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The Inside Scoop

Written by our March guest blogger Chris Richards of Fanpagetoolkit, a Philadelphia-based start-up pioneering a Facebook commerce and marketing platform for businesses, brands, and individuals.

While some groups have been busy preemptively criticizing social commerce and any new ventures into Facebook commerce, others have taken a creative lead and elevated the industry to a new level.

Heinz, we thank you. With the creation of a “pop-up” limited time store on Facebook, you’ve become a prime example for those looking for a role model of successful Facebook commerce.

As a big business, Heinz demonstrated the core principles of successful social commerce by offering a limited time promotion allowing Facebook fans to create and buy customized “Get Well” cans of soup for friends or family. Was the promotion incredibly profitable? No. In fact, that wasn’t the point.

“It wasn’t a revenue-driving activity, but more of a creative campaign to engage…

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Reaching $30 Billion Potential: Facebook Commerce

In light of Facebook’s recent IPO announcement, I think it will be interesting to see how the Facebook community adopts social commerce, the third party developers, and apps that help make the platform as valuable as it is perceived to be.

Wine? Flowers? Diapers? How are you going to get a cut of the burgeoning Facebook commerce market?

Have you heard? Facebook commerce is predicted to reach an astounding $30 billion in global sales of physical goods in the next five years. That’s a lot. And while Facebook commerce numbers currently sit at about $5 billion in sales of physical goods, according to Booz and Company, the industry is poised for considerable growth. So, who is going to step up to the plate and start selling?