Facebook, the social media site, is partnering with startups, vendors, and even Internet rivals to turn Facebook pages into online shopping outlets and convert more of its 500 million users into online shoppers.
To further its efforts, Facebook is enticing companies such as Delta Air Lines (DAL) and J.C. Penney (JCP) to sell wares on its pages, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.
The social media giant’s efforts are aimed at helping retailers set up shop on its pages and build tools that allow Web users interact while buying online.
e-Commerce features are being added by Facebook to attract users, keep them logged-on longer, and generate higher advertising sales.
The team set up by David Fisch, who runs a newly formed commerce partnerships group at Facebook, is meeting retailers to help Facebook develop software that lets users solicit advice and product reviews from Facebook friends in real time.
In addition to building analytic tools to let retailers learn more about who’s drawn to certain products, Facebook now lets users buy in-game products, such as weapons and additional lives, using its Facebook Credits virtual currency that is purchased with real dollars.
A Minneapolis-based start-up Alvenda is giving assistance to Fisch in his e-Commerce. San Francisco-based Payvment is another startup that helps retailers peddle wares via Facebook.
Payvment, which CEO Christian Taylor said has been starting 250 new Facebook retailers daily, makes software that can turn Facebook pages into storefronts that accept a credit card or eBay’s PayPal online payment service, the Bloomberg Businessweek reported.
