A Facebook fan page template is a great way to personalize your fan page and differentiate it from other pages. There are literally thousands of free templates for sale for every category of online fan page. Generally speaking, the free versions have limited design and flexibility, so buying a template is often the best option. But before you get one for your fan page, be sure to check out these template buying tips.
Look for neat, clean-looking templates
Facebook, alone, already has a lot to do. This explains why the site maintains its discreet white and blue design and navigation options to avoid overwhelming its users. In the same way, you need to find a Facebook fan page template that looks great without being too busy. Your own personal style preferences and the type of page you’re developing are also important considerations, but it’s generally best to under-design at first, as you can always add more bells and whistles later.
Make sure the template conforms to the Facebook layout
You want a template that perfectly fits Facebook’s 520-pixel width limit to prevent unsightly scroll bars from appearing on your page. Scroll bars are outdated page elements and are generally avoided because they make navigating the page more difficult than necessary.
Check the customization options
While many templates look good on their own, most would still require some customization to better display your fan page and content. This is why it is important to find templates that are editable and customizable to best suit your needs. Note that many providers easily state this, but some place limits on their templates so that they can also offer their personalized, fee-based services.
See template software requirements
Since you are probably going to customize your Facebook fan page template, it is very important to check the template files if you have the necessary software to edit them. Most of the templates are HTML or PSD files, which require Dreamweaver or Microsoft Frontpage and Adobe Photoshop, respectively. If you don’t have the mentioned softwares, you can download free limited trials from their respective websites.
Check if they are compatible with iFrame
Custom Facebook Pages now run on iFrames, so you need to make sure the template you purchased is compatible with the framework. Many vendors now offer iFrame templates specifically for this purpose, and these should be the first to consider.
Important considerations when using templates
Another thing to remember is that uploading your iFrame Facebook fan page template requires a separate iFrame application specifically for your page. This means creating the iFrame application, uploading it to your page, and streaming your custom template and content from a web server to your page. If you already have some knowledge of HTML and server infrastructure for this, you can proceed with building your application. However, small businesses and freelancers without these resources may need to hire a design company and / or register with a web host to implement these changes.