Facebook API (Application Programming Interface) History :
Facebook allows a set of API (Application Programming
Interface) and tools which enables 3rd party developers to
integrate with “Open Graph”.
Facebook platform statistics as of May 2010 :
- More than one million developers and entrepreneurs from more than 180 countries
- More than 550,000 active applications currently on Facebook Platform
- Every month, more than 70% of Facebook users engage with Platform applications
- More than 250,000 websites have integrated with Facebook Platform
- More than 100 million Facebook users engage with Facebook on external websites every month
Facebook launched the Facebook Platform on May 24, 2007, providing a framework for software developers to create applications that interact with core Facebook features. A markup language called Facebook Markup Language was introduced simultaneously; it is used to customize the “look and feel” of applications that developers create.
By November 3, 2007, seven thousand applications had been developed on the Facebook Platform, with another hundred created every day. By the second annual f8 developers conference on July 23, 2008, the number of applications had grown to 33,000 and the number of registered developers had exceeded 400,000.
Facebook Connect is among one of the widely used High Level Platform component.
Facebook Connect :
Facebook Connect is a set of APIs from Facebook that enable Facebook members to log onto third-party websites, applications, mobile devices and gaming systems with their Facebook identity. While logged in, users can connect with friends via these media and post information and updates to their Facebook profile. Developers can use these services to help their users connect and share with their Facebook friends on and off of Facebook and increase engagement for their website or application.
Originally unveiled during Face-book’s developer conference, F8, in July 2008, Facebook Connect became generally available in December 2008. According to an article from The New York Times, “Some say the services are representative of surprising new thinking in Silicon Valley. Instead of trying to hoard information about their users, the Internet companies (including Facebook, Google, MySpace and Twitter) all share at least some of that data so people do not have to enter the same identifying information again and again on different sites.”
Since launching Facebook Connect, the company has rolled out additional features related to the services some of which include: Translations for Connect; Facebook Connect Wizard and Facebook Connect for the Mobile Web.
Facebook Connect cannot be used by users in locations that cannot access Facebook (e.g. China), even if the third-party site is otherwise accessible from that location.
Effect of Facebook Connect on e-commerce :
If you are one of the 500 million users of facebook, then, you have encountered with the facebook invitation with the facebook connect. According to facebook, 30% of facebook users actively engaged with third party website through Facebook connect. Facebook connect is the next generation API development platform.
Various websites get benefits for get benefit after providing the Facebook connect option, as there are a lot of users also come to their store, which are facebook users also. There are maximum chances of being a customer as a Facebook user, as Facebook is the largest social networking site throughout the world. These are the are the features which a store owner get after providing “Facebook Connect” option.
1. Alternative to sign up option
2. Provides social context around the world as well as exposure to the whole world
3. Enrich web site personalization
4. Customer communication gets improved
Major Facebook Connect users websites :
Currently, one of the major e-commerce website “Amazon” is providing the “Facebook connect” option to their user for connecting their customers. By connecting to your profile and social graph, Amazon can recommend products that match the interests of you and your friends beyond click stream and purchase data it has from on-site Amazon behavior. (You can access this feature by clicking the “We have recommendations for you” link at the top of your Amazon page.)
Once you are connected you will the recommended products based on your friends like.
Similarly, a lot of websites are offering the option of Facebook Connect in order to customize as well as improve their market area for their products.
Is Facebook is right for your e-commerce?
Here, are some important facts which would let you know, whether Facebook is right for your e-commerce, or, not?
1. Site registration / Authentication
One click sign up eliminates the friction in the process of sign up. Most facebook users are logged in and the login information are kept in the memory, enough for getting sign in directly to any e-commerce store directly through facebook connect.
2. Personalization
Rather than build a feature that relies on friends’ activity on your site, be like Amazon and find ways to leverage the latent data you have access to from the social graph. Take cues from keywords in friends’ profile data to recommend products for the Connected user and gift ideas.
3. Social sharing
The “Like” button is perhaps the easiest way to encourage “passive word of mouth.” Facebook Connect enables sharing beyond just liking products and brands, including posting a purchase, sharing a product review, or, any other content of interest on your site.
4. Customer Service
Offering the option to receive customer service notifications through Facebook, rather than regular email, may help your “signal” get through the noise of the already overflowing inbox, as a large number of Facebookers check their social networks constantly. Some sites have already used Twitter for this purpose. However, consider how these communications will be managed. You will need to find a way to “Connect” that data to the rest of your customer communication record.
The Bottom Line :
Facebook connect may be the shiny object in the F-commerce, but, it e-commerce professionals must be realistic and stick to the personalization benefits it deliverers. Millions of fans on the Facebook dose not guaranty you about the selling of your products, but, it will give exposure to the market for products in your store for sure. Your features must be on-brand, on-product and on-customer, then, only you would get complete benefit of Facebook Connect.
