Facebook Inc. (FB) Restores Preferred Marketing Developer Program

Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) had discontinued its Preferred Marketing Developer program last month, saying at the time that it wanted to re-evaluate the program and come back with some different requirements and rules. Three weeks later, apparently the facelift is over and the new program was revealed Monday.

Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) is re-introducing the PMD program with some new guidelines. The basis of the program is to build a social sub-network community for developers who succeed in social marketing. Those developers which create the “highest quality products” to enhance the social network of Facebook get badges that show serve as a seal of approval for the firm’s work. This new program is generally the same as before, with a couple of changes – one is a move to a referral-based system, and the other involves new criteria to earn badges.

Are the changes to a referral system all about gathering more money? In a report announcing the change to the referral system, Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) noted that the changes are meant to highlight firms that “have proven success working with our internal teams or ads-qualified PMDs.”

“(W)e’ve learned that companies referred to us by a trusted, credible and informed source were much more likely to ultimately join the program as they had proven to be successful on our platform and with marketers.” There is a question whether this is all about those with money getting preference, but apparently this new system is designed for those developers who have the time and investment into their products to be heavily involved in the developer community.

As for earning the PMD badge, Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) is encouraging developers to more effectively integrate across all four qualification areas – Ads, Apps, Insights and Pages – instead of just mainly focusing on one or two areas, and to make it easier to utilize News Feed, Open Graph or Pages.

What do you think? Is this a new opportunity for developers, or a new revenue opportunity for Facebook inc. (NASDAQ:FB)? A little of both? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

DISCLOSURE: I own no positions in any stock mentioned.

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