The Difference Between Facebook Ads and Sponsored Stories

This is a Facebook ad:

Facebook Ads Before Sponsored Stories - The Anti-Social Media

This is a Facebook ad on Sponsored Stories:

Facebook Ads After Sponsored Stories - The Anti-Social Media

“Friends” don’t let “friends” become advertisements.

Just say “NO” to sponsored stories.

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16 Responses to “The Difference Between Facebook Ads and Sponsored Stories”

  1. John Morrow February 1, 2011 at 8:39 am #

    God, I can think of so many cool ways to abuse this - which of my friends do I want to start tagging on posts about Preparation H and gay dating sites?

  2. Pat Kent February 1, 2011 at 10:20 am #

    Sponsored stories are going to be really annoying as they start being used. The brand image takes up more space than the post itself! I think it would work better if you agreed for a company to sponsor your stories (for a coupon maybe?). Like if you check into Starbucks they give you 10% off to sponsor your check-in….. Yeahhhh thats never going to happen.

    • Jay February 1, 2011 at 1:45 pm #

      If Facebook paid people to be on it then who would ever leave? And the spam would be terrible.

      • Pat Kent February 1, 2011 at 3:22 pm #

        I was thinking more of it as the companies giving coupons to their customers who choose to opt into this sponsored message nonsense, not Facebook. You’re right though, it wouldn’t work anyways. The spam would be obscene!

        • Jay February 1, 2011 at 8:15 pm #

          Coupons could work, but actual cash would be a spam city.

  3. Tim Soulo February 1, 2011 at 11:16 am #

    Well one of my friends came up with his own way to fight this.. he just clicks every ad or banner he hates.. this way the ad owner gets billed a bit and my friends gets a bit happier knowing that :)

    • Jay February 1, 2011 at 12:07 pm #

      That also shows Facebook that the ads are engaging, and pays Facebook.

  4. Dino Dogan February 1, 2011 at 11:33 am #

    That first stick figure is scary as hell …

    • Jay February 1, 2011 at 11:52 am #

      He’s coming to get you, Dino.

      Look! There he is now!

  5. Morgan February 1, 2011 at 11:45 am #

    Is there a way to opt-out from being yanked into these ‘story advertisements’?

    • Jay February 1, 2011 at 12:05 pm #

      Nope. As part of the terms of using Facebook, any and all content you put on Facebook can be transferred or sub-licensed by Facebook.

  6. Ace February 1, 2011 at 4:00 pm #

    Great comments, and even better responses. Way to keep us educated, Jay, et al.

    Brand Advocacy is getting too easy - makes me feel bad for the one guy saying something positive about a brand on a negative thread and getting set aflame by the convertariot. At least he “earned” his affiliation with a company.

    With Facebook, it’s a pretty simple (and anonymous), “Oh jeez, my friend’s a consumer whore.”

    • Jay February 1, 2011 at 8:15 pm #

      Maybe if we’re all consumer whores, Facebook will feature our haul videos.

  7. Cara Pring February 4, 2011 at 12:15 am #

    Absolutely love it. You should read the story I recently wrote on sponsored stories, I suspect you may enjoy some of it. I too love to rant about social media things (or really anything in general), which is really a little hypocritical and probably career-threatening since I am employed as a social media specialist :)
    anyway if you’re interested, the story can be found here: http://www.socialmedianews.com.au/what-exactly-are-sponsored-stories-and-how-do-they-work/
    but as it was a guest blog for a different site, you can also check out my blog, which is full of similar sarcasm, cynicism and hatred to yours here: http://www.thesocialskinny.com.

    keep up the good work :)

    • Jay February 4, 2011 at 1:12 am #

      Loved your comment about Australia being two years behind. I’d be glad to be two years behind the rest of the world on Facebook.

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