Comments on: Facebook Platform: Is There a Local Angle?

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Facebook Ready to Be Acquired? « Screenwerk — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:24:44 +0000

[...] would ultimately be acquired and that Microsoft would be the likely buyer. Here’s what I wrote in May when Facebook launched its vaunted platform: Facebook reportedly turned down nearly a $1 billion [...]

By: Facebook Acquisition Watch « Screenwerk

Facebook Acquisition Watch « Screenwerk — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:52:59 +0000

[...] I was at the Facebook Platform announcement/event my intuitive flash was that Microsoft would buy the site. I still think that’s the most [...]

By: Facebook’s Growth and Demographic Shifts « Screenwerk

Facebook’s Growth and Demographic Shifts « Screenwerk — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:21:56 +0000

[...] Growth and Demographic Shifts Facebook Platform was simply a genius move by the social network, which had seen growth since opening up to general [...]

By: Yahoo!-Facebook Talks on Again? « Screenwerk

Yahoo!-Facebook Talks on Again? « Screenwerk — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 13:00:04 +0000

[...] off the Facebook Platform launch it struck me that the company won’t go public (as speculated) but will be acquired. I thought [...]

By: Facebook Apps Already Gaining Traction « Screenwerk

Facebook Apps Already Gaining Traction « Screenwerk — Mon, 28 May 2007 15:21:53 +0000

[...] Apps Already Gaining Traction Thursday was the Facebook Platform launch and for selected partner applications, there have already been some powerful results. Here’s [...]

By: Greg Sterling

Greg Sterling — Fri, 25 May 2007 17:03:22 +0000

There’s a difference between salesforce.com and facebook. There are lots of traffic-hungry internet businesses out there that will build on this. And facebook has lots more usage than salesforce. It’s really apples and oranges. Microsoft preceded salesforce. The general concept isn’t new but a social network doing something like this is a new twist.

By: BetterLabs

BetterLabs — Fri, 25 May 2007 16:52:10 +0000

I am really really surprised why everyone thinks this is new. Salesforce.com did the exact same thing several years back, and it should not have taken any large social network to have epiphany to think of this. The on-demand platform model worked very well for Salesforce.com, but I am not sure the same applies to consumer social networks. Its tough to think that we will do “all” our social interactions in one network. If this is just a way for them to boost their traffic… sure, it definitely will do that I am sure. Essentially, the app developers who build for facebook will market facebook further as well.

I am not sure this is SO market changing and SO big. And Salesforce.com did the same long back. Ofcourse, I am also not sure if I am right

By: ColinPape.com

ColinPape.com — Fri, 25 May 2007 16:18:20 +0000

Great post Greg! There is definitely a local angle, and I’m surprised it hasn’t been covered more frequently…

Facebook is the most local site I’ve ever used - here in Ontario, where it’s taken off like crazy, it’s being used to organize local events, businesses (mostly small & home-based right now) are setting up groups and groups are being organized around common offline interests (ie. camping & boating in certain locations, pub nights, etc.).

It’s very impressive, and definitely a threat to many different geocentric offerings.

The marketplace has proved to be a huge hit as well - to the tune of 550+ ads placed since the 14th of May in my regional network (45,000 members). Additionally, the ads are way more relevant than those placed in other locations.

We definitely plan to leverage the Facebook platform to increase our brand visibility and to provide a layer of local shopping content to Facebook’s vast and growing community.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 25 May 2007 15:49:44 +0000

They have leased the LookSmart AdCenter platform and LookSmart is soon to release geotargeting ability to AdCenter.
Will FB deploy geotargeted PPC, giving local advertisers the ability to zero in on distinct networks or profiles?
I have small bus. clients who would love to get into their local demo’s.
One thing I feel confident they will not do is place an IYP or local directory search on the site.
The CEO was clear he wants to keep people on the site, not send them away.

By: AhmedF

AhmedF — Fri, 25 May 2007 14:52:07 +0000

We’ve been thinking about this since we heard the rumblings about it a few weeks ago - but the challenge is to build something really interesting and powerful (incidentally Facebook is one of our top 10 referrers to iBegin Toronto - with the note that Toronto is supposedly the most popular city in Facebook).

I also have to say - while I find MySpace etc sort of disgusting, I have tremendous respect for Facebook and what they have accomplished. Their backend engine works flawlessly, and with stuff like FQL and this, from a tech point, they have my utmost respect. Technologically way way ahead of the competitors.