The “Buy” button is a temptation that a lot of shopping sites possess these days, especially when it comes to offering killer deals on items that are too good to miss. However, who would’ve thought that it would become a vital feature on a social site such as Facebook
The social media site announced today that it is testing a Buy button alongside various small to medium-sized businesses in the U.S., with the overall goal to help them drive sales directly through the site, via News Feed ads and Page posts.
The way it works is like this: the posts show a general item that’s available, on sale, and can vary depending on the business that’s involved. From there, users will see a Buy button highlighted next to said item, which will take them to a purchasing page without having to leave Facebook in general.
The feature is built with “privacy in mind,” according to the site, with a payment system that’s “safe and secure.” Any credit or debit card information shared when completing a payment is not shared with other advertisers, although it can be saved for future purchases, should the users decide to opt in.
The ads, in general, are meant to build a following with certain businesses, as well as establishing larger traffic and getting customers to visit physical locations of said retailer. No word yet on how it’s working, but at least now you can buy a watch without having to get off the Facebook social feed.
Facebook’s been on a tear recently with the rapid uptake of its mobile ads, particularly by game developers. The company is clearly hoping to extend its offerings with the Buy button, and indeed it seems like there’s great business potential here. The tough part is getting the implementation correct, in such a way that consumers respond well to it without getting angry at Facebook and turing away from the site. Facebook has seemed to handle this sort of issue quite adroitly in the past, so expect good results when the company finishes its testing.
What do you think? Does Facebook really need a “buy” button?
Source: The Next Web
