Social Media Minute: why Facebook should by Yelp w/Robert Scoble

Robert Scoble explains how Facebook can integrate businesses into the social graph.

Facebook is allowing small businesses to leverage its massive social network, so, why not just buy Yelp?

This suggestion comes from Robert Scoble, prolifc blogger and geek enthusiast. Up to now Facebook has basically been the white pages of the Internet, but it's not been able to integrate businesses, he said.

Yelp is a business review site that's already aggregated a massive database of local business data and reviews. Imagine, walking down the street and asking your iPhone Facebook app to tell you what local restaurants your friends and/or Yelpers like. And it goes beyond food, you can find doctors, as Robert did last week, or lawyers; you name it. Why reinvent the wheel, Scoble suggests.

Facebook buying Yelp makes a lot more sense than Facebook buying Twitter, said Scoble. After all, Facebook already has short messaging, like Twitter.

Listen in as Robert explains more about why he thinks Facebook buying Yelp is a win-win situation for both companies.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• scoble
• social media
• vator
• bancroft

[craigwaikem]

This is a great idea. Yelp is a credible review. Facebook logged in would also be a credible review. Can you buy stock in facebook or yelp???

[webmindset]

I completely agree. The only thing that would ruin this for me is if @Scobleizer actually owned Yelp! or had a vested interested. No worries, though, I agree with him.

[MatiasDiNapoli]

Seems like a good idea. But the latest Facebook is total crap. I just think by adding Yelp would complicate things much more. Hopefully, Facebook can resolve this issue.