Would you "like" something to eat?

Facebook has developed into a multimillion dollar corporation. With its bulk of profit generated from other companies advertising on their website.  From generic advertising that spams every individual’s profile, to advertisements personally targeted at you, Facebook is consumed with marketing. Many large food corporations use Facebook as part of their marketing profile. With 18 million business pages on Facebook already, with a predicted 1 million increase monthly, it’s safe to say many business are taking advantage of the Facebook revolution (McGee, 2013). Companies in the food industry are able to target individuals by their Facebook profile. This allows marking able to cross cultural boundaries, and reach a wider audience (Akins & Bowler, 2001).

Another industry that has utilized Facebook for marketing, is alcohol. In many countries, such as Australia, marketing on alcohol has been limited. Advertisements flood almost every aspect of our lives (Patel, 2007). Food and alcohol are both very competitive industries. Facebook allows companies to battle each other in the cyber world. This can also level the playing field, where local business can create a free Facebook page, and advertise to their community.  

Here is the alcohol regulation on marketing for the Facebook guidelines (Facebook, 2013):

i.    Ads that promote or reference alcohol are prohibited in the following countries: Afghanistan, Brunei, Bangladesh, Egypt, Gambia, Kuwait, Libya, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and any other jurisdiction where such ads are prohibited by law.

ii.    Where permissible, ads that promote or reference alcohol must: (i) Comply with all applicable local laws, required or recommended industry codes, guidelines, licenses and approvals and (ii) apply age and country targeting criteria consistent with Facebook's targeting guidelines and applicable local laws. Where a user's age or country cannot be determined, the ad must not be displayed to the user.

As you can see from above, even though some countries have already acted upon this new area of advertisement, many companies can still take advantage of this marketing area. To have a further look at these guidelines follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/ad_guidelines.php

Advertisements has become part of our everyday life. Exploiting our impulsive needs and desire to shop conveniently. Facebook is another playing field that companies battle for individual’s money and attention.

Have a quick look at some of the most unforgettable adverts.

References

Akins, P., & Bowler, I. (2001). FOOD IN SOCIETY. London: Hodder Headline Group.

Facebook. (2013, July 26). Facebook Advertising Guidelines. Retrieved from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ad_guidelines.php

McGee, M. (2013, July 24). Facebook Has Almost 18 Million Business Pages, Adding 1M Per Month. Retrieved from Marketing Land: http://marketingland.com/facebook-has-almost-18-million-business-pages-adding-1m-per-month-53108

Patel, R. (2007). Stuffed and Starved. Melbourne: Black Inc.

Wagner, J. (2013, July 19). How to Set Up Facebook Ads. Retrieved from John F. Wagner: http://johnfwagner.net/1775/setting-facebook-ad-3/