Month: September 2019

As of 2019, Facebook has 2.41 billion active users, which makes it the most popular social media platform in the world. Not only is it an excellent way to network with your friends, but it’s also a great platform to express yourself on.

If you already have an account, you may have noticed there’s a bunch of ways to customize your profile and interact with your friends. But sometimes, the more choices you have, the more confusing it gets.

Don’t worry. In this article, we’ll discuss 6 useful Facebook timeline tips every user should know. You’ll be a Facebook pro in no time.

1. Select Your Preferred View Option

When you’re on your profile, you can see all the posts you’ve made. The default is “list view,” which shows each post, along with the reacts and comments from your friends.

You can also choose “grid view.” This sorts each of your posts into boxes, which lets you find certain posts more easily. For instance, if you’re searching for a picture you posted weeks ago, it’ll be more simple to scroll through grid view rather than list.

While the initial view won’t show you the reacts and comments, you can put your mouse cursor over a post to see what date’s associated with it and the reacts. To see the comments, you’ll have to click on the desired post.

You can swap between either view, so don’t think it’s a permanent decision.

2. Change Your Profile Picture

Your profile picture is what everyone on Facebook will identify you with, so make sure you upload a clear photo of yourself. While you may or may not be particularly attached to one picture, you should know that it’s not permanent. You can change your profile picture however many times you want!

Not only that, but there are frames you can choose for your photo too. These can either be permanent or temporary.

For instance, you can choose a frame for your favorite sports team for the time frame of when they’re in the championships. Once that period is over, your profile picture will return to normal.

Facebook makes it very easy to choose a photo of your liking. Once you click on “update profile picture,” it’ll show you your tagged photos, as well as your mobile uploads and pictures from your uploaded albums.

If you don’t like any of those images, you can also upload your own pictures from your computer. Or, if you’re fond of a previous profile picture, you can choose that one as well!

3. Set a Cover Photo

The cover photo is like the banner for your timeline. When someone clicks on your name, this will be the most prominent thing they see when they navigate onto your page. Because of this, you’ll want to pick something that’s representative of who you are.

Like with your profile picture, you can select a photo from your albums. This can be perfect if you want to display some important events in your life.

You can also create a collage. Just select the images you want from your albums; you can choose up to 6. The collage editor will automatically space them out across the dimensions to optimally display each photo you select.

Should you want to change your cover photo in the future, all you have to do is click on “update cover photo.”

4. Edit Your Personal Information

When people search for you on Facebook, they’ll be able to see information about you, such as places you’ve lived, contact information, and other details. You can fill in as many blanks as you want, but keep in mind these are set by default as public information.

For information you want to hide or restrict to friends only, click on the category. Then, you’ll usually see an icon of the world with “public” written next to it. Click on the dropdown menu and you can change to friends, only me, custom, or some other settings based on the location and groups your friends are in.

5. Share Life Events

Has something huge and exciting recently happened in your life? Then you should shout it out to the whole world! Or in this case, to all your Facebook friends!

Find the blank box that says “What’s on your mind?” to start. At the top, at the right-hand corner, you’ll see a flag icon with “life event” written.

When you click on it, you’ll be able to select a category, such as work, relationship, or family. You can then select a date, tag friends, add a location, and a short description.

When you click on “share,” all your friends will see your milestone! They’ll be able to comment on it and it’ll be saved in your timeline.

6. Manage Your Posts

Regret making a post or two? No problem!

Click on the button that says “manage posts.” You can then select posts individually or by month.

Once you’ve picked out all the posts you want gone from your timeline, you can do one of two things: you can either hide or delete the posts.

If you’re a sentimental person and want to remember the bad with the good, hiding the posts may be a better idea than outright deleting them. Otherwise, you can say goodbye to them forever with a click of a button.

Personalize Your Facebook Timeline

With these helpful tips, you’ll be able to personalize your Facebook timeline smoothly and easily.

The next time you want to make a post, you’ll be able to do so with the right audience. Or you can take advantage of the amazing features on it to make your profile look exactly how you want it. The possibilities are endless!

Do you still have questions about how Facebook works? Then ask our experts now!

Do you ever feel bombarded with all the Facebook ads that pop up while scrolling or when watching videos?

You’re not the only one. However, keep in mind Facebook has over 2.2 billion users. This makes it a prime platform for businesses reaching for new audiences.

