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Mar 7, 2011

I Just Bought a Bottle of Ketchup on Facebook

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:

Chris said...

You bought a ketchup on facebook??

Anonfourtwenty said...

That's ridiculous!

Engelhart said...

Sneaky Heinz!

Styron said...

I heard story's of the Heinz Magic Marihuana Green Ketchup

ScottD said...

no I would never even get a facebook account. I really dont care what my boring friends are doing.

Alphabeta said...

I'd never buy ketchup on facebook - only mayonnaise and mustard.

Poetry of the Day said...

i love me some ketchup.. i wish i could buy them for bitcoins.
bitcoins

Matthew Skull said...

?

elexerdelex said...

I really hate every request I get from buying bottles of ketchup to farmville... Still its fun how these things evolve!

Diorf said...

delicious ketchup

I love the stuff the death!

MRanthrope said...

I thing facebook purchases is one of the 1st signs of the apocalypse.

p said...

ahahah Facebook is getting really crazy, nice blog! following and supporting :D

BEN said...

haha, kinda hillarous! :D
thefitmuscle.blogspot.com

Jay said...

how much did shipping the ketchup cost?

Malkavian said...

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

Devon Davidson said...

Welp, looks like I'm going to have to buy a bottle of this stuff to just for the hell of it. :P

G said...

Ketchup with balsamic vinegar...bought on Facebook...cool!

Astronomy Pirate said...

Ugh, I hate ketchup. Enjoy it.

SportsGuyBrandon said...

Wow bro, really? What the heck.

Give Everything said...

isn't cheaper at the market? hahaha

D22 Zone said...

Good job I like ketchup! :D

Patti D. said...

I don't even have a FB account, lol.

Triper said...

This kechup is great one :)

M. Paynesdown said...

Makes me want some ketchup... and some viral marketing...

Grey said...

I am so going to try this tonight, cant wait to get home. nice blog, I have a similar blog, check it out.

Unknown said...

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.

LoneIslander said...

.................WHY!?!?!?

Anonymous said...

Wait...you can buy stuff on Facebook?

Crose said...

Can't say I ever have

ilulz said...

WTF ! Thats insane !

Alexander said...

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

www.info-it-tech.ro said...

Ketcsup , it is very delicios. nice!

Jessica Thompson said...

Hhaha, nah bro i buy ketchup all the time online!

Tencrowns said...

I've never bought anything on Facebook, but I've sold a number of things.

caretaker said...

hhhhhhhhhhhh

Tó Rock said...

Heinz. :amen:

Trelin said...

I didn't know you could buy anything on facebook other than tokens for farmville. You sure it wasn't an elaborate scam?

J.Vasti said...

hahahha ive never bought anything from facebook.

EvilWaffles said...

MmMmmm ketchup and mustard!
TehHappyPlace

mast3rcloak said...

i love heinz. it's everywhere here.especially since i'm about an hour outside of pittsburgh.

Inhia said...

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