It seems that every brand name with a large Web audience is launching its own group deals service, and now Facebook is no deal with the launch of Social Deals.
The world’s largest social network is looking to pitch Groupon-style discount deals to its user base of 600 million. The deals will be focused on things you do with your friends, such as attending events, instead of stuff you do on your own, like getting your hair cut. Small businesses are the target for Facebook’s new e-commerce push, and they’ll be required to start their own Page before using the new deals feature. But merchants will also have more control over their deals than on some other social deal platforms – such as the ability to put a cap on how many customers can buy.
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The previously launched Facebook Deals will continue to exist, but now be known as “check-in deals.” That discount program applied to large brand names with national chains more than it did to local businesses. ITBusiness.ca covered the launch of Facebook Deals on Jan. 31, talking to Joe Fresh about its participation in the beta program. Here’s what they had to say, in this video: