When was the last time you paid money to access your Facebook account? The answer is simple, you haven’t. Not since its inception has Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) ever looked to be anything other than a free service for its users. While rumors have suggested numerous times that Facebook has weighed the idea of a becoming a paid service, or at least a social network with a premium option, it’s never happened. Thankfully, for most people (and probably Facebook) none of these rumors have ever materialized. With that, Facebook has been forced to focus on advertising revenue, and most users have come to understand that without these ads, Facebook could not remain free. In the past year, Facebook has gone of its way to make ad targeting and creation easier for its more than one million advertisers.
Facebook announces deal with Shutterstock
With the goal of becoming a one-stop media shop for advertisers, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) announced today that it reached a deal with Shutterstock Inc (NYSE:SSTK) for licensing millions of images that will do just that.
The deal announced today will allow advertisers access to millions of images directly from Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB)’s Ad Create Tool. These images will be free to advertisers and should add to the appeal of advertisers looking to target the News Feed of its over one billion regular users both on desktop and mobile platforms.
“We’re making marketing on Facebook an end-to-end solution, from precise audience targeting to ad creation and performance measurement. It’s a one-stop shop to help marketers drive their business goals,” says Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) spokesman Tim Rathschmidt.
Facebook helping advertisers
Advertisers will be allowed to select up to six images when creating a single ad or a group of ads, from there they will be able to use these images without licensing fees in order to play around with them and determine which of them work best in their advertisements.
As mentioned, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) has made it easier for marketers to both target customers, but also to interact with customers through relationship management software.
While it will take a few weeks for advertisers to have access to these millions of images, they are well on the way.
This agreement is just another step by Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) to further justify its claims that it is making advertising more approachable on the world’s largest social media platform.
