That is the simple concept behind a new feature from Facebook tab software company, Woobox. The friend gate feature is free until August 31 and then only be available through their $29 a month pro subscription.
The friend gate feature reminds us of the group buying craze. Woobox also allows you to feature coupons through Facebook tabs for a similar experience to group buying.
The friend gate feature, however, can be used to get your fans to share a new Facebook tab with their friends. Maybe it is to reveal a new video. Think Lady Gaga. Maybe it is to include a new ebook featuring some training or industry insights. Think Dell Small Business network. Or maybe you want to spread the word about a new product release. There are lots of options.
To spread exclusive content and get a bunch of Facebook likes in the process, this app has a lot of potential.
The downside of any requirement in exchange for viewing content is you will lose a portion of the audience. Webtrends estimates that when most companies require a like in exchange to reveal a tab’s content, they lose 30% to 50% of the people that land on the tab. So consider this option carefully. The numbers will likely jump even higher considering you have to convince your friends to help you get to this content.
For content that you want to get a lot of views or use to help spread awareness, this is not the best option. But if you are looking for targeted lead generation and have great content to offer in exchange, this could be a fun tool to test with.
What do you think? Would you use this type of Facebook barrier?
Please let us know either way in the comments below. I am curious.