Not to be outdone by Groupon or the recently released Google Offers, Facebook is revamping its Deals platform. The new Deals offer social users easily discovered and shared promotions from nearby stores, and the platform offers local marketers the chance to connect with Facebook's 500 million-member (and growing) user base.
Brafton reported earlier this month that rumors of a Groupon-style Facebook Deals program were generating buzz. Facebook had previously updated its Deals to include a social email component. The new Deals uses email as one of the many ways it delivers Deals to users. In fact, Facebook distributes a Deal in eight ways. 
1. On the left side of users' homepages via a Deals tab.
2. On a Deals landing page (which features content based on users' locations).
3. Through an ad spot, displaying data which of a users' friends have purchased a Deal.
4. Through users' personal messages and wall posts. The company encourages Facebook users to share the Deals they like.
5. In news feeds. Users will see when their friends have liked a Deal.
6. Via Notifications (which appear at the top of the site) whenever a friend purchases a Deal.
7. On a special Deals tab, meaning that any Deal is eligible to be displayed in a designated spot on landing pages for individual Deals.
8. Through email. Facebook says:
We'll email people when friends like or buy a deal that they have liked as well. We'll also send daily emails to people who have subscribed to our Deals updates.”
Business have the chance to offer Deals by partnering with Facebook to generate social-friendly promotions (favoring events and group activities over discounts). The company boasts, “Deals. Now better with friends.”
It claims that using Facebook helps local marketers promote their deals “where friends share recommendations.” Notably, Brafton has reported that social users' recommendations are trusted web referrals.
