Dive Brief:

• Facebook is offering new sections for its new ad-free brand Pages, such as a “shop” where marketers can feature products.
• Venture Beat reports that the new Pages sections will initially be offered in emerging high-growth markets, including Thailand, Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, India, Argentina, and Taiwan.
• The new sections are expected to be available for all brands in the coming weeks.

Dive Insight:

All of Facebook’s recent moves around brand Pages, such as rolling out its new ad-free design and business-friendly sections, are something of a gift to brands. Facebook was the first social media platform to push marketers into a pay-for-play advertising model, pushing marketers away from an organic approach to building an audience on social media.

The recent moves make Facebook an even more attractive place for brands to maintain an online presence. Given Facebook’s massive active user base and the popularity of its mobile app, brands shouldn’t require much more incentive to remain active on the platform, even if they aren’t engaged in advertising on Facebook or Instagram.