Facebook Ads

Facebook is the social network of choice for hundreds of millions of individuals. The site that started linking college students has spread to being used by anyone who can click a mouse. Not to mention what used to be a user profile displaying interests and characteristics has turned into a hub for gift giving, music sharing, picture displaying, and just about anything you can imagine.

The great thing about this site is that is strictly social. You’ll rarely be bombarded by ads or anything you don’t want to. Therefore, for advertisers to get piece of the pie they had to work creatively. This week on November 7th Facebook announced they would be linking advertisements to users. They will have to ask permission before any action takes place, but due to the fact that millions of Facebook users have used the site to discuss brands, advertisers are optimistic. An example of how this plan will carry out uses Blockbuster video. A person renting a video will be asked at checkout if they would enjoy having their picture displayed with Blockbuster images online. Companies are also being allowed to make profiles for themselves and become friends of users.

Facebook is calling it social advertising. They believe it is a non- harassing form of advertising and that people will be excited to be associated with the brands they enjoy. My vote goes for yes. I think people will feel like they are getting their 30 seconds of fame when they get their face next to a Conde’ Nast ad. People associate strongly with certain brands. It's another way of saying who we really are.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/technology/07adco.html?n=Top/News/Business/Companies/Facebook,%20Inc.
http://www.womma.org/blog/2007/11/what-facebooks-social-ads-mean-for-wom/