Later today Facebook will make announcements on how members can use its social networking links to help advertise and promote products (thanks to Advertising Age for the article)

This is unleashing the power of 'soft touch' social networking connections. If you are a member of Facebook you will know what I mean. People in your circle of friends keep in touch by posting details of what they are doing. You can join groups and from there cross connect to others outside your immediate network.

This is where personal recommendation added to a rebate coupon has real marketing possibilities.

For us consumers it means relevant and targeted recommendations. For advertisers it means the sort of targeting normally associated with the direct marketing industry and then some more. If I was Experian of similar data profilers and list suppliers I would be starting to get concerned.