Visa Business Network on Facebook

Visa has unveiled a combination 'Facebook Application / Facebook page' entitled "The Visa Business Network". "With over 21 million users, Facebook is a great place to build your business. When you join the network, you get $100 to create targeted advertising and reach potential customers on Facebook." It seems like a complicated way for Visa to get people to join their network for a $100 incentive (which is great for Facebook and the small businesses). Any small business can already join groups, buy Facebook's social ads, and build their network-- so why join Visa's?

It looks like they want small business owners to 1) Make a profile (which they would have already done just to access Facebook). 2) Connect with others (duh!) 3)Keep in Touch (and this one blows me away) Yet another inbox for small business owners to keep track of. They have their email, their Facebook inbox, and now their Facebook Visa Application Inbox.... (youch.) Why is this so hard for big businesses? People want timely and relevant resources, free stuff (like the $100 in FB Social Ads), a place to connect with others-- for more resources and tips and help with their business... My thinking is that they over thought this. They should have just suped-up a page. My $0.02