Today Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer has announced a partnership with Facebook in which Wal-Mart fans on Facebook can access local stores. This is done to help Wal-Mart’s 9 million fans on the social networking service connect with their local stores just in time. Any money involved in the partnership is declined.

Wal-Mart is rolling out more than 3,500 Facebook pages that it says will enable customers to interact directly with their local store to get information on new products, events and discount offers. This partnership shows how companies are using Facebook to develop a deeper relationship with its shoppers.

This step by Wal-Mart will increase their sales by responding quickly to customer demands.

Carolyn Everson, vice president of global marketing solutions at Facebook, said more than half of active adult users on Facebook follow brands. Facebook is trying to attract more advertising revenue and spending on its service as it ramps up for an initial public offering in 2012. It competes with Google, Yahoo and other online services for eyeballs and ads. The world’s largest social networking service, with more than 800 million users, will generate $4.27 billion in revenue this year, more than double the $2 billion it made in 2010, according to EMarketer.

Wal-Mart and others are increasingly trying to harness the power of Facebook to drive customer counts and revenue. In April 2010, Facebook allowed brands and retailers to use the now ubiquitous “like” button on their websites, making it easier to share and connect with friends. Everson noted that brands are starting to see a measurable sales impact on products that are “liked” on Facebook

More than 50 percent of active adults on Facebook follow a brand, and there are 100 million “likes” on pages every single day, Everson said.

Wal-Mart customers can click on to www.facebook/Walmart and then will be able to “like” stores that are nearest to them. Customers can see specific offers and others on their “My Local Wal-Mart” page.
Shoppers who sign up will get about two notifications per week on special offers.