Dive Brief:
- At the F8 developer conference, and via its blog, Facebook announced the new Messenger Platform, which opens up the Messenger App to third party developers and publishers.
- One of its features is "Messenger for Business," which Facebook says will “reinvent the way people communicate and interact with businesses.”
- The new platform opens up a line of communication between consumers and businesses that could be used for customer service and advertising opportunities, Facebook said.
Dive Insight:
Messenger for Business could be a huge opportunity for brands. Until now, the only way for a brand page to interact with users was by replying to posts. As CEO Zuckerberg stated, "I don't know anyone who likes calling businesses." Brands are already reaching out to consumers on other messaging apps like Kik and WhatsApp. The trick will be offering users value—not just offering an avenue for brands to reach users.