Fortunately, there are ways to block Facebook ads. With a little expert help, you can enjoy an ad-free Facebook experience.

Read on below to understand how:

What is a Facebook Ad?

A Facebook ad is a form of advertisement made by a business sent out to a Facebook audience. It’s based on their users’ activities, demographics, and profile information. In some cases, these ads also use your device information and your activities outside Facebook.

Each advertiser is different since they have their own set of goals. Some could have objectives in line with your interests, meaning you’ll get ads that show your interests on time. But in most cases, they can become intrusive and distracting.

With that, you need to take matters into your own hands by either reducing irrelevant ads or eliminating everything.

How to Block Facebook Ads

Facebook is a great social media platform, but its recent delve into more monetization methods made it inconvenient to some people. You’ll see sponsored posts as well as advertisements in their messenger app. With about 3 million businesses investing in Facebook Ads, it’s no surprise that you’d like to block them off.

The worst part is that Facebook needs revenue to keep its operations. That’s why the platform doesn’t have any “remove ads” feature within its platform. The only option you have is to customize your ad preferences.

Customizing ad preferences won’t remove or lessen the ads. But at least they’re better suited to the things that interest you. But if you want to block Facebook ads completely, you’ll need to use third-party software.

Here are some methods you can use:

How to Remove Irrelevant Facebook Ads

There are two ways for you to start seeing relevant ads on Facebook at least. This doesn’t remove all the Facebook ads in your newsfeed, but it gets rid of the most irrelevant ones.

Giving Regular Feedback

You can do this by clicking the three-dots button located in the upper right corner of the sponsored post. This will open a set of options, where you need to choose “Hide Ad.” This will ensure that you won’t see similar ads in the future.

Another option is to pick “Report Ad” if you find it offensive. Regardless, Facebook will give you a chance to explain why you chose to hide the ad. You can choose whether it’s irrelevant, misleading or offensive, or annoyingly persistent.

Customizing Your Preferences

Look at the upper right corner of your Facebook page and click the small triangle. Pick “Settings” and choose the “Ads” section located at the left side of your screen. This takes you to the Ad Preferences dashboard.

Pick “Your Interests” and check whether the information is correct. It’s important to list down as many interests as you’re comfortable with. That way, you’ll have a more personalized ad experience, meaning you’ll get more relevant ads.

Click “Your Information” and check the categories your profile is part of. You can adjust these settings to suit your preferences. After all, most advertisers will use this information to target the right audience.

You can also look at your “Ad Settings” since this enables you to disallow Facebook from using your behavior data on other sites and apps for their ad targeting process. If you want to ban specific ad topics like alcohol, click “Hide Ad Topics”.

How to Stop Facebook Ads Using an Ad Blocker

Customizing your ads isn’t always enough to remove the inconvenience they cause you. If you want to block off all the ads, you need to outsmart the platform. What you need to do is to get an ad blocker that stops the ads at a system level.

You can search the internet for these ad blockers and put them as part of your browser extensions. Once installed, it does the job on its own, as long as you don’t deactivate it. The best part is that most ad block extensions will also block various ads regardless of whether you’re visiting a website or using an app.

You can also use an ad blocker app that stops ads at a deeper level. That means you won’t have to install an adblocker extension for every browser you’re using. These often come at a price, but their blocking power is often worth the price tag.

How to Stop Ads in Facebook Messenger

This is the newest type of ad Facebook implemented for its messenger app. It’s also one of the most intrusive forms of ads so far. In-messenger ads often distract you more than the sponsored posts since the latter looks native at least.

Also, Facebook Messenger ads take more screen space compared to your actual friend conversations. That makes navigating your inbox a more frustrating experience. The worst part is that in-messenger Facebook ads use a new form of technology.

So, what does this mean? To put it simply, there is no means of blocking these ads for now. But most ad blocker companies are researching the technology to block it off. But for now, you should stay tuned and wait for more updates.

Get Rid of Facebook Ads Today!

These are the easiest ways for you to block Facebook ads. It isn’t much of a hassle since it doesn’t require a lot of effort to do. It’s important to remember that ads make up the majority of Facebook’s revenue, so it’s expected for them to develop technologies to counteract ad blockers soon.

Do you need help from professionals, regardless of their field of expertise? Feel free to read our other guides, like this one helping you determine if Facebook went down or if the problem is at your end.

Facebook is a great platform to connect to friends or expand your business. However, new studies show it can also lead to depression.

