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7 Free iFrame Applications to Create Welcome Tab (Custom Tabs) for Your Facebook Page.

Custom tabs can be one of the greatest inventions for facebook page. It brings a page to life, allows content enhancement to impress and capture attention. Setting up a custom tab can be easy (DIY) or complicated with advanced coding knowledge of HTML, Javascript and iframes (soon to come). Answering these questions can help in deciding what type of custom tab you are planning to build:

• What is the tab for?
• What are the results I hope to achieve from the tab?
• What kind of brand image I wish to portray to visitors?
• What are the must-have designing elements within the tab?
• What is your budget for a custom tab?

 

Also, one more thing you should know about is iframes will be replacing FBML tabs soon:

 

Existing FBML tabs will continuously be supported but no doubt, IFrames will be the new lead in facebook customization. Currently IFrames tabs are yet to be released by facebook. A fan from our page had brought up a good concern here – “ I don’t have much knowledge in setting up a welcome tab, but are there any possible ways for a DIY?”.

Yes, there are. In fact I’m going to share with you some facebook applications (come with free accounts) that can do just that. But there will be limitations comparing to customization work done by professionals, such as advertisement links or hidden features. If you’re in a hurry to setup a welcome tab (or any landing tab/custom tabs) for your business page, FBML is still a good pick. Otherwise, these facebook applications will be a good fit for your fan page:

 

5 Facebook Applications to Create Welcome Tab (Custom & Sub-tabs)

 

1. Welcome Tab for Pages

 

HTML Knowledge: Yes
Sub-tabs: No

The whole concept is similar to Static FBML, you ought to have basic HTML knowledge to get things running on the tab. So this may be a good pick if you’re running out of FBML boxes (maximum 10 tabs per page) to add. The only advantage it has over Static FBML is the built-in analytical stats for your welcome tab visits.

If you are to stick with Static FBML (at least it has no footer message; tab name is editable), try to give this article a read about embedding Google Analytics code within the tab.

 

2. TabSite

 

HTML Knowledge: Yes
Sub-tabs: Yes (Two)

TabSite has a wordpress-like control panel for drafting your tab content: font resizing, styles, even media files uploading (images, videos). For its free account, you can create up to two sub-tabs. You can arrange the tab order and how they are displayed to fans – horizontally or as a drop down menu.

Visit tabsite pricing page for more features.

 

3. Static FBML and Welcome Tab by iwiPage

 

HTML Knowledge: Yes
Sub-tabs: Yes (>2 but Limited)

I love sub-tabs so no doubt I’m giving iwiPage a test-run. It is said to support iframes, Javascript and flash on all sub-tabs except ‘Home’. I did not get to verify on the iframe insertion so if anybody did, kindly share your experience with the app in the comments. Apart from the slick design with drag and drop, the ability to hide tab from non-fans until they liked the fan page impressed me the most – it’s a feature that not always come with a FREE account, but iwipage allows it (but with limitations).

The customization is a bit challenging until you figure out how it works. I would advise you to watch this video tutorial first to prevent frustration and lost of your work:

4. Tigerlily CMS

– [UPDATED: 12/01/2012] This app is no longer available.
 

HTML Knowledge: No
Sub-tabs: Yes (Two)

Tigerlily is pretty much straight forward (drag and drop). Its free account offers users with basic configurations without the need of knowing any HTML at all. As long you don’t mind their brand name on the tab and footer, you can insert quite a number of media files or social feeds with just the source links (no sign in for authorization purposes).

It offers several applications for different packages. More about their price plan here.

 

5. Pagemodo Pagebuilder

 

HTML Knowledge: No
Sub-tabs: No (One Tab Only)

For those who are not into complicated HTML or CSS code modifications, pagemodo gives you sophisticated design layout with the simplicity of drag and drop! Everything is basically well customized. Page admin only needs to replace the images and texts, reposition the content before confirming your changes. Font customization and background design can be modified. No designing skills required to make your custom tabs (welcome, showroom etc) look like pro’s!

But to unlock video-embedding themes, add more tabs and eliminating the footer, a paid plan is needed.

 

The reason why I am so into facebook customization is that every page is unique on its own. Even with these DIY apps, you can still make a difference for your welcome tab if you willing to experiment and improvise. Don’t stop by adding the application to your page. Monitor its results and find out what works and what’s not.

Recommended Post:
7 Free iFrame Applications to Create Welcome Tab (Custom Tabs) for Your Facebook Page.

 

Now is Your Turn…

 

What are your anticipations for iframes? Any other facebook applications that I missed for a well customized welcome tab? Share your thoughts.

 

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