This past March Facebook Timeline went live across all of its pages, bringing a few new ideas to the forefront. Now people are paying attention, either seeing Timeline as an opportunity to express themselves creatively or using it to entice the consumer. Utilizing tools such as the Cover for its sheer size alone (851x 315 pixels), users are getting the attention they crave.  Anyone trying to capture an audience could find a way to do so using Timeline as their platform.  We were curious as to what unique uses we might find for this new feature from Facebook and came across 5 other ways people are using Timeline.

Brand Pages

Popular brands such as Coca~Cola, Starbucks and Ben & Jerry’s have taken advantage of Timeline, namely, it seems, for the banner like Cover photo, but also to indulge in it’s features.

Cover photos seem to strike as a hot commodity because they can actually change the look and feel of a product. Starbucks had boasted a Cover of their product at its most bassist form. Coffee beans! They are shined to absolute perfection and look oh so yummy, you can’t help but crave a grande, two raw sugar, extra whip white mocha…. Or is that just me?

ESPN had enticed fans with their cover photo as well, with an iconic scene from the well-known Sportscenter show. This week they are sporting a collage of photos from a variety of sporting events as their cover, giving us something new to look forward to on a regular basis. This form of marketing is brilliant in that it can capture the attention of just about anybody, even those completely uninterested in the topic at hand.

Red Bull made use of the ability for page administrators to receive messages from fans. Red bull used this feature to set up an interactive scavenger hunt and handed out prizes to the winners.

Some brands Highlighted their company history as a marketing tool. By offering glimpses into their past readers of the The New York Times are given access to over 160 years of moments in the newspapers history.

Job Search

According to a recent survey done by Reppler, out of 300 employers 91% use social networking sites to screen candidates, 76% use Facebook to do so.

Suffice to say, job seekers who use Facebook are exponentially increasing their odds of finding a job versus those who are not on Timeline by capitalizing on their profiles as virtual resumes. While you probably don’t want to completely cut your personal life from your Timeline profile, you definitely want to make sure you are not over sharing with potential employers. Things like pictures of your trip to Vegas should probably be kept on a private setting. When looking at your Timeline “resume,” you will want to view it through the eyes of your next boss.

Start with your cover photo, choose something that is a positive reflection of you.  This is where you can show off your personality.

Next, move on to your education and employment history. You can use your Timeline to do this. Be sure to include dates you attended a particular school and/or worked for a company and additionally, tag said school and company if they are also on Facebook.  For schooling, list levels of education and degrees. For employment, incorporate responsibilities, promotions, and any special projects related to your field.

Finally, take advantage of the Milestones and Experiences feature, add finishing touches by promoting any awards or specialized certifications, as well as multiple languages you may speak or relevant skills you wish to make known.

After you have revamped your Timeline profile you can literally turn it into a personal business card with Moo.com.

Band Pages

Timeline makes for a refreshing way for bands to put themselves out there. Looking at a bands page from a fans perspective is an exciting prospect.  Timeline offers the opportunity for a band to highlight their history; how they came together, as well as behind the scenes shots from past shows.

Coldplay, for example, recently posted a slew of old content dating back to the 90’s, including their very first practice together.

Timeline also gives your fans the chance to see upcoming tours dates and record releases. By utilizing the “Pin” feature an administrator of a bands Timeline can update their status which will remain featured at the top of the page for up to 7 days.

By using this perk, bands can also draw attention to charitable events that may otherwise have gone unnoticed.

Interactive Portfolio

Whether your field is fashion, architecture, photography, graphic design, etc, as an artist Timeline offers a variety of ways in which to display your work as an online portfolio.

Again, you will want to start with your Cover, making sure it is an accurate reflection of what you do best.

In your Timeline, you can show the progression of your level of skill, training and even big projects you have done. Highlighting compilations where you may have had the opportunity to work with a renowned fellow artist or study with them is yet another way to boost your street cred.

Tattoo artists are a prime example of an artist who could benefit from the attention Timeline could bring. A collage of photos of tattoos on skin, placed strategically and aesthetically is pleasing to the eye.

From there, a bio of the artist’s life as an inking engineer, what drives them, what got them started in the first place and so on, are all interesting to the person viewing the Timeline.

Pin a few specials as your status update to bring in business and then turn around and post your work, as it comes; clients and fans will love being included.

Tag fellow artists to branch out and network as much as possible.

Start a Startup

Trying to get capital to start a business is no easy feat. Timeline, however, can act as a friendly tool in accomplishing such a hefty task.

It has become clear by now, the Cover photo, with a minimum width of 399 pixels seems to be one of the best features to happen to Facebook to date. Used correctly, this tool can draw the eye of someone who may never normally have taken a second glance at your ideas. Not only does it take up up a substantial amount of space, essentially acting as a banner, but studies have actually shown that when we view something enticing, we are more inclined to listen to what it has to say…it’s science people!

Getting creative with Timeline means using it in such a way that maybe no one else yet has. Rather than actually making a “timeline” with your page, you can turn it into a presentation of sorts.

Take a business plan as an example. It can be broken down, simplified and condensed to the point that it can be placed on the Timeline, using images to spark the interests of potential investors or partners.

Crunch numbers boasting of past success and throw them under your Milestones and Experiences. This will give outsiders a clear and concise view of what you’re about, where you plan to be and why you think your proposition for a startup will be a success.

Whether starting a new business, reaching new levels of marketing for an old one, looking for work..anywhere, displaying your art or showing off your music talents, Facebook has given us a tool to do all of these things, and more. You just have to get creative. Whether you are an advocate for Timeline or still on the fence, one thing is clear–Timeline offers a multitude of tools to make yourself known.