Facebook page titles are like a tattoos. They stay with you forever.
Facebook is generally forgiving. They let you change your page if you make a mistake or change your mind. Except for one thing: the title of your fan page. So, this is the most important decision you make on Facebook because there is no going back.
The only way to change your page title is to start a new page and try to get your fans to move from one page to the other. You may have noticed that we had to do this with the Author Tech Tips Facebook page a few weeks back.
Here are some tips so you can avoid our mistake.
What is a Facebook Page Title?
The page title is the first thing people see when they see your page. It is also all they see when someone suggests the page to them.
Tip 1 Keep it timeless
There is a chance that you will have your Facebook page for 20 years. Will it still be cool then? Don’t pick something too trendy. I would recommend picking a fan page that is the title of your book. You can also setup a fan page in your own name.
Tip 2 Keep it short
If your title is too long then people won’t take the time to read it. The general rule of thumb online is that shorter is better.
The exception to this rule is if your title helps explain the page. For example, Claire Culwell’s Facebook page does not just say “Claire Culwell” like I would normally recommend. It says, “Claire’s Story; Abortion Survivor“. The fact that Claire survived an abortion is remarkable and it has caused her page to spread organically. The title makes people want to know more.
The best name would have been Claire Culwell: Abortion Survivor. But now she has over 5,000 fans so changing the name would not be worth the effort. This is why picking the right name at first is so important. Know of a well named Facebook page? Leave us a comment and let us know.
Tip 3 Keep it ad friendly
Several months ago we started a Facebook page called PracticalCourtship.com. The page was meant to go along with the Practical Courtship website. The page got great attention but with one problem. PracticalCourtship.com is too long of a title to fit on a Facebook ad.
Do you see how the title wraps around the ad like that? This is very bad and there is no way to fix this without starting the page over again. Or not placing Facebook ads.
See how much cleaner this is? Make sure your Facebook page title will look good in an ad even if you never expect to advertise on Facebook. You may be surprised down the road and you don’t want to be bound by a bad page title. Know a poorly named title? Let us know in the comments.
Suggestions & Examples
Here are some do’s and don’ts of Facebook page titles using the recommendations from above.
Do: Mary DeMuth
Don’t: Mary DeMuth author of Thin Places (too long)
Do: Rick Green
Don’t: Rick Green for Texas Supreme Court (Not timeless. What if he wants to run for something else?)
Do: Author Tech Tips
Don’t: AuthorTechTips.com (does not fit on an ad)
What are some good Facebook titles that you have noticed? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
I love Cheryl Ricker's page, A Friend In the Storm. Not only is it the name of her book, it's just awesome to get that note, "new email from 'A Friend in the Storm.'" It makes me smile every time.
My recent post I once was LOST…
How do you go about making sure that a facebook page title would fit in an ad properly? I understand that one could go through the trouble of making a page and then try out an ad to see how it looks just to have to delete that page and start over with a new title. Instead, is there a certain number of characters and spaces that fit on each title line of an ad?
Sarah, Facebook ad headlines are limited to 25 characters including spaces and characters. So as long as you stay under that limit you are fine. You can also test the ad titles at http://www.facebook.com/advertising/.
Also, a suggestion based on experience: look out replacing "for" with "4" in a facebook page title, especially if the page or group is associated with a national organization.
I am currently helping to admin "Students 4 Life! FAU Addition." This facebook group was created before I was involved with this organization. The problem with this title is that if one were searching on facebook for local chapters of the national organization Student's for Life of America, they would type in "Students for Life." Even if they searched specifically for "Students for Life FAU", they would not be able to find our group page that replaces "for" with "4." FAIL
Good point.
The radio test applies to Facebook pages as well as webistes. For more about the radio test visit http://www.authormedia.com/2009/04/25/does-your-website-pass-the-radio-test/.
this is def very hard to do and accumulate fans but these tips help. id love to see a write up on the differences between groups and pages. its a pain to know which one to set up.
Oh wow! I love your website at practicalcourtship.com! Christians need more resources like these. Bravo! And the information you just shared here about fan page titles is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a ton.
I have difficulty liking facebook, however I have a blog to promote. I did make a facebook page but haven't maintained it. My only facebook friends are family and very close real life friends. Can you convince me it is a good idea to commit time to a facebook page? It seemed like just more of the same stuff thats on my blog and I felt the time would be better spent on the blog itself. The FB page is called Writing Tips Hosted by Jude — I guess if the title breaks after the second word it would look okay in an ad. I get lost in FB and seem to go around in circles.
