Today, Facebook is officially rolling out a new set of tools specifically developed to help 40 million active businesses on the Messenger app. The new tools will include real-time appointment booking via Messenger and lead generation as well. Earlier this year, Facebook hinted that it's working on new tools during F8 developer conference.
Along with the updates in the tools of Messenger, Facebook will be removing the Discover tab in Messenger. Discover tab was used by gamers and businesses to discover trending apps but not anymore. According to Facebook, the team is investing more in making the communication of potential customers and businesses more easily and that is the reason behind the removal of Discover tab that will take place in the following months. The aim behind these new tools is to make it easy for people to reach various businesses directly through Messenger. Along with the removal of Discover feature, Facebook will be putting more effort into updating m.me links, web plugins and a variety of entry point to help lead people to Messenger app.
During the launch of a new business tool, the lead generation product will be released as a template for Messenger within Facebook Ads Manager this week. This new template will help businesses to create automated experiences to easily get leads in Messenger and then continue conversions within the app or use CRM tools to track the leads more.
Since the press released at F8 conference, this feature has been in beta version but now it will available to users widely.
At F8 conference, Facebook also boasted about its working on Appointment booking feature as well but for now, the team of Facebook will be launching it into beta version with access to selected developers and businesses. This feature will enable businesses to approve appointment requests and make bookings in real-time through the Messenger app. This feature also uses existing calendar booking software to help conversions in Messenger turn into in-store traffic and also into online and phone appointments as well. This Appointment booking feature will be launched later in the year.
According to Facebook, the team is also updating its Standard Messaging window for businesses to 24 hours. This new feature brings Facebook tool in-line with WhatsApp’s window. After the 24 hour limit, businesses can still utilize sponsored messages to engage with potential customers and message tags, reminders of the event, human agent to make it easy to respond to issues even after the standard messaging window closes.
Along with other updates, the Subscription Messaging beta program of Messenger will also be changing today. The vetted news organizations are going to be limited as well because according to Facebook some of the businesses started using this feature in a way that violated the guidelines of Facebook. This feature was specifically designed to send regulars news updates to its subscribers but we think this limitation of this feature is also due to the fact that Facebook is expected to soon launch its feature top news stories tab on its social network platform. This time Facebook will be paying to journalists to feature content. There is still a chance that this new news product and the previous subscription/update feature might work together to deliver products to the audience but we are not sure yet.
And lastly, the biggest update regarding the role of Messenger for the consumer is yet to be released. We are not sure when it will be launched but we are crossing our fingers for this new desktop app for Mac and PC which is most likely expected to be launched sometime this year.
Photo: Chesnot/Getty Images
Read next: Facebook is currently working on a new notification format for your post reactions
Along with the updates in the tools of Messenger, Facebook will be removing the Discover tab in Messenger. Discover tab was used by gamers and businesses to discover trending apps but not anymore. According to Facebook, the team is investing more in making the communication of potential customers and businesses more easily and that is the reason behind the removal of Discover tab that will take place in the following months. The aim behind these new tools is to make it easy for people to reach various businesses directly through Messenger. Along with the removal of Discover feature, Facebook will be putting more effort into updating m.me links, web plugins and a variety of entry point to help lead people to Messenger app.
During the launch of a new business tool, the lead generation product will be released as a template for Messenger within Facebook Ads Manager this week. This new template will help businesses to create automated experiences to easily get leads in Messenger and then continue conversions within the app or use CRM tools to track the leads more.
Since the press released at F8 conference, this feature has been in beta version but now it will available to users widely.
At F8 conference, Facebook also boasted about its working on Appointment booking feature as well but for now, the team of Facebook will be launching it into beta version with access to selected developers and businesses. This feature will enable businesses to approve appointment requests and make bookings in real-time through the Messenger app. This feature also uses existing calendar booking software to help conversions in Messenger turn into in-store traffic and also into online and phone appointments as well. This Appointment booking feature will be launched later in the year.
Other new updates soon to be launched by Facebook
According to Ted Helwick (Director of Product, Messenger Business), Facebook is planning to launch improved event reporting in Messenger at the end of this year. This feature can help businesses to easily monitor and track their Messenger conversations.According to Facebook, the team is also updating its Standard Messaging window for businesses to 24 hours. This new feature brings Facebook tool in-line with WhatsApp’s window. After the 24 hour limit, businesses can still utilize sponsored messages to engage with potential customers and message tags, reminders of the event, human agent to make it easy to respond to issues even after the standard messaging window closes.
Along with other updates, the Subscription Messaging beta program of Messenger will also be changing today. The vetted news organizations are going to be limited as well because according to Facebook some of the businesses started using this feature in a way that violated the guidelines of Facebook. This feature was specifically designed to send regulars news updates to its subscribers but we think this limitation of this feature is also due to the fact that Facebook is expected to soon launch its feature top news stories tab on its social network platform. This time Facebook will be paying to journalists to feature content. There is still a chance that this new news product and the previous subscription/update feature might work together to deliver products to the audience but we are not sure yet.
And lastly, the biggest update regarding the role of Messenger for the consumer is yet to be released. We are not sure when it will be launched but we are crossing our fingers for this new desktop app for Mac and PC which is most likely expected to be launched sometime this year.
Photo: Chesnot/Getty Images
Read next: Facebook is currently working on a new notification format for your post reactions
