Most of us use facebook on a personal basis, to connect with friends and family. But facebook has grown so much that the potential for businesses is enormous. Past years I saw an increase of clients asking us for online campaigns on facebook. Not to mention ads that when clicked makes the cash machine in facebook's office go ka-ching! ka-ching!
Telcos, broadband companies, airlines, universities and electronics brands are just some of the businesses now looking to provide customer service and support via facebook (and twitter). Got a complaint? Just rant on their facebook page and it gets flagged by their CRM system which initiates a CS agent to contact you to assist.
Some brands are opening online stores in facebook where you can buy directly. Saw one creative method that allowed you to publish the item you like from that store and your friends could chip in via paypal to help you "fund" for that item. No one has chipped in to my Bamford Rollie fund yet *hint hint* Just joking.
The other huge money making stream on facebook is social gaming. Zynga recently launched a new game called Cityville where you build your own city. In the short time that it has launched, it has now 84million active users monthly and growing. Don't be surprised to see billboards of actual brands and promotions in the city that when clicked will take you to their website or details on that promotion. Ka-ching! Ka-ching!