Fortunately, stepping away and staying safe without losing everything isn’t difficult.

If you’re planning to take a hiatus on social media, you need to learn how to temporarily deactivate Facebook. It’s simple enough, but if you lack the savviness in social media, you can always get Facebook experts to assist with the process.

Need help learning how to deactivate your Facebook account? Read on and find out more:

What’s the Difference Between Deactivating and Deleting a Facebook Account?

A lot of people mistake account deactivation with account deletion. These are entirely different processes since the latter is more serious compared to the former. Their only similarity is that they’ll both get your Facebook account offline.

Here are the differences between deactivating and deleting your account:

Facebook Account Deactivation

If you deactivate, you can always reactivate it at your leisure. In the meantime, people can’t search for you or see your timeline. But some information related to you will still be visible, such as the messages you sent to other people.

In case you reactivate, Facebook will have a backup of your account information. That means some information like your friends and interests will remain.

Facebook Account Deletion

Deleting your Facebook account means that the platform will hold on to your account after you request deletion. The platform cancels your deletion request if you log in within this period. In most cases, it’s within a few days after you delete your account.

Once the grace period passes, you won’t regain access to your Facebook account. But your stored data will stay up to 90 days in their backup system. The good news is that Facebook can’t access them.

Information like your sent messages will remain active since it isn’t stored in your account. Your log records can remain in Facebook’s database. The good news is that the company claims that such information becomes disassociated from your identifiers.

How to Temporarily Deactivate Facebook

Did you know that about 30% of people who use social media spend more than 15 hours online each week? Studies found that it contributes to your inability to enjoy real life. If you want to take a break from Facebook and other social media, here’s how to temporarily deactivate Facebook:

Look at the top right portion of your Facebook page. This is the same regardless of the browser and device you’re using. Look at the down arrow and click it since it opens the account menu.

When you get there, pick the “Settings” option. Once you’re there, go to the “General” page and choose “Manage Account.” You’ll see a lot of different options under this section, but skip to the very bottom since it’s where you’ll see the header for “Deactivate Your Account.”

As soon as you click the “Deactivate Your Account” option, Facebook will ask for your password. Before you can complete the process, Facebook will ask you for a reason for your deactivation. Select the most appropriate option before you finish confirming your temporary deactivation.

Always remember that you can come back at any time.

How to Restore Your Facebook Account

The best part about Facebook is that the account restoration process is simple. All you need to do is to go log back into Facebook using your username and password. An alternative is to go to a third-party app or website and use your Facebook credentials to log in.

Whatever the case, Facebook will send a verification code in your email address or mobile device. It’s to ensure that you’re the one logging in using your account. Make sure that your account’s listed email address and mobile number is up to date.

How to Delete Your Facebook Account From a Desktop Browser

Before you start with the deletion process, make sure that it’s something you’re set on doing. Once you’re set on abandoning the platform for good, go to the “Settings” and select “Your Facebook Information.”

Choose “Deactivation and Deletion” and pick the second option. As soon as you click on the button that says “Continue to Account Deletion,” you’re taken to the Deletion page. This screen will give you options before you complete the process.

On this screen, you have the option to switch to Facebook Deactivation instead. It will remind you that deleting your Facebook account also means deleting your Messenger and all your messages. It gives you one last reminder before you continue with the deletion.

You also have the option to download your Facebook information. It also lists the number of photos, posts, and other information stored within your account. It’s always great to make backups of your Facebook info, so click on the “Download Info” button first.

Once you’re ready to proceed, click on “Delete Account”. This will finish the entire process and remove your Facebook account as soon as the grace period ends.

How to Delete Your Facebook Account from the Mobile App

Using your mobile app to delete Facebook is similar to the browser process. You also have the option of downloading all your data. But if you’re a long-time user, you should do it on a computer since you’ll have a lot of information.

The only difference is that you should tap the three vertical lines located on the top right corner of your mobile screen. Look at the “Privacy and Settings” section and select “Settings.” From there, you’ll see “Account Ownership and Control”.

As soon as you tap that option, everything will be the same. Finish up the process and you’re done.

Get More Facebook Help Today!

If you want to know how to temporarily deactivate Facebook, this is the guide for you. It’s okay to take a break from social media sometimes, and this option serves that purpose. Don’t hesitate to take a step back and enjoy what the real world has to offer.