Thanks for an interesting blog, I came here from Randy Ingermanson's newsletter.
~ Regards Jude
Jude, do you write fiction or non fiction?
I agree with Jude: FB seems complicated. I have a page under my middle name. It’s for family and friends (but I haven’t really friended or followed anyone because it takes too much time trying to figure the whole thing out.
So — in addition to Jude’s question about the value of a FB page, would I make a separate page? (Both non-fiction and fiction)
Does website trump FB?
I, too, would like to know how many characters fit on a line, so I will know if my ParentingfromtheSource.com breaks in the right places.
Love your website with all the great, practical explanations and advice.
Thanks, Carole
The answer is 25 characters including spaces. Sorry for the slow response.
Hi Thomas Umstattd,
I appreciate your post, with its practical information based on experience.
Would you be so good as to respond to commenters’ questions? They are similar to my own. Thank you.
Regards,
Elizabeth
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all people you actually understand what you’re talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also discuss with my web site =). We could have a hyperlink change contract between us
Hi Thomas,
I have a line of products and I’m about to create a facebook page. I had started with Hand Hats, the name of the product, but after reading this I have reconsidered that choice. I have hats that are in the shape of hand signs that fit on top of your ball cap, hat or just your head. They are for A&M, Texas Tech, Texas Rangers and UT and also rock n roll–They say Keep Austin Rockin’. It made me think that I would need to have one that is for the Gig ‘Em Hand Hat and one for the Guns Up Hand Hat because Tech isn’t going to want to be a fan of something that has to do with the Aggies and vice versa. Do you think I should have a page for each one? Should it be Guns Up Hand Hats or just Guns Up or Aggie Gig Em Hat? Too long? Help, please.
Thanks.
Lill, in your case a page for each one may be better since people are more likely to like the “Hookem Hand Hat” than they will Generic Hand Hats. The more you can connect with a brand they already love the more they will love you and the more likes you can get. You can also have a page for hand hats in general if you would like.
Just be careful that the page names are not too long for the advertisements.
Thanks Thomas.
Please can you tell me the perfect name for my group etnology and anthropology for my students – sugestions ???
if i search for the long name of an abbreviation, will i find that site if the abbreviation is in the title, with the long name in the infobox?
e.g. “Students @ GCX” in the title, the long name of GCX in the infobox – but one only searches for the long name of GCX?
Hi,
I actually just wanted some tips on what I should add on my Facebook page for my upcoming novel Euphoria: A Royal Love Story, which will be releasing summer of 2013. Any ideas?
Glad I found this! I was totally about to change mine from Crazy Wrap Guy to CrazyWrapGuy.com ….
Thanks!!!
Hlo M Singh i wanna create an entertainment facebook page That is for some funny pics and Jokes nothing else . Can u suggest any name for page
I have been meaning to set up a Facebook page to showcase my artwork (drawings) and to eventually sell them as prints, and hopefully on t-shirts and canvas tote bags. However, I haven’t been able to get past naming my page. At first, I thought about just using my name, but then considered using the name I chose to represent my products: Wasted Sugar. I want the page to not only represent my artwork, but to also represent me as an artist. Because I want both, I’m finding it difficult to choose a name. If you have any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate any advice you could give me. Thank you!
Hi Thomas,
Thanks so much for this great article! I currently have a Facebook Page called:
LIFE IS ROSEY “Jewelry That Speaks” by Sarah Jane Nelson
I know. It’s just not great. I’m found out there is another jewelry company named “Jewelry That Speaks” so that tagline needs to go. Plus, it’s just too long so it ends up as LIFE IS ROSEY “Jewelry that Sp…” on Facebook ads. NOT good!
The new names I’m considering are:
Life is Rosey
Life is Rosey by Sarah Jane Nelson
Life is Rosey Jewelry and Gifts
The only one of those that will fit nicely in an ad seems to be just plain Life is Rosey. Is that the one I should do? I like giving people an idea of the product in the name and/or my name since I used to be an actress and some people know me as the brand, but as you said above, maybe I should just keep it simple in case I sell the company or do something new with the company in the future. This change will be the last and final change (I have 1,300 fans) so I’m hoping to get it right!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
Thank you for all your wonderful advice…
🙂 Sarah Jane
I hAVE created a FB Page on my recipes and Photography skills.. I have named it as “my Page” Defnitely want to change it… please advice