Facebook pages allow page owners to add different widgets and apps to customize their presence and provide helpful information to visitors. Widgets can enhance engagement, showcase products or services, collect leads, and more. While Facebook offers a variety of built-in widgets, you can also add widgets from third-party developers and customize them to fit your needs.
What are Facebook Page widgets?
Facebook Page widgets are blocks of content and functionality that can be added to Facebook Page profiles. They allow page owners to incorporate extra features and information beyond the basic Facebook Page layout and profile.
There are a few main types of Facebook Page widgets:
- Built-in widgets offered by Facebook – These include widgets for Events, Videos, Photos, Notes, Messenger, and more.
- Third-party widgets and apps – Developers can create widgets and apps that integrate with Facebook Pages through the Facebook API. These provide expanded customization options.
- Custom HTML widgets – Page owners can add code to embed custom content like images, text, forms, etc on their Pages.
Widgets can appear in different parts of a Facebook Page, including the left or right page columns, the header, and within the main page content. They allow businesses, brands, organizations, and public figures to incorporate helpful tools, showcase products, collect leads, foster engagement, and more.
Why would you want to add widgets to your Facebook Page?
There are many reasons why adding widgets can benefit your Facebook Page:
- Engagement – Widgets like live chats, comment streams, Q&As, and more can help drive interaction between you and your audience.
- Lead generation – Lead capture and contact form widgets make it easy for visitors to subscribe, register for events, or download content from your Page.
- Promote products/services – Product showcase and ecommerce widgets let you highlight what you’re selling right on your Page.
- Customization – Widgets allow you to tailor your Page’s layout, content, and functionality beyond the basics offered by Facebook.
- Visitor info – Widgets like store locators, calendars, and contact info help provide helpful info to prospects and customers.
- Brand building – Widgets give you more ways to communicate your brand vision, spotlight your culture and values, and develop your brand identity.
Widgets ultimately provide more ways to create an engaging experience and connect with your target audience directly on your Facebook Page.
What types of widgets can you add to Facebook Pages?
Facebook offers a wide selection of widgets that Page owners can add. Some of the most popular widget options include:
1. Built-In Facebook Widgets
- Events – Showcase upcoming events
- Videos – Highlight video content
- Photos – Display photo albums and images
- Notes – Share blog posts and long-form content
- Messenger – Enable visitors to message your Page
- Recommendations – Feature recommendations from people who like your Page
- Jobs – Promote open job listings
- Offers – Post special offers and deals
- Page Plugins – Embed posts, videos, and other content
2. Third-Party Facebook Page Widgets
- eCommerce – Embed online stores, product catalogs, etc.
- Contact Forms – Collect leads and contacts
- Live Chat – Enable real-time communication
- Appointment Scheduling – Allow booking from your Page
- Contests/Promotions – Run contests to drive engagement
- Donations – Accept donations for nonprofits
- Wait List – Collect waitlist signups for launches
- Embedded Media – Embed videos, music, documents, etc.
3. Custom HTML Widgets
Custom HTML widgets allow even more flexibility. Some options include:
- Custom Images, text, and graphics
- Interactive content like forms and calculators
- Stock tickers and market data
- Visitor polls and surveys
- Third-party content like YouTube videos, Google Maps, etc.
The possibilities are nearly endless for the types of content and functionality you can add through custom HTML widgets.
How do you actually add widgets to your Facebook Page?
The process of adding widgets will differ slightly depending on the type of widget you want to use. But in general, these are the steps:
Adding built-in Facebook widgets
- Go to your Facebook Page and click “Settings” in the top navigation
- Select “Templates and Tabs” from the left sidebar
- Click the “+ Add a Tab” button and choose the tab/widget you want to add from the list of options
- Configure any available settings for the widget and click “Save”
- Drag and drop the tab into the desired position on your Page
Adding third-party app widgets
- Browse the Facebook App Center to find an app with the widget you want
- Click “Add to Page” and follow any additional setup steps in the app
- Authorize the app and select a Page to install it on
- The app/widget will be added as a new tab – drag and drop it into place
Adding custom HTML widgets
- Click the “Settings” dropdown and choose “Templates and Tabs”
- Click “+ Add a Tab” and select “Custom HTML”
- Give the tab a title
- Paste your custom HTML and JavaScript code into the content editor
- Click “Save” and drag the tab into position on your Page
Be sure to test widgets thoroughly after adding them to ensure they appear and function as expected. Refer to each widget’s documentation for any additional customization and configuration steps.
Key tips for adding effective widgets
Follow these tips for getting the most impact out of your Facebook Page widgets:
- Choose widgets that align with your audience’s interests and needs.
- Make sure widgets are mobile-friendly for optimal experience.
- Keep widgets updated with fresh, engaging content.
- Limit widget usage – Too many can clutter the Page layout.
- Find the right placement – Test top vs. side positioning.
- Customize widgets to match your brand look and feel.
- Use widgets strategically to support marketing goals.
- Analyze performance and tweak widgets as needed over time.
Examples of great Facebook widgets
Here are some examples of effective Facebook Page widget implementations:
Shopify’s Product Showcase
The ecommerce platform uses a third-party product showcase widget to highlight their various offerings directly on their Facebook Page:
Tasty’s Recipe Finder
Buzzfeed’s food brand incorporates a custom search bar widget to let visitors quickly find recipes:
Madewell’s Instagram Feed Display
The clothing retailer displays their Instagram content beautifully using the Page Plugin widget:
These are just a few ideas that demonstrate the value of thoughtful widget integration.
Common challenges with Facebook widgets
While widgets provide great customization benefits, some potential challenges include:
- Technical issues if not properly implemented
- Can slow page load time if not optimized
- Need to be updated/managed or they become stale
- May not display well on mobile
- Changes to Facebook’s API/platform can break them
- Too many widgets can clutter the page
Thoroughly testing widgets and planning an effective long-term strategy for managing them can help avoid pitfalls.
Conclusion
Adding widgets is an impactful way to customize your Facebook presence, promote your brand, and engage your target audience. Built-in, third-party, and custom HTML widgets provide expansive options to incorporate helpful tools, compelling content, and interactive features based on your unique goals and audience needs. With a thoughtful widget strategy and regular management, they can significantly enhance your Facebook Page effectiveness and reach.