Custom Tab Width Reductions Coming Soon to Facebook Pages
As part of its sweeping roadmap announcement last October, Facebook said then that it would be reducing the maximum pixel widths of custom tabs in Pages. While it had previously allowed widths of up to 760 pixels, the size can now only go to 520 pixels wide — and the change is about to go into effect. The company had recently said to expect it in late July, but we’re hearing from an industry source that the change isn’t coming until the second week in August, or so.
The reason for the delay appears to be this: many Page owners had designed around wider widths, and the company is trying to avoid breaking their efforts through the reduction.
Custom tabs, which show third-party applications or custom landing page designs, allow brands and other organizations to provide their own content for Facebook users to interact with. Although Facebook hasn’t explained the shrinkage, it is likely intended to make Pages fit more neatly on smaller screens.
The roll-out date has been pushed back repeatedly since October, with the latest roadmap update telling everyone to expect the new size in “mid 2010.” Developers and marketers working with Pages have been somewhat confused about the changes, as a result, although most people we’ve spoken with have prepared for the dimension reduction by this point. For an example of the new width in action, see Nike’s recent World Cup promotional app and video, Write the Future.
August 2nd, 2010 at 5:07 pm
i am 99% certain that the reason for the shrinkage is so profiles can get the new look (like events did recently). this means there needs to be space on the left for the sidebar that goes up to the start of the search box and more space on the right for the larger adverts.
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:35 am
Well I hope they will do it in august. They have been writing as for this reason at facebook.dev since March. Anyway a lot companies should rebuild their fan pages as for this reason really soon.
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:30 am
[...] of 520 pixels, as the change from 760 pixels to 520 pixels is about to go into effect. According to Inside Facebook, the change is expected to happen during the second week in August, or [...]
August 3rd, 2010 at 1:05 pm
I suspect this change is to support the left hand column for “Facebook Questions” which will be coming soon. I think FB wants to keep that as part of the screen GUI ongoing.
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:06 pm
30% of reduction, that’s such a waste of space for many marketers and developpers to express themselves.
August 17th, 2010 at 8:18 am
[...] Insider Facebook: Pages change to 520 pixels http://www.insidefacebook.com/2010/08/02/facebook-pages-changes-520-width-tab/ [...]
September 15th, 2010 at 11:13 am
From what I see, phones & portable electronics seem more like wasted space for marketers & developers to express themselves, but the successful ones do it with ingenuity.
Change is inevitable. Keeping up with the changes is key to getting ahead. I’m not really a huge fan of the changes (more advertising), but it’s necessary and adapting is what gets you ahead.
November 10th, 2011 at 9:30 pm
[...] insidefacebook.com [...]
November 10th, 2011 at 9:31 pm
[...] Custom Tab Width Reductions Coming Soon to Facebook Pages http://www.insidefacebook.com/2010/08/02/facebook-pages-changes-520-width-tab/ Social Media is “Happening” to your Brand – Whether You Like It or Not. [...]