Facebook to Implement Want Button?
Facebook, the popular social networking site, is known for having the "like" button. There are recent reports stating that Facebook is now developing a "want" button in order to have another source of revenue for Facebook.
There were already previous rumors that Facebook is planning a series of new suite buttons and it was intensified when Tom Wadding, a Facebook developer has spotted a new evidence. The evidence is a short tag stating " < fb:wants >" which is located in Facebook's code. This short tag suggests that Facebook is planning to launch a new plugin that lets Facebook users share the products that they want online. Facebook is keeping mum about this subject. Facebook was asked through the Huffington Post about this mysterious short tag and this was the social networking site's response:We're always testing new Platform features, however we have nothing new to announce."
The "want" button is considered as essential for Facebook now that it has plans of becoming an advertising partner for big companies that are looking for a bigger audience. Facebook has just gone public in the stock market and in order for the company's stock to rise, Facebook needs to have a new source of revenue. There are reports stating that Facebook is facing a tough problem when it comes to ad revenues as many Facebook users are now into accessing Facebook through their mobile phones - an avenue that has less ads in Facebook. Less ads mean less revenue potential for Facebook. This growing trend of Facebook access through mobile devices and smartphones is a growing trend and this is something that Facebook needs to focus and work out on.
The potential for the "want" button in terms of commercial appeal seems feasible as other Facebook users could recommend products and other commercial service to other Facebook users thus creating a "ripple" effect. Pinterest, another social networking site, has a similar principle with the "want" button. There are already reports that it is now ranked as the 3rd largest social networking site and it seems like Facebook is planning to integrate such strategy for their own profit.