FACEBOOK has developed a new ‘want’ button as part of its push towards a bigger role in e-commerce.
The system is being trialled this week, along with a ‘collect’ button that allows Facebook members to create virtual lists of desired items.
TechCrunch reports that the move could play a major role in Facebook’s attempts to broaden its revenue stream beyond web advertising.
The new buttons will work alongside the new ‘Collections’ feature, which allows retailers to create virtual catalogues that can be browsed by Facebook users. Browsers can click the want or collect buttons to either add the items to their personal lists, recommend it to their friends or purchase the item directly from a retailer’s website. There will also be a special version of the existing ‘like’ button.Facebook is yet to reveal the share of the sales it will receive for referring customers.
The company recently began its long-rumoured move into e-commerce with the announcement of ‘Gifts’, a service that allows Facebook users to select and send real products to their Facebook friends as presents.
The system was implemented after the purchase by Facebook of online gift-giving service Karma.
The new want and collect system has drawn comparisons with Pinterest, which allows its users to create an online pinboard of products they are interested in.
Pinterest recently received $100 million investment for global expansion after becoming the fastest website in history to reach 10m users. –DS