New Facebook Places Feature!
Just yesterday, Facebook released a new feature called Facebook Places.
This feature allows users to share their locations as well as see where there friends are. It uses a “check-in” feature which allows users to share where they are and find other nearby users who have checked in. It also allows users to post comments about particular places and even tag other friends at a location.
With the surging popularity of internet-enabled smartphones, Facebook is adding location information to their social networking. Users can simply check in to a location with a single tap of a button on their cell phones to share their location, write reviews, and find nearby friends.
Without a doubt, this is a HUGE development for local businesses trying to market themselves.
Such a feature opens up some big opportunities for local business owners who are trying to get themselves on the “map” (pardon the pun 
)
Claiming Your Place
To claim your place, you can just search for it in the Facebook search bar. If you find your place, you can claim it immediately through a click of a button and a verification process.
If your place is not found, you can create your place on Facebook by visiting the mobile Facebook page and adding it to Facebook.
Opportunities to Promote Your Business, Market Your Brand, and Expand Your Customer Base
Now Facebook Places is definitely in its very early stages so the capabilities as of now are somewhat limited. However, there’s no doubt that Facebook will soon roll out features that you can take advantage of to market your local business. (Indeed, I’m willing to be that a lot of these features will mirror some of the features already present on Foursquare and Gowalla)
Incentivize Customer Loyalty - Already Facebook has a check-in system for users. You can provide customers an incentive (like a special offer) for frequent check ins, so that you bring back more returning customers. Indeed, I bet there will be a feature like Foursquare’s “mayor” feature, which rewards you with the title of “mayor” if you have the most check-ins to a specific location. Such a feature in Facebook, would further encourage customer loyalty.
Deals - You can reward those users who check in to your business with a special offer or deal. Not only will this encourage users to come to your business but will help promote your business to other users across Facebook. You can make it apparent to customers that your reward check-ins by using signs in your business.
Promotion Engine - Another great thing about Facebook Places is that Facebook, after all, is a social network. Thus, you can take advantage of user’s own social networks within Facebook by encouraging them to write reviews for your business, post pictures, send updates, etc. You can provide a special offer for such promotional actions.
Advertising - Facebook has a fantastic advertising system. It allows you to target your ads to all Facebook users (already at a half a billion people and growing) based on various criteria like demographics, area, interests, etc. Just like with Facebook pages, Facebook will now give advertisers the ability to advertise their Facebook Places account as well. You can then use Facebook ads to directly advertise your business to targeted Facebook users.
By the way, I forgot to mention that Facebook Places is absolutely FREE! You do not need to spend a single dime to use it.
I have included a link to the Facebook Places page. You can see the FAQ menu to get more information about how to use Facebook Places and how it works.
Go and claim your business on Facebook Places, right now!