Facebook joins race for local discount offers, challenges Groupon and Google
April 26, 2011 -
Spetnik Technology News
Facebook is the latest to introduce a service that competes with Groupon.
Recognizing the explosive market for local marketing in the social networking sector, Facebook recently rolled out its Deals on Facebook tool in a few select cities.
The feature is being introduced in Atlanta, Dallas, San Francisco, San Diego and Austin, Texas, essentially acting as a Groupon equivalent for Facebook users in each city. According to a recent post on the Facebook blog, Deals on Facebook expands on the company’s Check-In Deals feature released in November that pushes offers close to users when they check into a location via Facebook on a mobile phone.
“While many Deals on Facebook offer discounts, it's more important to us that you find interesting experiences around you to do with friends,” Emily White wrote for the Facebook blog. “And once you've found a deal you like, having the deal on Facebook makes it easy to share, buy and plan with your friends.”
Facebook is hardly the first to get in on this growing market. One month after being denied its attempt at buying Groupon for $6 billion in December, Google began testing its Google Offers programs by soliciting small businesses to help create vouchers.
Both companies are responding to the rapid growth seen in this market. Last year, Groupon’s value quadrupled, reaching $4.8 billion, according to stock trading firm Nyppex.
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The feature is being introduced in Atlanta, Dallas, San Francisco, San Diego and Austin, Texas, essentially acting as a Groupon equivalent for Facebook users in each city. According to a recent post on the Facebook blog, Deals on Facebook expands on the company’s Check-In Deals feature released in November that pushes offers close to users when they check into a location via Facebook on a mobile phone.
“While many Deals on Facebook offer discounts, it's more important to us that you find interesting experiences around you to do with friends,” Emily White wrote for the Facebook blog. “And once you've found a deal you like, having the deal on Facebook makes it easy to share, buy and plan with your friends.”
Facebook is hardly the first to get in on this growing market. One month after being denied its attempt at buying Groupon for $6 billion in December, Google began testing its Google Offers programs by soliciting small businesses to help create vouchers.
Both companies are responding to the rapid growth seen in this market. Last year, Groupon’s value quadrupled, reaching $4.8 billion, according to stock trading firm Nyppex.
Recent headlines:
