While I was punching in my credit card details on Facebook for a bottle of Heinz ketchup with balsamic vinegar (I'm a sucker for anything limited edition...and ketchup), it occurred to me just how strange it was to be buying anything—let alone a condiment!—on Facebook. But that's the world we live in now.
Have you ever bought anything on Facebook? As more and more people are using sites like Groupon, and taking advantage of companies' offers after following them on Twitter, it makes a lot of sense for brands to take to Facebook to properly "own" their promotions. Everything about the sale of the bottle of ketchup (which is only available to UK fans of Heinz, I'm afraid) was done on Facebook—and crucially, they included the option to share the deal with my Facebook friends.
Spamming my friends' feeds is something I wouldn't normally do—but why do we (and I say "we," because I'm seeing it regularly in my webetiquette-savvy friends) feel that sharing details of a promotion is ok? We're literally falling for the trap. We're endorsing and advertising Heinz, one of the biggest companies around. A company that needs no help selling products. If this limited edition bottle of ketchup was being sold in a supermarket, it would inevitably sell just fine, without any promotion on the social media channels.
It's a clever move of Heinz's (and its PR/marketing team), and we're going to be seeing a lot more of it in the future, whether we like it or not. You'll have to literally hide under a rock (or disconnect your router) to not notice these well-targeted plays at our pursestrings. Please "fan" my product—and welcome to the digital supermarket.
41 comments:
You bought a ketchup on facebook??
That's ridiculous!
Sneaky Heinz!
I heard story's of the Heinz Magic Marihuana Green Ketchup
no I would never even get a facebook account. I really dont care what my boring friends are doing.
I'd never buy ketchup on facebook - only mayonnaise and mustard.
i love me some ketchup.. i wish i could buy them for bitcoins.
bitcoins
?
I really hate every request I get from buying bottles of ketchup to farmville... Still its fun how these things evolve!
delicious ketchup
I love the stuff the death!
I thing facebook purchases is one of the 1st signs of the apocalypse.
ahahah Facebook is getting really crazy, nice blog! following and supporting :D
haha, kinda hillarous! :D
thefitmuscle.blogspot.com
how much did shipping the ketchup cost?
So you bought a Ketchup bottle on line... Dude one question you gonna make a BBQ with that stuff or gonna save it till the end of times
Welp, looks like I'm going to have to buy a bottle of this stuff to just for the hell of it. :P
Ketchup with balsamic vinegar...bought on Facebook...cool!
Ugh, I hate ketchup. Enjoy it.
Wow bro, really? What the heck.
isn't cheaper at the market? hahaha
Good job I like ketchup! :D
I don't even have a FB account, lol.
This kechup is great one :)
Makes me want some ketchup... and some viral marketing...
I am so going to try this tonight, cant wait to get home. nice blog, I have a similar blog, check it out.
To be honest I have never heard of actually buying a company's goods through Facebook. However, I do see the benefits to it and think it's a great market strategy. Not only is Facebook in essence "hosting" the whole buying/market setting but given the option to "post" about it gives the company more advertising and therefore potentially more people buying their product. Quite brilliant.
.................WHY!?!?!?
Wait...you can buy stuff on Facebook?
Can't say I ever have
WTF ! Thats insane !
I remember when they have the purple and green ketchup...I never bought any of that yucky stuff and yeah, you can buy everything anywhere nowadays and its only expanding
Ketcsup , it is very delicios. nice!
Hhaha, nah bro i buy ketchup all the time online!
I've never bought anything on Facebook, but I've sold a number of things.
hhhhhhhhhhhh
Heinz. :amen:
I didn't know you could buy anything on facebook other than tokens for farmville. You sure it wasn't an elaborate scam?
hahahha ive never bought anything from facebook.
MmMmmm ketchup and mustard!
TehHappyPlace
i love heinz. it's everywhere here.especially since i'm about an hour outside of pittsburgh.
you post ketchup on my facebook wall, i remove you from friends
IM BACK BRO how you been? thanks for the info
as usual I am F&S How I roll
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