How to view and react to comments on your Facebook page
This past weekend I created a new Facebook page for 312 digital. The page was built fresh, after Facebook rolled out the new timeline for pages feature, so I’ve been getting comfortable with navigating around inside the page – and learning a few things along the way. Yesterday I wrote about how to comment on your branded page as yourself and not just as the brand, which is the default setting when you create a new page.
Today, I’d like to share another new finding for me.
As I made the announcement of the new page and shared it’s existence with my network, and then later as I was sharing posts and other information, periodically someone would stop by and post something directly to timeline of the page. GREAT! Exactly as I hoped. People were INTERACTING with me on my page! Woot woot!
Except I could not find those postings on the timeline. No matter how hard I tried. The notifications of these interactions were right there in the admin dashboard. So and so commented on your timeline. Click the notification to see the post. Nothing.
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Uhhhh. Errrrr. Aaaaaahhhhh! Where is it?
After pulling my hair out (why, exactly, do you think I prefer the bald look, hmmm?) for over an hour this week trying to find those comments, I FINALLY figured it out.
In an attempt to save your hairline, I’ve decided to share the solution with you.
Here is it:
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Just underneath your “About” section, at the very top of your timeline you’ll find a VERY hard to spot pull down that’s sort of greyed out. the default selection will be “Posts by Page.” Select this pull down and change the setting to either “Posts by Others” or “Highlights.” I’m fairly certain either of those two will allow you to see and reply to comments that have been made by others on your page.
I suppose this level of granularity is important for big brands. I mean, of you’re Pepsi and you open up your Facebook page to comments by others, it’s likely you’d have a hard time finding posts that you have posted to your page. But as a small brand, I expect you would be more comfortable (as I am) selecting the “highlights” and leaving that selected a majority of the time you are on your page.
What say you? Have you had problems with this in the past? What’s your standard setting for this pull down? Did you find it easy to find in the new timeline rollout?
Featured image courtesy of www.larrabetzutik.org via creative commons.
Sean McGinnis
Sean McGinnis is founder of 312 Digital, full service digital agency based in Chicago, Illinois. 312 digital provides high performing websites, SEO, content marketing and other online marketing services to small and medium sized businesses across the US. He speaks and blogs about SEO, content creation, social media and a number of other digital topics. Sean has been involved in Internet Marketing since 1998. You can find him on Google+.
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Sean, I like the post. I, too, found that feature/button whatever you may call it. I made a video and called it the 'Look Who's Talking' button. It really helps. Did you know the feature ALSO works when you visit someone else's page? As a social media manager, that's important to me. When I go to a page and there is no apparent engagement, that button will reveal all posts by other IF THERE ARE ANY. Great new feature form Facebook. I am digging the new Timeline!
I did NOT know it works when on other pages as well - good to know. I see why Facebook created it but also wonder what the harm would be to set the default so that all interactions are seen and present within the timeline. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me to limit like that, I guess. I loved your video. It was another great way to show people how the feature works. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Appreciate it!
Thanks for pointing that out. Not totally digging the new FB look... the big picture at the top is nice for branding, and pinning posts to the top is a cool feature. Other than that...meh.
It definitely takes some getting used to. I've been using it so long now I've kind of forgotten what the old view looked like. I think a LOT of people would agree with your view of the new timeline. Unfortunately, I don't think we're ever going back. ;)