Do you need expert assistance? Take time to read our other guides today, like this one discussing what to do when Facebook isn’t working.

Do you need help organizing your next event?

Parties are great, but they come with a lot of caveats. One is that if you’re the sole planner, there’s an incredible amount of work to do. Hosting a party is one thing, but hosting a cool party or event that people actually show up to is another.

When you’re busy prepping and planning, it’s going to be headache-inducing to have to communicate with all your guests. You have to let people know what kind of event it is, what to wear, who else they can invite, and let people know about any last-minute changes.

That’s why so many people use Facebook to promote events nowadays. In this post, we’re going to tell you why Facebook is still doing it right when it comes to events and then show you how to create a Facebook event of your own.

Don’t let a lack of communication get in the way of your event going off without a hitch. Use Facebook and you can focus on what really matters: making your event the best party of the year.

Why Do Facebook Events Work?

Why do Facebook events work?

There are a few main reasons. Did you know that there are 2.3 billion active monthly users on Facebook? That probably means that a good chunk of your friends and associates are regularly using it. This alone is the biggest reason why it works so well for planning events.

That’s not the only reason, though. Facebook has been one of the go-to event-planning platforms for a decade now, so this is often where people expect to see events of any size appear.

Facebook allows you to communicate freely with the people that are helping you plan the event as well as those attending. When someone’s invited to your event, they’ll receive a notification anytime something has changed or you’ve made an announcement.

This communication aspect is a key element of Facebook’s success when it comes to events. The real-time updates will keep everyone in the loop about what’s going on. It gives you the freedom to plan the way that you want to.

You can also gauge attendance with an event. If you want to boost attendance, you can instruct your guests to invite some guests of their own or if you want to restrict access, you can make it a private event.

Everything is easy to do on Facebook, so let’s dig in and figure out how to plan your event.

How to Create a Facebook Event

Creating a Facebook event takes as long as you want it to. It really depends on how detailed you want to be with your description, how specific you want to be with your guest list, and if you want to customize your event page.

Let’s start with the basics. Here’s how you create an event on Facebook:

• From your news feed (aka the front page), click the “Events” icon on the left menu.
• On the Events landing page, click the “+ Create Event” icon. This will start the creation process. A drop-down menu will appear where you can either choose to make it a private or public event. You can’t change a private event to a public event later, FYI.
• Once you’re on the event creation page, start with uploading a picture or choosing a theme. If you upload a photo, this is what your guests will see as the “cover photo” of the event. Facebook provides a bank of themes you can choose from, as well.
• Then, name your event, give it a location, date, a start and end time (if there is one…).
• Type in a description. This is where you’ll give your guests the rundown about why you’re holding the event, what’s going to happen at the event, and why your invitees need to attend. Be as brief or as long-winded as you please.
• Edit anything else that you want to. If you’ve made it a public event, for example, you can add keywords that’ll help interested people find the event page.
• Once you’re satisfied with the details of the event, scroll down to the bottom and click “Create” (or “Create Private Event”) and you’re event page will go live.
• Afterward, a screen will pop up, allowing you to invite people from your friend list to get the guest list started.

That’s it! In a few quick steps, you can create your event from scratch and start inviting people. Anytime you need to make edits, just go back to this page and you can edit any of the categories, including the name, the picture, the date and location, and the description.

You can promote the event directly on Facebook or link to it from your other social media accounts and your website (if you have one). If it’s an open event, you can encourage your guests to spread the word, invite people on Facebook, and link to it themselves.

Doing It On Your Phone

One more reason to create your event on Facebook is that you can do it from your phone. Just download the Facebook app and log in. From the front page, click the 3-bar icon, which will bring up a menu where you can click the “Events” icon.

From the Events page, click “Create” in the top right corner and select the type of event that you want (private or public). In the creation screen, you’ll essentially go through the same process as you do on your desktop version.

Fill in the title, click the camera icon to choose an event picture, then fill out the location, date, time, and description. When you’re done, scroll to the bottom and click “Publish”, then your event will be live. See? It’s just as easy to do on your phone.

Get Back to Planning

Being able to create, promote, and update your event directly on Facebook makes it so much easier to get back to planning.

The more time and money you save from avoiding having to make invitations and send out update emails, the more you can pour into the actual event. Learning how to create a Facebook event will create buzz around your party, but your hard work and planning will make it memorable.

If you found this article useful, come back and visit our website for more Facebook help.