Facebook have been fighting with Google for as long as we can remember to be the cool brand. They’ve tried commercials with chairs, they’ve tried making sponsored stories their premium service to brands but they still haven’t gotten over the hump.
All this is set to change within the next few minutes or so when Facebook announce a new feature, which if rumours are to be believed will be a search engine-type service.
If Facebook release a new search engine, what can we expect it to incorporate?
1) Your social network is going to govern a brand’s presence.
If 35 of your friends like Super Sports Shop UK and just 3 like Sports Shop United, which one do you think should be number one when you search for sports shop?
Easy answer. I know. Think about how many brand pages you like and how many are likely to be in common with your friends.
It should be a win for the Facebook user, who will get more efficient access to brand pages.
2) It will be within the Facebook page
The search engine existing as a stand-alone product is slim – Facebook will want you to be immersed in your network and share content that you have found via the search engine.
Don’t rule out a smartphone app though…
3) It’s going to improve Facebook in the long-term
Facebook can’t survive on sponsored stories for long, it’s not changing the share price as things stand. With a search engine that uses likes from a Facebook users network, there are new opportunities for brands to advertise.
Let’s face it. Facebook is all about the money right now.
Summary
If Facebook get a search engine, it’s going to make your social network experience far better.
