small business

Today Facebook announced that San Diego was one of just five cities chosen to help launch the new DEALS ON FACEBOOK program.

Facebook says, “A few months ago we launched Check-In Deals, to help you get special offers when you check in at local businesses from your mobile. Today we’re going a step further and testing a new feature to help you find fun experiences to share with your favorite people: Deals on Facebook.

Initially, Deals will be available to people in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, San Diego, and San Francisco and we hope to expand this test to other cities in the future.”

To acces deals, scroll down the left menu bar on your profile page.  Clicking “Deals” will show you a page with all that’s on offer, including messages letting you know which friends have liked that deal.

Facebook is counting on the popularity of the LIKE button and word-of-mouth advertising to promote what deals available and for users to see what their friends are liking. I’ve already subscribed because I am interested to see what offers pop up and admire Facebook’s strategy.  It’s convenient, too because I don’t have to go to another website like GroupOn or LivingSocial to see what offers are available in my community.

What I don’t like about the deals program on the Facebook platform is that it gives Facebook just that much more information about me.  For small businesses hoping to gain better exposure and not go broke on traditional advertising methods, participating in the Facebook Deals should prove a huge advantage.

Have you subscribed yet?  Will you use the deals offered or are you leery of FB knowing too much about you? Will you promote your small business through Facebook?