Facebook Tests Offsite Advertising

Business is really looking up for advertisers and app developers.  The past few weeks, Facebook has focused on obtaining advertisement revenues. Within two months, the network has introduced two mobile ad units and now comes a third. This one is however, is not inside Facebook, as most would expect.

The way it works, the user has to be logged into Facebook on mobile. By clicking a banner or full screen advertisements will take the user to either an app store, such as Android’s Google Play or iOS third party application, which the user can then download. Or, the user may also be directed to the advertiser’s own website that displays their products/ services.
The payment by advertisers depends on the type and audience size. The ads are mobile-specific that will appear off the network’s site, thereby reducing ad clutter on the platform itself to a large extent. Instead, the ad will be distributed across multiple platforms on mobile devices.
Maintaining user privacy had not been one of Facebook’s strength. However, lately, the network has prioritized identity and data. With this new ad initiative, the user’s identity remains anonymous. The target user data extracts their demographic information and is based on ‘likes’ and common apps shared by their user’s friends.’
This is the second round of offsite Facebook ads, the first ones having run on Zynga.com. If the test proves successful, then it would mean it benefits all concerned parties. Which is the user, who will be exposed to new way of app discovery, while Facebook and the advertisers share the profits. And the app developers will have found a more secure marketing strategy that will help expand their own user base.
At this point, Facebook is depending on other networks to monetize. Most reviewers predict how Facebook will eventually become independent and form their own advertising network. The advertising format is also being compared with Google’s Adwords. Difference being, while Google extracts keywords based on content, Facebook uses personal data for targeting of relevant ads.
Information regarding Facebook’s current partners who are in on the deal has been well concealed from media. Nevertheless, the wait may not be long for the rest when advertising bids are open to all.

Salman Ghaznavi is the founder of Avenuesocial Inc. a company focused on social media marketing and tool design & development. Avenuesocial is one of the premium Facebook App Consultants, and My role is to actively pursue a global strategy, create and help roll-out Avenuesocial social tool, the AS Pathways. The AS Pathways tool offers social media marketing and analytics with integrated campaign management (on Facebook and Twitter), multi-channel execution, engagement reports and user management.