Facebook is a funny little site, isn't it? Whether you know it or not, it changes things on us all the time. So much, in fact, that even the most seasoned professionals (like me!) have to read and read and read just to make sure they don't miss things.

You, however, probably don't have the time to read all the press releases and news bites—which is why you're here—to have me do that for you and then sum it up in nice little chunks of information for you. So let's get to a few of the most recent changes that I think will have an impact on you and your business!

1. Facebook Live - This started rolling out to important people (i.e., the BIG press and stars) a few months ago, and then ever so slowly, they opened it up to more people. I finally got access to it several weeks ago, but it wasn't until I had a big piece of news to share that I actually used it. That video got over 1200 views which is huge. Coming next? Live for verified Pages! I recommend you test out the Live feature on your personal account, and get comfortable with it so that you can implement it on your page when it's time.

2. Facebook Professional Services - If you've never optimized your Facebook page for local, you need to move that up to the top of your list, as this is a feature that they're testing as we speak. While they're not saying how businesses will rank, suffice it to say that the better your page is optimized, the more 5-star reviews you have, and the more people interact with you, the better your chances will be to be on the first page.

3. More Video Options - Another feature that's slowly rolling out will be the ability to do more with your videos on Facebook. You'll be able to offer calls-to-action and more right on top of your videos on your pages!

Posted by Facebook for Developers on Friday, December 11, 2015

4. Instant Articles - In an effort to continue to keep people on Facebook, they're encouraging brands and pages to post long-form content directly on their pages. Available to big new houses such as WSJ, CNN, etc., this is a great opportunity to showcase your expertise to an audience that's already absorbing content straight from Facebook. It's also a way to feature your blog posts that may not have gotten noticed on your own site.

It's always fun to see the new ways Facebook wants people to use their site, and I'll be interested to see the creativity that you will come up with to market your brand!