Brands to get Timeline by March 30

Facebook has announced it will roll out its new design layout, Timeline, to all of its brand pages at the end of this month, meaning businesses have just 30 days to clean up their pages in preparation for the new look.

The move will align the layout of business and organisation pages with those of consumers, and will require page admins to spend some time thinking about their company's image and how that can best be portrayed.

The New York Times, for example, is using Timeline to cash in on its long history, filling in its page with information dating right back to the paper's first issue – as the 'New-York Daily Times' – in September, 1851. Milestones such as the first Sunday edition, in 1861, and the first use of the slogan 'All the news that's fit to print', in 1897, have also been added.

Facebook has created a help page to assist businesses that aren't so sure. There are FAQs, and advice for tasks such as selecting a cover image and customising the 'views and apps' menu.

The month is going to run out really fast, so if you haven't done so already, book a time to get your team together and talk about how you're going to approach Timeline in your business.