For any local business owner who has a Facebook fan page, I’m guessing that close to 100% of them probably have a personal Facebook page, as well… which means they’ve seen a preview of what’s about to change for their business page since the implementation of the Facebook timeline.

The Facebook timeline became part of personnel pages within the past couple months, and Facebook announced they were coming to business pages by the end of this month, so in other words, right around the corner.

The question is, is this good news or bad news for the local business owner?

The response to this question is a mixed bag. Some people love the timeline on their personnel Facebook page, but others dislike it very much. But if used the right way, a timeline could be very beneficial for Facebook business pages, though as with any online marketing tool, it’s all in how you implement and follow-through.

Many dislike how the timeline highlights a lot more historical information on a page, which means small business owners will really need to monitor their timelines to see what’s being displayed or posted, especially businesses who have a lengthy history.

At the same time, some historical references can be a good thing, and a timeline could be a great way to elevate brand exposure on Facebook if done organically. We were fortunate to have our business partner, Jeff Whitehead of 3L System Group, shared some insight on the subject:

The timeline concept seems to make sense from a personal Blog perspective, or from a Brand with a campaign – something you can actually place on a Facebook timeline.

Where posts to the newsfeed currently show up on the profile, or are aggregated into a single post, interaction would appear on the user’s timeline as a historical reference. These interactions could also appear on a Brand’s timeline on their page as opposed to just having a status feed.

For a small business, they probably need to stick with something simple, like creating a Facebook page to start out with, and as they use it to interact, creative use of their Facebook timeline will surface in an organic and authentic manner.

Bottom line, using a Facebook business page to generate leads and create brand exposure is highly recommended. But it’s important to monitor and engage on that page. If you do, then the timeline could begin to have an authentic and organic impact for local businesses. And it’s best to look at the timeline as a positive, or find a way to make it work effectively for your local business, because it’s coming whether we like it or not.

What do you think? Are you for or against the timeline for your Facebook business page?

Chris Marentis

Chris is the founder and CEO of GenNext Media LLC, and creator of the Surefire Social lead generation marketing system. With over 25 years experience leading traditional and interactive marketing businesses, Chris is a recognized leader helping businesses of all sizes use new technology to enable dramatic growth.