Some of you may have noticed something new in the smiley box in Facebook chat:
These stickers were first introduced on mobile back in April, but Facebook is testing on desktops with random users. Clicking on the shopping cart icon let’s you browse for more to suit your tastes:
If this is not a sign of the visual web, not sure what is! Looking forward to seeing how this impacts youth audiences, which some claim Facebook is losing a grip on. However, customization is currently slim- There’s a Despicable Me 2 pack, One for Zuckerberg’s dog Beast, with a few others among what’s currently offered.
Don’t be confused by the word “Store”, either. All of the offerings are currently free, but doesn’t mean that they won’t charge for premium packs in the future. This could be a good chance for aspiring web artists to get their work out there, making a few dollars on the side. Facebook will most likely keep the addition of new packs to big brands and developers, as to keep quality up and inappropriate content out.
Recent pressure from competitor offerings such as Google Hangouts has made Facebook focus more on building interest in their chat to engage their users, offering personality and depth to their online interactions. Let’s hope they’ll expand it with more features to offer even deeper customization for users and developers alike.
Readers, what do you think? Do you think they’ll kill it like they did with the $1 gifts product?
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is the CEO of Local Service Spotlight, a platform that amplifies the reputations of contractors and local service businesses using the Content Factory process. He is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other brands.
Dennis has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs by partnering with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Through Local Service Spotlight, he teaches the Dollar a Day strategy and Content Factory training to help local service businesses enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring.
Dennis coaches young adult agency owners serving plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians, and believes there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers must be certified.