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Last night, Facebook unveiled Facebook Places, the site's best effort to connect their 500 million-member society with the real world. The site's blog promises that, while Facebook has answered “Who,” “What” and “When” for years, it will now answer “Where.”
Like many location sharing services, Facebook Places allows users to tell their friends where they are by “checking in” to a location with their mobile phone. Facebook Places features several innovations that help differentiate it from other location sharing services like Foursquare and Yelp, including:
• The ability to tag friends. Just like photos or videos, Facebook users can now tag friends who are with them at their location.
• A “People Here Now” section. This section allows users to connect with friends at the same location at the same time. It also allows them to connect with others they don’t know but may share their same interests.
• Integration with other location apps like Foursquare and Yelp. The companies Gowalla, Yelp, Foursquare and Booyah all gave announcement at the presentation about how they would integrate Facebook Places into their applications.
• Easy-to-use privacy settings. The default privacy setting for Facebook Places only allows friends to see a user’s location. From there, users can allow everyone to see location updates or even just certain friends.
• The ability to share information about a place. Users can access reviews, pictures and information about their location from those who have visited before when they check in.
Even though Facebook Places brings a few cool innovations to the table, its biggest contribution could be introducing location sharing to the mainstream. While location sharing has exploded in popularity over the last year, the membership of sites like Foursquare and Booyah are miniscule compared to the half billion active users on Facebook. By bringing location sharing to the masses, Facebook Places could bring plenty of new opportunities to your business.
What does Facebook Places mean for your business?
• Claim your business. Official representatives of a business can claim it, which will turn the place into a Facebook Page. From there, you can post updates to people who like the page, update business information and more.
• Push coupons to Facebook users at your business. When someone checks into your business, you can send them coupons, promotions or tips.
• Promote interaction. Encourage users to interact with your Facebook Places page by offering incentives for things like reviews, feedback, etc.
• Encourage loyalty. Businesses have long been using Foursquare’s reward system to give discounts to users who visit often. While Facebook Places does not have a gaming feature like Foursquare, you should be able to offer promotions to customers who visit often.
• Get real-time stats about your customers. Facebook Places offers a powerful tool to learn more about the people who check into your business.
What do you think? In the comments section, give us some of your ideas for businesses using Facebook Places.
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Photo provided by moriza on Flickr.
About the Author: Comments
4 Comments so far4 Responses to “Check into Facebook Places for Your Business”
I just downloaded the new iPhone Facebook app to find that Facebook Places isn't available in my region (Valley View / Cleveland, Ohio). I wanted to be the first person to check into Fathom... bummer.
YES!!! First to check in to Fathom on Facebook. Take that current FourSquare Mayor, whoever you are!
@ Kurt You were first, but I checked in twice that day. But deleted one - just to be fair.
Why will FB Places check you out automatically? I checked in this morning, and when I checked back later it said I "was" there. I'm still here. Never left the building, so it is not as thought the GPS put me in the next county. I don't want my boss thinking I checked out physically, mentally or otherwise.
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