new Facebook profile style increases focus on the ads - click for enlarged view
The real reason for the new Facebook Profile Style is because it increases the visual focus of the user on the ADS section of Facebook. If you click on the image to the left, it will get bigger. You will notice that the old style of Facebook has the ads in a very predictable area on the right hand of the page. But the right hand side where the ads are has very limited interactivity for the user. There isn’t a lot of buttons over here except for account control and it is very easy to ignore this section all together. But if you notice the New Style of the facebook profile shows two new things. First of all there is a medium sized button that says, “Edit Profile.” This button is very important and many active users will utilize this button quite often. And it is conveniently located as far right as possible. If this was the only change then I would consider myself to be overreacting but there is more. If you are looking at your own main page, then the area where you can edit and upload your photos is directly above the ads. And that makes it very hard to ignore the advertisements. It is a genius decision on the part of the ROI executives because it will definitely get people to look at and interact with the advertisements much more.
The interesting thing is that when you are looking at someone else’s Facebook page who has the new profile style, then there is a different option where the Upload Photo are was on your page. On a friend who has the new profile style you will see an intriguing, “You and *your friend*” area. This will show some of your basic commonalities and information. The fact that this information is always changing from friend to friend is a definite attention-getter.
So if you want to be subconciously drawn to more ads then I recommend that you use this new Facebook Profile Style. Another fun tidbit is that once you change your profile style to the new one and “upgrade” then everyone on Facebook will appear to have the new style.
Also I am not complaining about this. I’m the kind of guy who’ll buy Rihanna’s “Umbrella” from Amazon MP3 even though I can listen to it on YouTube as much as I want for free. I just felt like drawing a fun diagram.
PS: If you would like to read about some “Concerns About the Like Button” then you might enjoy THIS article.
-Tyler