Move over “Like,” Facebook is testing two new buttons allowing users to “Want” and “Collect” items from participating retailers, as it explores options to show investors that the company, which went public in May, can find new ways to generate revenue.
"People will be able to engage with these collections and share things they are interested in with their friends,” Facebook said in a statement.
As part of the test, some Facebook users will continue to see the “Like” button while others will begin to see options to “Want” or “Collect” products.
Big name brands like Victoria’s Secret, Pottery Barn, and Michael Kors are among the first companies to roll out “Collections,” which look like photo albums with product descriptions, allowing companies to both showcase and sell products through their Facebook pages.
“‘Collections’ could help retailers score viral click-throughs to their product pages by making things their fans are interested in more discoverable to friends,” wrote TechCrunch’s Josh Constine.
Facebook doesn’t charge companies for posting “Collections” nor does it take a percentage of the sale when users click through to make a purchase, but Constine says Facebook could use the new feature as leverage to get brands to purchase ads to get more fans.
“Collections” is also similar to the social media site Pinterest, a photo sharing site that allows users to create and manage themed collages.
Unlike Pinterest, Facebook “Collections” limits the photos users can share to those posted by retailers, but the similar presentation could attract users who are interested in Pinterest, but want to share collages with their already established network of Facebook friends.
