subject: How To Make A Custom Facebook Fan Page Using Fbml [print this page] Facebook has a very formal layoutFacebook has a very formal layout. It does not allow for much customization however the advantage of the facebook fan page is that it can be customized using an app called Static FBML. This application will allow you to input code into your page and display your own graphics and content. Unlike apps, the static FBML is ready to use direct from Facebook. You've probably seen it in action already on many other pages advertising their product or saying a big hello when you arrive.
This tutorial will show you how to install and setup the FBML app and give you a basic custom fan page using an image. You can use any image for this for practice, but for the best layout it should be 520px wide and any length. Design it in your graphic program of choice and save it for the web as a jpeg and upload to your webspace or a free image hosting site like imageshack. Take note of its location. Alternatively you can use any image on the web for practice. Just find the image, right-click & copy image address - if you have done this properly you should be able to paste this address in a browser like Explorer and view the image.
Now you are ready to begin...
- Go to your fan page
- Click 'Edit Page' under the Page's photo
- Click on 'More applications'
- Search for 'static fbml'
- go to the Static fbml app
- Click 'Add to my Page' in the left column
- First step is finished
Next you need to edit the app
- go back to your page
- click on edit page and scroll down to the Static fbml application
- click on 'edit' and enter the title in the 'Box Title'
- in the main text box area put
- you will need to change the address to the location of your image!
- click 'save changes'
Change the application settings
- go to 'edit your page' and return to the app
- click 'application Settings' - the settings should be Tab:Added - not box!
Viewing your tab
- go back to your page
- click on the + button and add your tab to the tabs already there
- click on 'Settings' - just below 'Whats on your mind'
- set 'Default Landing Tab for Everyone Else' to be your new tab
- all done!
That was a very short guide for inserting an image as your custom fan page. There is much more you can do if you have the proper coding skills or you can find someone to do it for you. Some HTML code will work, some will not. Same with css, but hopefully this tutorial will have given you an insight as to what can be done.
