Facebook Places

[mangoprint]

those of you that have been on facebook recently would probably have noticed that places (facebook gps on where you are) is becoming quite popular.

For example, "Chris is at Pizza Express" on your status with a link to a page that has it's address and comments etc for that areas Pizza Express.

Do you think this has the power to become an internet within an internet? (best way I can describe it really!)

What if all the major companies/businesses created a webpage for that location data, so that next time it says "chris is at pizza express" you are taken to a fully designed website just for Pizza Express at that location but all within facebook.

I could see all the major businesses doing this, creating a whole new surfing experience within Facebook.

What do you guys think? Let's discuss!

 

[Pocket Money Designs]

Why anyone would want the whole world to know exactly where they are at any time, I will never know....

 

[Waveney Books]

Why anyone would want the whole world to know exactly where they are at any time, I will never know....

I agree. That's exactly what I thought when I saw it was available on Facebook. Needless to say..............it's not turned on on my profile.
Maybe one day we'll have GPS implants inserted at birth

 

[wecandobiz]

I agree. That's exactly what I thought when I saw it was available on Facebook. Needless to say..............it's not turned on on my profile.
Maybe one day we'll have GPS implants inserted at birth

The whole world doesn't know. It's just people you have said are "friends" and they have confirmed.

And you might want to tell them for the same reason that if they called you up and during that phone conversation they asked "Where are you now?" you'd tell them. I often use it to see if any of my friends are nearby to me so we might grab an impromptu coffee or beer.

Back to the OP, yes, Location Based Social Networks are BIG news. Imagine a future where you may be checking in to Pizza Express, but a new pizzeria in town has paid Facebook to switch users, so you get a message that if you go to Pizzamania and use promo code FB101 you get 50% off your bill. Further, FB realises you are in Edgeware eating your pizza and let's you know there is an angling supplies shop just up the road because it knows from your profile you like angling.

Powerful stuff and we're only just seeing the tip of the iceberg. Through tech like this we may never have to consume an irrelevant marketing message again.

I've written a few blog articles on Facebook Places -- you can the latest here.

 

[mangoprint]

I totally agree, I think we will be in for some mind boggling features.

The whole world doesn't know. It's just people you have said are "friends" and they have confirmed.

And you might want to tell them for the same reason that if they called you up and during that phone conversation they asked "Where are you now?" you'd tell them. I often use it to see if any of my friends are nearby to me so we might grab an impromptu coffee or beer.

Back to the OP, yes, Location Based Social Networks are BIG news. Imagine a future where you may be checking in to Pizza Express, but a new pizzeria in town has paid Facebook to switch users, so you get a message that if you go to Pizzamania and use promo code FB101 you get 50% off your bill. Further, FB realises you are in Edgeware eating your pizza and let's you know there is an angling supplies shop just up the road because it knows from your profile you like angling.

Powerful stuff and we're only just seeing the tip of the iceberg. Through tech like this we may never have to consume an irrelevant marketing message again.

I've written a few blog articles on Facebook Places -- you can the latest here.

 

[Funny Business Cartoons]

http://www.makeuseof.com/tech-fun/what-facebook-is-for/

 

[brownjennifer72]

thank you for sharing!

 

[Esk247]

there is a clear line between those who are avid facebookers and those who just dont get what the fuss is about.

i clearly, do not get the fuss, i do not want even my 'friends' (<< lose term as friends on facebook means anybody that you happened to click 'accept' on) to know where i am thanks.

also, i HATE targeted advertising, feck off, it's like having a little Google employee following you round the shop saying 'oh, suits you sir, oh oh oh suits you' GET OUT OF MY LIFE!!!

my missus has all the facebook apps, blackberry with facebook updates etc etc. i can't stand the frickin thing, she can't have a normal conversation without 'bing' 'bing' 'bing' facebook update 'Sam has eaten a pizza and it was yummy' << oh wait, she's got to reply to this statement by 'liking' it.

eugh!

if facebook wants to tell me where an angling shop is i'll tell it which cliff to jump off

 

[smbchamp]

I believe they are sort of like foursquare. Considering the sheer volume of FB users, anything that FB starts, will create buzz

 

[Newcott]

ESK247 - Would you rather have un-targetted advertising ?

Either way its going to happen so surly the best option is for it to be something of interest to you ?

I quite like Facebook Places - never could be bothered with Foresquare as I'd have to sign up and build a new network but as its with my existing facebook then fine.

Would be interested to see what comes of it - I think I read someone about a few companies running compititons (names out of a hat) of users who Checked in at certain sites.

The only issue I see at the moment is its a bit reactive - like the Pizza example. I'll probably sit down, order food and only check in whilst waiting so getting notification about cheaper pizza would be annoying.

However getting information about a club/after dinner show thats near by could gain my interest.

 

[Esk247]

ESK247 - Would you rather have un-targetted advertising ?

Either way its going to happen so surly the best option is for it to be something of interest to you ?

I quite like Facebook Places - never could be bothered with Foresquare as I'd have to sign up and build a new network but as its with my existing facebook then fine.

Would be interested to see what comes of it - I think I read someone about a few companies running compititons (names out of a hat) of users who Checked in at certain sites.

The only issue I see at the moment is its a bit reactive - like the Pizza example. I'll probably sit down, order food and only check in whilst waiting so getting notification about cheaper pizza would be annoying.

However getting information about a club/after dinner show thats near by could gain my interest.

it depends on how its targeted, if i am looking for an item or particular subject and the ads displayed are more closely matched then thats good, but if they're going to go 'ping' and tell me about something i was searching for an hour ago then its not much use to me and would get irritating

 

[Newcott]

Esk,

Agree with you on the latter part - I keep getting some adverts for Crucial RAM after I brought some about 2 months ago. Its nice to have ads that are relevant to me but they need to be a bit smarter to work for Facebook Places

 

[Rhodes100]

Twitter has a similar application called four square, the person that checks in at that location the most becomes the major.

Now the real benefit should be if the location participates.

Assume that the location is a restuarant and that restuarant decides to give the major free meals. Imagine how many people might want to visit the location in order to be the person who visits the most to get free meals.

The individual benefits for being the most local customer and the location benefits from increased turnover with competition to be the major

Unfortunately businesses on twitter dont know how to use this locational marketing yet so it is just annoying to see these updates for everyone else.

I would never use foursquare, assume that someone knows where you live and follows you on twitter with an aim of robbing your house. They could simply wait for an update that the person is 100 miles away so they know the coast is clear!

 

[indiemandm]

there is a clear line between those who are avid facebookers and those who just dont get what the fuss is about.

i clearly, do not get the fuss, i do not want even my 'friends' (<< lose term as friends on facebook means anybody that you happened to click 'accept' on) to know where i am thanks.

also, i HATE targeted advertising, feck off, it's like having a little Google employee following you round the shop saying 'oh, suits you sir, oh oh oh suits you' GET OUT OF MY LIFE!!!

my missus has all the facebook apps, blackberry with facebook updates etc etc. i can't stand the frickin thing, she can't have a normal conversation without 'bing' 'bing' 'bing' facebook update 'Sam has eaten a pizza and it was yummy' << oh wait, she's got to reply to this statement by 'liking' it.

eugh!

if facebook wants to tell me where an angling shop is i'll tell it which cliff to jump off

Love that description, now every time I see a targeted ad on facebook (which is scary enough without facebook knowing where you are! I trust my friends with that information but not facebook) I'm going to picture that scene from the Fast Show!

As an opportunity for marketers I can see the attraction but it does feel a bit intrusive, maybe people growing up now won't think so and will see it as normal....