Facebook will begin inserting its Sponsored Story ads directly into users’ news feeds early next year to further boost interaction with the unit. Sponsored Stories allow advertisers to republish user posts related to brands or products in the form of small display ads that currently appear in the right column on Facebook.
Ads can be created, for instance, around someone “liking” a brand’s fan page, “checking in” to a venue, or using an app, among other types of status updates.
Starting in 2012, these ads will appear in the news feed, much like other posts, except for being labeled as “sponsored” in the bottom right corner, based on a mock-up of the placement Facebook released today. In effect, a Facebook user could see a friend’s update initially in their feed as an organic post and then later as an ad. At the outset, people will see no more than one Sponsored Story a day in their feed each day.
Of course, Facebook is currently in the courts arguing the legality of all of this :-)
In the courts, Facebook argues that its users (and their headshots) have no economic value, and therefore can be used in advertisements for brands. However, in its marketing proclamations, the company claims that users are more likely to click and buy products and services that their friends like / recommend / endorse.
If there will ever be a change worth leaving Facebook for, it will be this.
Yep, I’m already sick of Facebook. This is just getting to be ridiculous.
