So we all heard about those Facebook Deals that were supposed to be popping up on all your favorite Facebook pages. Restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, retail, you name it, were all going to take advantage of this new feature. Customers were going to check-in and reap the rewards, one free coffee here, and 20% off a shirt there. However, a few months have passed and the most memorable Deal was Chipotle’s Buy One Get One.
Now comes another test. Groupon-inspired offers which will focus largely on local businesses and their importance within a community. These local merchants will enjoy being in the spotlight through Facebook ads and the encouragement of users to click the Share button and spread the word to their friends.
In the wake of Groupon’s offensive television advertisements making an appearance during the Super Bowl and being quickly discontinued; this may be the perfect time for Facebook to step up. It seems everyone is aware of Groupon, but aren’t to keen on the idea of supporting a company that finds Elizabeth Hurley funny when talking about how deforestation of the rainforests sure is awful, but not when she goes to the spa to get her forest tamed. Linking a Brazilian wax and the suffering rainforest may not be the best tactic.
In comes Facebook on its noble white steig, picking up the parts of Groupon that remain. Salvaging them to create their own sure-to-be successful feature. Facebook has a chance to make this work. If the focus remains on local shopping and gaining exposure to the importance of local businesses, they may just have another billion dollars waiting on the other end.
