I write this knowing that almost every other Social Media guru or Tech enthusiast has done the same - ooo'd and ahhh'd over Timeline and blogged about it. I thought it would be of value to share my personal opinions about the new feature though - knowing that the mass majority of Facebook users will initially be a little skeptical (it also doesn't help that Pete Cashmore, as a thought leader in the industry, is toting it as user-unfriendly for the non-geek types - which is absolutely untrue). That being said, here are a few of my thoughts on why Timeline is going to redefine your Facebook experience for the better:
1. Advice: Before I delve in, I definitely encourage you to press the "TAKE THE TOUR" button when Timeline first goes live for you; it will make the initial transition easier.
2. Timeline Photos and Cover Photo: Apps like Instagram have proved that we're all crazy about capturing the moment and sharing it with our friends. Timeline showcases media like never before - displaying our photos and videos beautifully. This is equally true of the new Cover Photo - not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it allows you to brand your page and express who you are; no skins required. I love this.
3. Ticker: I'm stoked that ticker allows you to continue to get updates about what's going on in your network while you're on your own page. You can respond to comments, upload new photos, and change your status all while getting a live feed of the latest and greatest.
4. Summaries: One of the neatest functions of Timeline is it's ability to summarize - it's great for reminiscing on yours and your friends' past experiences. For instance, if I am browsing July of 2011 in my Timeline, summary boxes tell me I was tagged in 47 photos, made 22 friends and 10 people posted on my wall that month. It will selectively choose a few of those memories and display them. It will also do this by year. It's like scrapbooking but without the glue and scissors.
5. Apps: Your favourite apps on Facebook are now easily accessible through Timeline. Love Nike+? The App will appear in a box on your Timeline and provide fun info for you and your friends (i.e.: In 2008, your longest run was 14kms, you ran a total of 340kms and you did it all with these 8 friends). So awesome. We will give more insight on Apps / Open Graph and the increase in the user-experience in future blog post.
6. Milestones: You can easily add Milestones to your Timeline, even if you hadn't posted them at that time. Example: I graduated from University in 2010 - I can upload a photo of me and my ridiculous Business counterparts, tag them, add the year, the place and a brief story and this will show up as a focal point in my Timeline in the year 2010. Do the same for traveling, learning new languages, getting your drivers license, getting married, being promoted, etc. Being able to interact with your profile in the past-tense is something I'm really excited about.
Overview: Timeline essentially provides a beautiful outlet for you to share your story. As Zuckerberg says, it functions the same way a conversation would - starting out with what you have been up to recently, moving through important milestones in your life and then reminiscing about past memories that define who you are. Cudos to the designers and developers at Facebook.
Check out the video overview of Timeline:
Timeline @ f8
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