This weekend, Facebook made an announcement that it had updated users' profiles. The new profile format more prominently displays users' basic information and offers them the chance to choose what other […]

This weekend, Facebook made an announcement that it had updated users' profiles. The new profile format more prominently displays users' basic information and offers them the chance to choose what other info they want to showcase on their profiles, and this may help marketers better target ads on the site.

In an official Facebook blog post, Josh Wiseman, an engineer for the site, explains that the profile positions basic information at the top of a page, as these are "the kinds of conversation starters you share with people you've just met." For marketers, this info can also be a starting point in determining whether or not users should be targeted by ads.

Additionally, the updated profiles include a space where users can easily list and create visual aids for their "new experiences," from projects they've worked on to people they admire. This may offer especially nuanced targeting information for brands that offer display ads on the site, and it could enable them to reach more relevant audiences.

Targeting tools for Facebook ads should be good news for marketers. As Brafton has reported, Facebook impressions are driving the overall growth of the display ad market. Plus, one-quarter of social users are more likely to make purchases with brands that advertise on social sites

Katherine Griwert is Brafton's Marketing Director. She's practiced content marketing, SEO and social marketing for over five years, and her enthusiasm for new media has even deeper roots. Katherine holds a degree in American Studies from Boston College, and her writing is featured in a number of web publications.