Remember the glory days of PointCast, Netscape and the Apple Newton? Probably not…because they certainly weren’t around for very long. Is Facebook destined to be just another techie fad that disappears into obscurity? (Trust us, we’ve certainly heard that more than a time or two.) But, we say NO WAY, and here’s why: Facebook isn’t just a social network. It has positioned itself to be an integral part of the entire online experience. And is even a factor in life offline. Facebook is no longer just about looking up old high school classmates or stalking around in an ex-flame’s photo album. People are using Facebook for everything from email to homepage landing and even as an identity platform for their other online habits.
“Identity platform” what? This is starting to get all sci-fi and futuristic, so let me clarify: Facebook is becoming so entrenched in the sites we visit that by the time we visit a site, it already knows who we are and what we like. Example: By using Facebook, Amazon.com can suggest products we may like (based on our Facebook profile – i.e. “check out this purse; it’s your favorite color!”) and can even give us gift giving tips when the birthday of a ‘friend’ is approaching. Kind of scary right… but oh so cool! Now Facebook can add e-commerce genius to its virtual resume and take credit for changing the way we shop online. Here’s a little tour of the Amazon/Facebook Connection:
The fact is Facebook integration has dominated with over 2 million sites added since 2008 (including Skype, Yahoo and Amazon) and that number keeps growing by a staggering 10,000 sites per day. Of Facebook’s 500 million users, nearly one-third interact with Facebook via third party sites every month. So people no longer even have to go to Facebook.com to use the social platform, it actually follows you during online surfing sessions.
With this kind of reach and influence, it’s no surprise that businesses have been making the most of Facebook’s popularity. Like the rest of Facebook Pages, it seems that Business Pages are getting new tweaks and features all the time in an effort to stay fresh and relevant. A few new features coming soon that will help you make the most of your business page: more logo friendly avatar, custom landing page and targeted interaction with other pages.
Businesses aren’t just jumping on the page creation bandwagon; they’re also creating store fronts (check out Best Buy) and attracting loyal fans through targeted advertising. Display ads are nothing new on Facebook and the trend shows no sign of slowing down. According to ComScore, about 1 in 4 display ads appear on Facebook. And its success is no surprise with targeted demographics, budget friendly prices and tracking capabilities. You can increase your reach and get your message out to the masses much faster. A recent US Marketers study indicates that we are currently spending about 5.6% of our marketing dollars on social media. In the next 5 years, that number is expected to jump to 18.1%. So it’s a safe bet to join the likes of AT&T, Verizon and Netflix by continuing to invest your dollars in the “sure thing” that is Facebook.
So What?: Seven years ago, Facebook didn’t even exist and now it has surpassed Google as the most popular website on the internet. It is also the most trafficked website with about 8% of the world’s population among its regular users. The fresh produce industry as a whole may have been hesitant at first to get on board with social networking, but with the evolution and growth of Facebook, its clear there is room for and evidence of EVERYONE at the table. Yes, the social mogul Facebook is here to stay. So if your company needs to tell its story, Facebook is a great place to do it and that isn’t going to change anytime soon.
What if?: Let’s say you’ve explored the advertising side of Facebook and want to see what else it can offer you. Have you considered selling your products directly on your Facebook page? How cool would it be to feature your delicious cucumbers available for order right alongside an amazing Cucumber-Mango Salsa recipe? Think of the possibilities! Or let’s say you’re coming out with a brand new specialty product and want to give your loyal Facebook fans first dibs at placing their order. You can announce it and take orders all on the same page! All you need is a fully integrated Facebook e-commerce application like Payvment or Beeshopy, and since they’re free, it’s even easier to create your own Facebook retail outlet.
Posted by: The DMA Solutions Team
