Is it truly easy to connect the ideas of social media and retail? Seeing as how one is rooted in the digital sense and the other in the traditional sense, I do not think that anyone would have been able to make that particular connection. However, it seems like we're going to see how this plays out, according to stories regarding Facebook. This particular social network may enter the retail industry, which is noteworthy for Robert Jain Credit Suisse, as well as other financial entities.

Wired put up a report that talked about Facebook and how it was testing out a "Buy" button on the website. In essence, it will allow users to buy goods and services via ads on news feeds but here's the good part: you do not have to leave Facebook to go about this. You aren't forced to click around various websites in order to go about this particular endeavor. It's a great move, on the part of Facebook, since it seems like anyone can make use of it regardless of their experience on Facebook or the Internet overall.

From what I have seen, this move on Facebook is similar to what other companies have done. Many large businesses have gone on to become online retailers - Google is one of the more prominent examples - so it wouldn't be out of the question to say that Facebook could follow suit. In fact, given the tremendous amount of engagement on Facebook, in general, it's fair to assume that success can be attained. It's just a matter of which services can benefit from this new implementation.

In order for this to be truly successful - and names along the lines of Jain may agree - Facebook cannot copy off of other websites. Yes, there might be similar tools and utilities but if Facebook outright rips off what another company has done, this project is all but dead on arrival. Consumers are not foolish and they will understand when a business is not being unique and true to itself. Facebook has the potential to stand out and Robert Jain Credit Suisse can say the same.

It's clear that Facebook is looking to enter the world of retail like businesses have done in the past. Will Facebook be successful in this way? It's hard to say, especially when there are a number of variables to take into consideration. I believe that this project can help Facebook's reach and increase the level of user engagement in the short term. Only with proper planning, though, can this be more of a long term benefit for arguably the most popular social network.