Dive summary:
- Facebook plans to start including auto-play video advertising on users newsfeeds which may entice a user backlash; it is a fine line Facebook is walking to keep users happy while providing better options for ad revenue.
- Advertisers are drawn to the video ads because they reach Facebook users when they are engaged in the site, unlike TV where the viewer may or may not watch it.
- Some industry experts are wary that the video ads will alienate users by being too intrusive and annoying, especially with the auto-play feature; the move to include video ads has been compared to the decline of former rival MySpace, who lost a lot of users because of crowded advertising.
From the article:
"All that said, Facebook won’t struggle to find major launch partners for its video ads anyway. Marketers will see value in being the first to dip their toes in the water if nothing else. According to reports, brands that sit on the company’s client council advisory board will likely be the first to trial the ads. Members currently include Coca Cola, Ford, American Express, Diageo and Unilever, among others."
