I am a 'fan' of Coca-Cola, Microsoft and Blockbuster - first experiences of Facebook Ad Pages

Facebook launched Facebook Ads on Tuesday. This gave advertisers (amongst other things) the chance to create advertiser pages which users could 'Add' to their Facebook profiles. Once added a message is published in the Feed that declares that you are a 'fan' of X brand.

There was a rush to launch Facebook advertiser pages and 100,000 were published in the first 24 hours!

I am now a fan of Coca-Cola, Microsoft and Blockbuster. Updates have been published in my feed and I will look to see if this prompts any of my Facebook friends to follow suit - if the viral / trusted referral model works then at least some of them should.

So was my experience rewarding?

I am the only fan of Microsoft! I don't know if this is a reflection on their brand or if it is because there is nothing there, other than a Microsoft logo and a 'founded in 1975' note. Randomly there are 2 Microsoft Ad pages and neither seem to have progressed further than just adding a logo and a date! Assume this is the equivalent of buying a domain name before knowing what to do with it? Watch this space! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=7232030949

Coca-Cola have a bit more going on but there is still not much more than a big logo, a bit of company history and 3 discussion groups (one of which is about alleged issues in Colombian bottling plants.) Assume they will do more with it, but I think it highlights an interesting dilemma for the companies using these pages – pursuit of authenticity vs brand protection through moderating / censoring comments? http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=8336965364



The Blockbuster page looks significantly more established – even the page address has been customised. Various images and info on latest releases, details of current offers, links to other information and a ‘Blockbuster driven’ movie rating application called ‘MovieClique.’ Only 52 fans so far but this is the best looking page that I have found. Good work, especially as there is no media cost involved! http://www.facebook.com/blockbuster

Nick Burcher writes: "Facebook ad pages look like they will be very popular and I'm surprised that there is no media cost attached to them. Social ads will be a harder sell as they are more difficult to explain, but these unique targeting opportunities have the potential to revolutionise online planning and buying."