Companies Offering Freebies, Discounts Through Facebook
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - You can get all kinds of deals and plenty of freebies with very little effort on your part.
There are more than 3 billion "likes" and comments on Facebook each day.
Companies are hoping you like them and in return they are giving away all kinds of goods.
All it takes is a click to cash in and customers like Laurie Dunkin are catching on.
"Through Facebook I probably save $10 to $20 a month. Every little bit helps," Dunkin said.
From big name companies to mom and pops, the "like" button is leading to plenty of deals.
David Greenberg owns Elements Cuisine in downtown Pittsburgh. He recently ran a promotion where if you like the restaurant on Facebook you got a free dessert.
He said using social media for deals is all about creating buzz for your business.
"Facebook is here," Greenberg said. "It's here and we are just experimenting with it, delving into it, but we definitely want to be a part of it instead of being left behind."
At Chetlin & Pechersky Orthodontics in Squirrel Hill, its Facebook friends can win an iPad just by checking in.
"I think our reach with this promotion has reached 30,000 to 40,000 people, which is pretty successful," Dr. Dave Pechersky said.
When KDKA-TV's Susan Koeppen went searching Facebook for deals, she found everything from a free Wi-Fi offer at a hotel to 15 percent off for checking in at an American Eagle Outfitters store.
Even though deals are vast, experts said to be careful whom you like.
"When you click on the 'like' the advertisers can see information you listed on your personal profile," bargain expert Michelle Ashamallah said.
Greenberg said he likes to connect with customers.
"It gets your brand out there and it gives your customers something to talk about," Greenberg said.
And his customers like deals.
"If I can get a good deal, I'm all about getting a good deal," Nancy Bancroft said.
One quick and easy way to look for freebies on Facebook is to go to Facebook.com/deals/checkin.
A list of deals will pop up and you can search for deals by zip code.
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