What’s the Deal with Facebook Ads?

Since the Internet first became popular, advertisers have been looking for ways to market their products.  An article posted on Businessweek.com, “Facebook Sells Your Friends,” talks about the progression of Internet marketing over the years – from popup ads on AOL to pay-per-click ads on Google.  Now, the trend is moving towards Facebook advertising.

Facebook currently has 550 million users and continues to grow at an impressive rate. In 2010, the company is expected to bring in a whopping $1.4 billion in revenues, according to Bloomberg reports.

Google has long been the major player when it comes to paid online advertising, but Facebook is proving to be a tough competitor.  The two mega websites have different philosophies when it comes to advertising, though.  The advertisements on Google are labeled and easily identifiable. According to the Businessweek.com article, Facebook “wants to subtly park the advertiser’s brand in the user’s consciousness and provoke a purchase down the line.”

Ads on Facebook appear on the right column of the website.  However, if enough of the user’s friends like that particular ad or comment on it, the ad will show up in the main news feed. 

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, explained the logic behind this approach well when he said, “An advertiser can produce the best creative ad in the world, but knowing your friends really love drinking Coke is the best endorsement for Coke you can possibly get.”

For information on how to use Facebook to get in front of your target market, read our other blog entry, Your Potential Clients are On Facebook, Are You?

To find out how we can help you grow your practice using Internet marketing, call us today at 888.886.0939.