Facebook is testing a new design for Facebook pages which, among other things, will remove the "Like" count, offer a cleaner and more readable layout and make it easier for those who manage the pages to use them and actually manage them. These and other features were initially tested with a small percentage of public figures on the mobile app, but are now expanded into a larger group of pages.
Currently, the public figures involved in the test include actors, authors, creators and a small handful of media entities, such as bands and books. If included in the test, an activation option will appear on the pages to try the new experience when they are connected on the mobile device.
Facebook says it is now expanding the test now to include even a small percentage of English-language business pages.
The updated design and feature set are intended to make using Pages less complex, which the company understands can be a problem. It also recognizes the need to simplify the use of Pages now, in particular, with so many people who continue to practice social distance and choose to connect with their online communities instead.
The new Page layout is intended to make it easier for visitors to a Page to see key information, such as the biography and posts on the Page. In particular, the design eliminates the page likes and the likes button. Instead, the Page will only show a Follow button and a follower count.
This change better reflects the true reach of the Page. Many people have "enjoyed" various pages over the years, but then no longer followed them from their news feed as they outweighed their interest. (Or they never followed them because they liked the Page only as a favor, after receiving a request, for example.) The follower count, meanwhile, indicates how many people are actually getting the Page update in their news feed .
Having both options has led to a more complicated process in which users first "appreciate" a Page, which creates automatic follow-up. But the person can then exit that follow by changing their settings at any time. Page owners believe this is confusing and unnecessary because they want to interact with followers who are actually interested in the Page and its contents.
In addition, page owners will be able to better connect with followers by browsing their news feed and then quickly switch from their personal Facebook profile to the public page (or pages) they manage when they want to comment or react to the posts they have come across.
On the page management side, they will be able to more clearly assign and manage administrator access permissions based on specific activities. This will be managed by an updated "Change access" screen, in which the owners can activate and deactivate specific management activities, such as those who can create the content of the Page, send direct messages as a Page. create ads, respond to comments, and more.
The update also aims to simplify navigation in the Page Insights section, where the owners and managers of the Page keep track of the analyzes relating to the Page's performance.
Now, the owners of the Page will be able to get this information from the Page itself or even directly from a post. Within the Insights section, they will have access to a handful of new insights added, including the most performing posts and a new metric that shows the audience of the Page that overlaps with its linked Instagram account.
They will also receive fewer notifications from their pages, as Facebook will now group relevant and related data, such as mentions and post reactions, when they send updates.
The test is now running in the Facebook mobile app but it is not limited only to those who see the simplified app design (pictured here with the colorful blue background and boxes).
Facebook is not sharing when the update will be rolled out more widely as this is still considered a test for the time being.
