Facebook has come a long way since its humble beginning in 2004. The popular social networking site has played a vital role in the evolution and rise of social media marketing. From profile updates to fan pages, Facebook is a gold mine for companies that want to build awareness, market their products and connect with customers. Well, in an attempt to stay ahead of the game, Facebook is now taking the next step by allowing businesses to take these valuable connections to the next level. The popular social media marketing website can now be used as a point of sale.
This new Facebook feature will be valuable to companies that have already attracted thousands of users to their fan pages, and to those that are interested in marketing and selling to consumers on the same channel. These new shopping apps are Flash-based storefronts that operate on Facebook fan pages under the “shop” tab. This is a major breakthrough for the popular social media marketing website because this is feature that its competitors simply don’t offer.
Companies like 1-800-Flowers.com and Marks make-up have already hired developers to create their new shopping apps. Additionally, some companies are cleverly using this new feature to increase their Facebook numbers. For example, the popular shoe store Nine West created an app that will not allow users to purchase goods on their Facebook page until the customer becomes a Facebook fan. Social media enthusiasts are excited to see the results from this new shopping app because this can revolutionize social media marketing.
Selling on Facebook will benefit both companies and consumers alike. For starters, these new Flash apps will turn Facebook fan pages into a more engaging shopping experience and will cut down shopping time for e-commerce consumers who use Facebook as an online mall. As for the benefits for e-commerce businesses, these new Facebook Flash apps will cut down the number of clicks it takes to make a transaction, which will reduce the likelihood of a customer abandoning their cart. On the downside, features of the new Fan pages cannot be used on mobile devices that do not support Flash-based technology, like the iPhone and iPad.
If this new feature increases sells and more businesses follow the trend, Facebook could eventually become a one stop shop for all your social networking and merchandise buying needs.
Written By Jacquelynn M.
