From a social media perspective, Facebook is a phenomenally different network to the one that caught our attention February 2004. Yes, we have worked in the digital marketing arena since then. Facebook is the social media tool that many professionals love to hate: while it can be an efficient way to network, connect with clients, and promote a business, it can also be a notorious distraction, and yes, a platform for opinions and rants.
But, as a social networking tool, it continues to enhance feature and add new functionality.
Our digital marketing company have harnessed a selection of some of the new Facebook features and functions that have been added or may be included to enhance how local New Zealand businesses can make the most of their users’ Facebook experience.
8 Facebook features for 2016
1. Facebook Live Video – Facebook Mentions
Whilst currently not available for business, you may be able to utilise this function if you are a public figure. No additional app is needed to use this feature. The Live Video content prompt is located in the normal “Update Status” prompt in the mobile app. This social media feature is scheduled to be rolled out to verified business pages soon. It is a well-known fact that organic video engagement on Facebook is higher than any other social platform (including Instagram and Facebook). So watch out for this Facebook feature.
2. Facebook Professional Services
The purpose of this digital marketing feature on Facebook is to turn Facebook into an area of choice for your business or professional service search. You could use this Facebook feature when searching for a recommended professional service or local business.
3. And Yes, Improved Search
When Facebook quietly dropped Bing as the search provider powering Facebook’s Internet search, few people knew that Bing’s replacement would be Facebook itself. In October 2015, Facebook rolled out an improved search function opening up all public posts as well as improved intelligence to inform personalized results.
The result? Public posts are more accessible to the Facebook community and, therefore Facebook search may become a greater driver of search activity in the future.
4. Looking for a Taxi? Facebook and Uber
Facebook has added a Uber to its Messenger service. The service is available to select users. It will start off in the US cities that Uber operates in, and then expand internationally. Facebook Messenger has 700 million users globally, as of June 2015. The partnership, announced on 16 December 2015, will let Uber customers both order from the ride-sharing service and make a payment from within the Messenger app. The payments will be processed by Braintree, a PayPal subsidiary.
5. Facebook Shopping
Facebook is also testing wider rollout of the “Marketplace” feature that it’s been working on for a few months now. Known simply as “Shopping.” Facebook’s quest to become a major force to be reckoned with on the Internet continues. What began as people’s social graph and personal information has rapidly expanded to include videos, the online of presence of the businesses. Back in July 2015, Facebook added a “buy” button and allowed e-commerce partners to sell products on Facebook through Shopify. Even though the results of social shopping were disappointing for Facebook in 2015, Facebook appears poised to expand their e-commerce offerings in 2016. Considering how Facebook recently made it easier to find nearby events, a hyperlocal shopping app doesn’t seem too far-fetched.
6. Facebook Events – Now improved!
Facebook events application has been around since the beginning of Facebook. However, they’ve recently improved the features and functionality of this app.
The new Facebook Events allows you to do all of the following in a very user-friendly environment:
- Browse invitations
- Accept/decline invitations (public and private)
- Bookmarks
- RSVPs
- Schedules
- Calendar entries
- Ticket buying
- Check-ins
- Photos
7. Crowd Funding Services
Utilizing a Facebook “donate” button and Facebook’s platform and distribution, non-profits may be able to fundraise more effectively on Facebook than with other crowdfunding sites.
And yes, it had to be on the list…
And yes, it had to be on the list…
8. A tool to ease the heartache of breakups!
Facebook will begin testing the breakup protection on mobile devices in the United States before deciding whether to offer it to all of its 1.5 billion account holders worldwide. This feature is designed for people who don’t want to risk offending a former husband, wife, partner girlfriend or boyfriend by taking a more extreme step of blocking them from their Facebook network. After signalling to Facebook that there has been a relationship status change, a Facebook user will also be allowed to remove their names from past posts linking them to a former partner.
Despite its size and stature, Facebook is one of the great utilities for communication and seems poised to increase its influence for the future. Whilst we may not have many of these features yet, they are on their way with exciting opportunities for businesses that use this social media platform for some of their digital marketing.
To find out more about our Net Branding Social Media Marketing Services
