When Pinterest hit the social sphere in 2010, the highly visual platform changed the way users interacted and showed how images can be one of the most engaging forms of content. Facebook responded with Timeline, introducing a more aesthetic way to interact with users while simultaneously creating a living “timeline” of their activity. Now, images on Facebook will hold more weight than ever, and possibly in dollars.
Facebook is currently working with Victoria’s Secret, Pottery Barn, Michael Kors, Wayfair, Neiman Marcus, Fab.com and Smith Optics on an effort it calls “Collections.” It’s going to evolve the value of a “Like.” With “Collections,” users will additionally be able to tag images they see with “Want,” “Collect” and “Buy.” “Buy” would take users to the third party site where they could then purchase the product. It’s a feature that could be perfect for Pinterest, except they haven’t yet integrated it.
Many of Facebook’s past e-commerce efforts have failed. Remember the introduction of Facebook gifts But this new approach seems to align with how users are already interacting with content. Like most of the social magic of Facebook, users will not be exposed to a “Collection” unless a friend has “Liked” or “Shared” with their social network. “Collections” are designed to appear right in users’ news feed.
A Facebook rep stated that Facebook will not get a cut of the transactions from “Collections” and there is no word that Facebook’s latest acquisition, Instagram, will be integrated.
Find out more at Mashable.
