Move over Pinterest. There's a new kid in town, Fancy, that goes beyond just letting you "fancy" images that you see -- now you can also buy the items you see!
Sarah Kessler's recent Mashable post gives a crisp overview of this 1-year old company and its vision and direction. It's an interesting read.
Thousands of items are up on Fancy, complete with stunning photography. And, like Pinterest, you're encouraged to fancy what you love. Unlike Pinterest however, Fancy from the very beginning has always been about stuff you can buy. Fancy encourages merchants to post and claim items to sell ("I want to sell it").
Also like Pinterest, Fancy gives you a Fancy button for your browser toolbar that lets you "fancy" what you see on a website. And assuming it is for sale, you'll click through to a web page where you can buy it.
There's tons of stuff to fancy -- and you can create your own lists and catalogs. Lists are those things you fancy from within the Fancy site. Catalogs are items you've Fancy'd using the browser button. You can either accept Fancy's default categories or create your own to organize what you love.
Not everything you see is buyable (boo-hoo). This nifty dog house with loft appears to have been custom built by a dog owner, but who knows? If you really absolutely have to have it for your dog, follow the link back, and maybe the owner will sell you the plans!
Apple's on the Fancy train—its iPad photos lead you back to Apple's online store. Amazon's merchants are selling all kinds of stuff—from high end leather chairs to poached egg forms.
Many merchants promote their items by offering visitors a "deal." Think Groupon meets Fancy. When you "fancy" certain items, you unlock a coupon.
Fancy also has its own system for rewarding its community. You can be "promoted" by earning points for each item you fancy. Music lover? Go from being a mere member of the streat team to a record mogul! As you earn points and get promoted, these badges appear on your profile.
What Are the Implications of Using Fancy for Inbound Marketing?
The good news is, for those businesses with eCommerce sites, Fancy is another exciting distribution channel to consider. But because it's a social marketing network and not just a distribution channel, you'll need to play by the usual rules for not being obnoxiously sales-y.
To get the most out of Fancy as part of your inbound marketing strategies:
- Post beautiful photography. Great photos will get people's attention. The more those photos tap into their feelings, the better.
- Test different coupon deals. Don't put all your items up there, put 5-10, test different deals. It will take time and patience to figure out what this audience is looking for.
- Follow the influencers in your product category. If you want to get into the psyche of your customer personas, this just might be the ticket. Fancy lets its users indicate whether they own the item or not. So as you follow those people who are: influential, fancy your stuff AND claim to own your item, you'll get an amazing look into what else they care about. Do I hear "alliances" and "cross-promotion"? Not to mention great market research!
- Register and start fancying stuff yourself. The more you understand the experience, the better you'll use it as a marketing tool.
Besides, it's an eye opener to see the stuff people fancy. Ya won't believe it, 'til ya see it!
