Facebook has been insistently trying to convince users that personalized ads are a good thing, especially since Apple announced that it would start letting users know if apps tried to track the user"s habits in iOS. Facebook"s angle has been the idea that targeted ads play a big role in helping small businesses be discovered and grow.
With that in mind, Facebook today announced an initiative called Good Ideas Deserve to be Found, which aims to remind people of the importance of personalized advertising for small businesses. Facebook is sharing some stories of small businesses with creative ideas for products and services, and on Facebook, and talking about how its personalized ads can help those businesses grow. The hashtag #DeservetobeFound, along with a new Instagram sticker, can also be used to help promote these small businesses.
Aside from blatantly trying to protect its main source of revenue, Facebook also announced a handful of measures to help businesses on Facebook. The Ads Manager is getting updated to be simpler and easier to understand so businesses can get started promoting themselves more efficiently, and the Businesses Nearby section will help restaurants by showing what kind of dining options they offer.
Facebook is also waiving fees for businesses using Checkout in their Facebook Shops through June 2021, and paid online events will also not give any money to Facebook through August. While Facebook"s intentions are obviously not selfless, businesses that rely on Facebook to reach their audience should find some good news in today"s announcement.