using it won’t have any problems for the foreseeable future. I keep tabs on this by subscribing to Inside Facebook (http://www.insidefacebook.com/) and HyperArts (http://www.hyperarts.com/blog/).
I’m so happy everyone’s trying out new FB Welcome pages! I hope you’ll come back and share your links so we can all check them out!
This is the link to my facebook welcome page designed by Melanie Nelson and Karen Lewis. I just love it! Thank you so much!
http://www.facebook.com/happyfirst#!/happyfirst?sk=app_190133427684671
Nice page Debbie!
Really awesome!
I tried the pagemodo page, and it was as easy as easy gets to set up. Also like you said, free. The only fuzzy I found was in my own graphic. lol
Kellyology recently posted..I did not die
THANK YOU for posting this! I love it. I used “How to Build Your Facebook Landing Page (If You’re Not a Programmer)” – it was pretty straight forward (I ran into a few glitches, but all of them were solvable with a little patience). Now I’m off to design a coupon for Facebook fans using the same tutorial…
Here’s my fan page
The options shared were very helpful! amazing, i need to apply this on my FB custom fan page . Thanks for this!
Chique recently posted..Custom Fan Page Videos
Melanie,
Thank you for the very informative article! My question is under what conditions does the newly created welcome page appear? Does it become the default page that appears when someone goes to your Facebook profile? Do they now no longer get directed to the wall? Do I need to physically link the Facebook icon on my website to the newly created welcome page specifically? I am basically trying to come up with a marketing strategy for using this page. This will be based on when the page is shown. If it is only shown to new visitors to my profile, then I will put a special first time visitor offer, etc. Thanks again.
Nice page Debbie!
Ammer,
The newly created FB Welcome Page will appear as a link in your business Page’s left navigation. You can also set your Page to show the Welcome Page to people who haven’t Liked your site yet. Go to your Page > Edit Page > Manager Permissions. For Defualt Landing Tab, choose Welcome (or whatever you named your landing tab). Now your custom Welcome will show up for people who are visiting your Page, but haven’t Liked it yet. Current fans (those who *have* Liked you) will go to the Wall.
You do not have to link directly to the new custom Welcome once you’ve set your Default Landing Tab settings.
Thanks for commenting!
I was wondering why my default page was not showing up and after reading your comment I understood what was the mistake. thanks for sharing this info here.
Melanie,
Thanks for the thorough explanation. It seems this feature is very powerful and can be used in many creative ways. For example an offer or contest to get people to like your page can be displayed on the custom page that appears only to those visitors that have not liked you yet!
Ammer Naber recently posted..Solutions for Low Vision- Prairie du Sac- WI Tuesday- April 12th
Ammer,
Actually, you should be very careful when implementing a contest or giveaway on Facebook since they have very strict guidelines (https://www.facebook.com/promotions_guidelines.php). You can only a contest or giveaway on Facebook if you’re using a third-party application.
Excellent tips on creation of Facebook fan page. I would like just to add that Facebook is a powerful social network, so if you select the right advertising strategy in Facebook, so you will manage to get high amoounts of targeted traffic to any online business. Also, Facebook is a great solution to develop brand reputation!
Terje Sannarnes recently posted..8 Reasons To Invest In Silver for an Entrepreneur
For someone starting from scratch and considering a blog, do you think an actual blog is necessary with so many conversations happening directly on Facebook?
thanks you for this i just used pagemodo, pretty easy to use and it installed it self..i only prob was i had to find pictures small enough to fit into the boxes, now i just hope i can edit it, if i need to! thanks again for the info
I love Wildfire but, Fans can still see my stuff! I want them to not see ANYTHING until they like me!
“How to Build Your Facebook Landing Page (If You’re Not a Programmer)”
Sounds good and easy but, They no longer support “FBML” either that or I can’t get it to work right!
How do you work with IFrames?
Duh! FBML stop on March 11~11~
I think you can get a way here: http://www.fiverr.com/users/jillz/gigs/create-a-facebook-fan-page-for-your-webpage-or-business-within-2-days
Jillz Tom recently posted..top 10 premium wordpress themes of the week
Many thanks for this article. I’ve created a welcome page powered by tradable bits and it works fine. There’s the possibility to link the main image. I was thinking to link it to my website but am unsure whether this will be allowed by facebook. If so, do you think that’s a good idea in the first place?
Wendy, in answer to your question about whether a blog is necessary when so many conversations are happening on FB: YES. I believe that blogs have become the hub of social media. A blog is where you can house links to all of your other accounts (Twitter, FB, products you’re selling, newsletter, etc.) and write more in-depth commentary about a topic. You own your blog content and your blog space (if you’re using WordPress.org on your own server space, anyway) and you know that content will live as long as you’re maintaining it. On the other hand, your Facebook page belongs to Facebook. If they decide, either on their own or via complaints from others, that your page violates any of the TOS, they can take it down and you’ll lose the community you worked so hard to create. I never recommend putting all of your social media eggs in one basket. While it’s important to be in the space and use it well, you have to be sure you’re in more than one place, reaching out to as many people as possible and preserving your content.
Thanneree, I would suggest that you provide a link both to your FB Wall and your website. When people are on FB, they usually don’t like to leave. They want everything to be available to them where they are. However, as I stated above, you can use your main website to supplement your FB content with more in-depth articles, products, etc. You definitely want people to know you have a website and give them the means to find it easily. I suggest telling visitors what you’ll share on your FB page and what supplementary information you’ll provide at your website.
