Facebook Drops A Bomb With Local Places Deals

12 replies
Hey guys,

Didn't see this posted yet so would be keen on your thoughts.

Facebook just released Local Business Deals for their places app and it looks really cool.

What is it going to mean for the competitive space that is local marketing?

What opportunity do you all see being presented with this new change?

Introducing Deals | Facebook

Personally I think it's prety cool but I can see how some businesses could lose business as a result of the price competitive competition this could bring with it.
#bomb #deals #drops #facebook #local #places
  • Profile picture of the author SantiSantana
    I didnt even look at the link. The minute you said it could bring about issues with price competition my old job came out.

    People buy a $4 cup of coffee at Starbucks. Its definitely not the cheapest product of that type. Its not necessarily the best either, although it is a quality coffee.

    Apple doesnt sell the cheapest computers (Apple doesnt sell the cheapest anythign as far as I know)

    Whenever I see a case for price competition Sergio Zyman (the Aya-Cola) comes to mind:

    Chances are you cannot compete on price so find something you can compete with.

    Product positioning, diferentiation, adding value, strong brand development. The usual. According to Zyman "a customer, faced with two products that are basically equal on everything esle will always buy based on price. Solution: make sure your product is not the same as your competitors.
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    • Profile picture of the author SantiSantana
      And now that I have actually checked the link, my point stands even clearer. Develop a strong brand. SPecialize in a product or product range people enjoy. Learn from the big players. This is going to make a lot of people a lot of money, not least of whom is FB. Big G vs FB is the match of the century, no doubt about that now.
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    • Profile picture of the author sambakker
      Originally Posted by SantiSantana View Post

      I didnt even look at the link. The minute you said it could bring about issues with price competition my old job came out.

      People buy a $4 cup of coffee at Starbucks. Its definitely not the cheapest product of that type. Its not necessarily the best either, although it is a quality coffee.

      Apple doesnt sell the cheapest computers (Apple doesnt sell the cheapest anythign as far as I know)

      Whenever I see a case for price competition Sergio Zyman (the Aya-Cola) comes to mind:

      Chances are you cannot compete on price so find something you can compete with.

      Product positioning, diferentiation, adding value, strong brand development. The usual. According to Zyman "a customer, faced with two products that are basically equal on everything esle will always buy based on price. Solution: make sure your product is not the same as your competitors.
      Cool ok I agree with your points there. Surely though this change will bring about some changes for businesses?

      I know personally if I am in an area looking for a cafe and I knew I could get the best deal if I looked at my Iphone then I would and I would chose based on the deal a close by cafe was giving e.g. 2 for 1 coffees
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    • Profile picture of the author Rashell
      Hmmm, I think it's a great idea, especially for restaurants near any major corporations during lunch. But also for Facebook.

      It still amazes me how many people don't use FB at all. This could be a way for them to get more referrals to their "service". And... to get some of the quitters to rejoin. People will do all sorts of things to save a few $$$.

      It's also neat to see the liberal options they're giving businesses to set their own "deal" qualifications.

      Rashell
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  • Profile picture of the author takeiteasy
    i just saw this after the update to the iphone app...they really are starting to push out these other community-based apps
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    • Profile picture of the author sambakker
      Originally Posted by takeiteasy View Post

      i just saw this after the update to the iphone app...they really are starting to push out these other community-based apps
      I think there is no doubt they have their eyes set on taking over the world lol. What's next I wonder?
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  • Profile picture of the author pcpupil
    FB will win,google wil lose.
    Think about Fb with friends telling friends.
    Per your example.If im in starbucks first thing in the morning.The waiter tells me its 2 for 1,buy one get one,ect...
    I go to my fanpage,or wall,and put in there that my city starbucks has this deal,think there going to make any money that day?
    Google doesnt have anything like that.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chad Heffelfinger
    I think most smart businesses will jump on board with it. I don't think most businesses will lose money with it as you mention because they have to give a discount or sale price, by doing that they will increase the reason for a customer to come into their store and get more viral advertising because of it.
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  • Profile picture of the author JonAlfredsson
    Thanks for sharing this. Google has maps and places and now FB has a counterpart. I should agree that this Google vs. FB is starting to more interesting. Hope this will last for a longer time.
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    • Profile picture of the author ZaraK
      I think it gives Offline Consultants another bullet in their bag helping SME to set this up as part of their overall marketing plan.

      According to the AP release "The number of people using such services (such services being check-in services) is still small -- just 4 percent of the U.S. Internet population have ever used it and just 1 percent on any given day, according to a survey released Thursday by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

      It also, however, goes on to say "But Facebook's entry into the space is significant because the company commands the attention of so many more people. As such, it could help shift turn location-sharing from something embraced by few tech-savvy early adapters into something commonly used by a broad range of people."

      Personally, I handle check-in with care. I was just reading an article the other day however about how the younger generations care nothing about their privacy or who knows where they are at any given moment in time, and that is coming back to haunt them, an illustration was given of people who are supposed to be at work or elsewhere are checking in at local non-work or non-elsewhere places and somehow their management or their wife or somebody else they don't want knowing that is finding out. Oops. So you ruin a career or marriage for a 2-1 Starbucks.

      Clearly not going to happen to everybody, but could happen to quite a few.
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      • Profile picture of the author trini
        Hey Sam,

        Thanks for posting this FB update,

        Facebook is adding yet another sweetner to seduce facebook users in making facebook an even Bigger part of their daily lives.

        Facebook quote from their blog:
        "We launched Places to let you share where you are with your friends and see who's nearby. Now with Deals, you also can see what offers are nearby and share those deals with your friends"

        The mobile marketing potential of this especially for BtoC markets is mind boggling.
        Everyone loves a deal-- especially when it's a deal that you can find out about in a timely manner AND- when it's a deal that you can acquire with little effort or stress- the deal provider will be nearby right!

        While FB will make a mint with the advertising revenue here- the other two big winners will be the first mover businesses that are early to hop on the deal train.

        The Offline Consultants who are specializing in providing Facebook marketing consultancy and building multi-functional Facebook Fanpages.
        Stay Sunny,

        Michelle
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  • Profile picture of the author JustinBrooke
    Just more evidence that there has never been a better
    time to be in the business of helping local business owners
    get more customers.
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