Facebook has been very publicly battered when it comes to privacy, so why launch a feature that tells users where you are at all times? It must be about money and ad dollars…

facebook2Facebook is finally turning into a business. It’s recognising where others have a monopoly in the market and then it is coming in all huffing and buffing and blowing those businesses down. In this case, it was Foursquare.

The launch of Facebook Places comes as a surprise to some but for many others, it seems the next logical step.

Here’s the sell by Facebook:

“If you’re like me, when you find a place you really like, you want to tell your friends you’re there. Maybe it’s a new restaurant, a beautiful hiking trail or an amazing live show.

Starting today, you can immediately tell people about that favourite spot with Facebook Places. You can share where you are and the friends you’re with in real time from your mobile device.”

Places might eventually open new financial opportunities for Facebook through partnerships with retailers and restaurants, and location-specific advertising. But what are the possibilities for marketers?

The feature primarily works as a iPhone application. So people have to be on the go to use it. It is proven that people are more willing to share information when they are already in a social environment. All marketers have to do is cash in on that.

I can see this Places feature working like text when it first became apparent to marketers as a medium.

Remember brands were always trying to get you to text a photo to this “number and you could win” or sign up for more details and various other things.

Now marketers can entice their consumers to direct their friends to sales, events, ‘places’, or even just get more people through the doors.

It’ll have to be done right though, and be seen as rewarding by the consumers spreading the word.