Facebook Adds Page Admin Roles and Post Scheduling
June 1, 2012 13 Comments
Third party apps like Hootsuite and TweetDeck just lost some firepower with Facebook’s launch of post scheduling. Now you can schedule posts right from Facebook itself. Here’s the scoop.
How to schedule posts in Facebook
Facebook’s scheduling tool includes the ability to add dynamic links and images. Other schedulers I’ve tested do not do a good job of including these features, so this is a big improvement. I tested the Facebook scheduler today and found it to work very well. The only thing missing, in my opinion, is a queue of scheduled posts. Currently, once the post is scheduled it disappears into the hinterlands, not to be seen again until it appears on your wall. I want the ability to go into my scheduled posts and edit or delete, if necessary.
The tool allows us to schedule posts up to six months in advance. Without the ability to edit I fear many community managers may be hesitant to use the feature. I know personally I check my Twitter queue several times a day and move posts around depending on what other news comes up that may supercede the post I have scheduled.
UPDATE – scheduled posts are displayed in your page’s activity log. They can be deleted only, not edited. Find them by clicking manage>use activity log. Thanks to friend and fellow social media professional Dan Toland for the tip (check out his Ohio Farm Bureau FB page - it rocks).
Here’s how to use the tool
- Compose your post
- Include your link or image
- Click the clock icon in the inline status bar
- Add the year, the month, the day and the time for the post
Note for page admins: If you haven’t included the Founding date for your company in your Timeline milestones the scheduler will not be available. To fix that, add a new post, click milestone and add your “Founded On” date. Include a photo of your corporate HQ or your logo to make this post interesting to your followers, as it will show up in their newsfeeds. You’ll then be able to schedule posts. Here’s a screenshot of the feature.
Facebook Page Admin Roles
Facebook also rolled out today the ability to set roles and permissions for Facebook page admins. Now you can set up to five different page admin abilities, giving various rights to publish to your page admins. Find this tool under Edit Page>Admin Roles.
Admin types include:
- Manager
- Content Creator
- Moderator
- Advertiser
- Insights Analyst
This chart, located on Facebook’s help section , explains the level of access for each role. Facebook’s given us the ability to set access to everything from insights only to the ability to create posts only to full access. This is an important enhancement, as all page admins had the ability to purchase advertising under the old settings. Now, page admins can create content and moderate posts without the ability to spend money. If you have multiple page admins, this new ability is a big improvement. Here’s a screenshot of the chart on Facebook’s help section of the various roles and their abilities.
Image from Facebook Help
What do you think? Do you plan to use these new features? Tell me how in the comments!
About Sue Reynolds
I find it works well with pages – and you can edit times via your Activities – however, it does not work for me on my profile – will not load a future date…….so I’ll keep on trying…..!!!
Or does it in fact only work on pages????
I’m able to schedule posts from my profile Tommie. I do know that Facebook sometimes rolls out new features gradually – so it could be that it hasn’t been added to your profile yet. This is only a guess.
Hi, the only thing that I am not happy with the new scheduling feature is that the photos which are scheduled come to an new album “Photos” and not into the Album “Wall-Pictures” which means if I post more than 4 photos they does not appear on the wall – they are hidden in the album. Yes, they appear in the newsfeed like normal posts but not on the wall.
Do someone noticed that?
It would be awesome if facebook introduces a “select album” tab in addition to that feature.
worth reading it.. Can you please also share your thoughts on news feeds new limitations and restrictions?
This feature used to work on my business page, but recently it is not working. Does anyone know what’s up?
I’m still seeing it available on the pages I manage so I can duplicate the problem you are having – have you tried searching the database to see if anyone else is having issues with it?
I see the scheduler icon, but when I click on it it doesn’t go anywhere. I’ve submitted a report to Facebook, but they don’t respond and then I googled, Facebook Scheduler not working and came across your blog.
Kris,
Ahh – yes I do think the option has been buggy lately. I tried to use it this past Thursday and wasn’t able – but only on some of the pages I manage. On others it worked just fine.
I’ve been using the Facebook scheduling feature and it’s worked really well…up until these last few days. I have a bunch of posts to make for clients this week and it’s troubling that I can’t schedule them. I’ve tried Hoot Suite – they are great for posts but not uploading pictures. Appreciate any suggestions.
I’ve had the same problem recently – but it seems to be working sporadically on my pages. My only guess is that as Facebook rolls out new features (like sponsored posts in newsfeeds this week) it is making other options buggy.
Cool Post. When I try to set the Admin – I go to EDIT PAGE, Then ADMIN ROLES. When I go to ADMIN ROLES, there is nothing there. Any idea how to fix?
Weird. When you go to admin roles, you should see the list of page admins authorized to manage the page. If you are the only page admin you should still be listed there. But sometimes Facebook can be a little wonky (technical term). If the page is blank I’d have to guess it was a glitch.