Thank you Melanie. I’ll follow your advice.
Thanks for all the great sites! I’ve been wondering how to create my own Facebook welcome page.
Stopping by from SITS Marketing Seminar. We’re in the same group. Looking forward to getting to know you better.
Great post Melanie and you are so very right. And not enough people know the can stick out in the crowd on facebook. That be an fanpage or a personal page you can be unique and create a more inviting page then the standard fb laylout.
Did a blog on it if you would like to have a read Melanie :
http://www.blog.digital-stationery.co.uk/2011/03/differentiate-yourself-on-social-network/
I just used PageModo for my Welcome page and I LOVE it! Ya can’t beat free
Please come take a peek.. http://www.facebook.com/ShopBabesInCloth
there is app for that http://apps.facebook.com/tab-editor
my welcome page is not the first page to come up when people visit my buisnesses page. The regular “wall” comes up first… how can I make my welcome page be the first thing to appear?
anuj@MakeMoneyOnline recently posted..Top 10 Twitter Tool And Applications For Every Twitter Users
how can i also have a username every username i try it is wrong
Anuj,
To have your Welcome page be the first page new users see, log in to Facebook and navigate to your business page then follow these steps:
1. Click the Edit Page button in the top right corner. Your business Page’s dashboard appears and is already on the “Manage Permissions” tab.
2. Find the Default Landing Tab drop-down menu. This is where you choose the tab new visitors will see.
3. Click the drop-down menu and choose the tab you want new visitors to see when they come to your page.
4. Click the Save Changes button.
Remember, only NEW visitors or those who haven’t LIKED your Page yet will see this tab first. Everyone who has Liked your Page will automatically go to the Wall after they Like the Page. However, visitors who Like your Page can also see your custom Welcome tab by using the left navigation menu on your Page.
Thank you so much for your simple, easy to understand presentation of the information! Im so happy to have found you!
Im going to try out Wildfire and i’ll let you know how I go! Feel free to check out our page at http://www.facebook.com/NerveCentreChiropractic if you want to see the results.
Cheers!
I used the pagemodo welcome page creator and it was really easy to use and install, here’s mine:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Faerydae-Photography/141543275869375?sk=app_112078882147346
Excellent! Thank you Melanie, YOU ARE TRULY HEAVEN SENT!!!!
Thanks for the blog. Just used Wildfire and it was super easy. Now I just need to find a graphic designer to make my page look professional. My welcome page is pretty sad right now… http://www.facebook.com/InsuranceSaver?sk=app_201143516562748
Thanks for the advice though!
Melanie Nelson, how long will it take you to build my page and what are the charges please?
Can you link my currently “Contact button” to the landing page?
Awaiting your reply. Thanks
I create custom facebook pages if anybody needs any help
How do I make the new welcome page the home page? It keeps going to the wall instead of the welcome page.
Sorry I know that new users will see the welcome page first but I want the welcome page to be the wall as well. I want to welcome page to be used as the wall for the business profile.
Bill, you can only make the Welcome page the default for new users. Facebook doesn’t allow you to change that for existing fans. Great question.
Hi, I used pagemodo and for the small fee of 6USD a month I was able to get a suitable landing page. At the end of the day you get what you pay for! So for 6USD I am not going to complain. Once I can afford to have a decent landing page made then I most certainly will. But at the end of the day for the small cost I thought it was worth it.
Thanks a lot. This was very useful.
I am using pagemodo and welcome appl (facebook application) it is very nice and free also ….thanks for sharing facebook welcome page application
Thank you! Pagemodo worked out well. I little fuzzy but its good enough for what i need.
Allen Trottier recently posted..EAGLE POINT RESORT – Mabini
thanks for the great tip…..um using page-modo for my page….its just awesome
visit here for movies….
http://www.facebook.com/mediafiresmallsizemovie/
d mindfreak masum recently posted..Independence Day (1996)
Great article. I recently created a couple of Welcome pages by Coolmojitos. They say they will start charging soon, but right now it is free. No software to download.–Really easy.
Anita recently posted..Working It Out At The Pacific Gym-The Correct Way To Do A Bicep Curl!
Another fantastic article! Thanks so much for providing so much simple and straightforward advice for us newbies out here!
Nice and helpful post. Thanks for sharing this information.
Asif Ali recently posted..ZTSystems Affinity 7438Ti
If they decide, either on their own or via complaints from others, that your page violates any of the TOS, they can take it down and you’ll lose the community you worked so hard to create. This is something I really need to do and I’ve been putting it off. Hopefully this will help our FB page visits!
Trudy Mcguire recently posted..Cancer Tips
any definitive guide which helps me to create a Welcome tab for Facebook Fan pages..?
Jai @ Indian Tech News recently posted..Shah Rukh Khan Bashed Shirish Kunder At Sanjay Dutt’s Agneepath Success Party
To the non-techno savvy folks, this site helped save my money.
http://www.propplan.com
Hit the word “Go” about half way down the page.
I was able to place a youtube video, my logo and some catchy jingles on my facebook page.
Thanks Melanie,I have just started our company Facebook pages. I’ve been trying to do this myself and thanks to you, I have some choices and direction. I maintain 2 business FB pages 1 company, 2 franchises, and I have little time.
I’ve installed iwipage apps on my facebook page and I really don’t like it and want to remove it, but I can’t seem to get much info on how to do that. Please help! Thank you
Thanks Melanie for the links. I will definitely use some of these resources and generate a landing page for my FB site!