On Wednesday, Facebook announced the new Timeline layout for Fan pages. While there are so many new features and other controversial changes, one of the most conspicuous changes is the new Timeline Cover. At 850 by 315 pixels, it’s hard to miss. It’s only natural for people to judge a person or a company by it’s appearance. First impressions are everything online, so here are a few points to consider when choosing or designing a cover image:

• Size Matters – Be sure to use the entire space for your subject matter. If your a real estate agent, having a full resolution image of your city’s skyline makes a nice statement. Your mugshot does not. Save that for the profile pic.
• Let Your Logo Shine – Think your Times New Roman font logo is still good enough for prime time. Think again – this is where it counts and it can stand out on your cover. If it’s not up to snuff, this is where your time is best spent.
• Imitation is not Flattering – Chances are you’ll see your image again on Facebook if you just use a royalty free image or use someones cover idea. Don’t be shy. The photo you took on your iPhone of the Golden Gate Bridge will do the job.
• Accessorize Your Profile Pic – Choose a profile pic that coincides with the theme of your cover photo. It’s clever and your would-be likers will love it. For example: Cover photo is a maze, profile pic is a mouse. Now that wasn’t so hard.
• Design Design Design – Creating a custom cover page is a very focus task for a designer. If you choose to hire a designer to create a cover image for your business’ page, it won’t break the bank. Depending on your ideas and the scope, you could get a custom P ‘shopped image for a couple hours of design time.

Don’t wait to switch to the new layout. Facebook is constantly changing and that’s the nature of the social network.