Facebook has gone live with a new form of search ads as the social network continues to test new advertising models.
The feature allows marketers to target Facebook users as they actively search for specific Pages, apps and pages. Sponsored results were being tested by Facebook last month, and the social network has confirmed to TechCrunch that it has now been rolled out more broadly.
Sponsored results appear in the drop-down box that shows up as users type in a search query. Marketers can insert links to their own properties on Facebook, including custom page tabs or specific posts - all within the social network. The sponsored results appear above the organic search results, allowing marketers to directly target the traffic intended for competitors.
When the feature first began being tested by Facebook, it was noted that the social network was beginning to tread further into Google's search ad business. The sponsored search ads can also be further tailored using Facebook's targeting algorithms to reach a specific audience.
Messages makeover
The updated side-by-side layout lets users click the most recent message on the left to see the whole conversation on the right. “You can also bring conversations to life with multiple photos and emoticons,” says Facebook.
Facebook has also updated the search function within Messages to allow users to search by sender's name or a keyword.
“And for easier navigation, we've added keyboard commands. To see the full list of available shortcuts, type Alt Q on a PC or Control Q on a Mac.”
The new look has been rolled out to a small number of users so far and will be made available to Facebook's global user base in the coming weeks.
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