What do you get when the second largest quick-service sandwich chain in the U.S. goes Plink? The opportunity for customers at 3,500 Arby’s restaurants to earn 10 Facebook Credits for every $5 spent.

Plink, the online-to-offline social media-based loyalty program already counts Taco Bell, Outback Steakhouse, 7-Eleven, Red Robin, Quiznos, and Dunkin’ Donuts as affiliates. Now you can add the Atlanta-based Arby’s Restaurant Group, purveyor of the classic Roast Beef and Beef ‘n Cheddar sandwiches, Curly Fries and Jamocha Shakes, to the Plink roster.

“Facebook Credits is the missing ingredient that’s been needed to connect social media to offline sales,” stated Peter Vogel, co-founder of Plink, in January. “Now with the ‘glue’ of Facebook Credits our national restaurant and offline retailer partners have a way to tap into the nearly 800 million users on Facebook, motivate them to become loyal customers, and reward them.”Continue reading...

The Facebook/Google wars are heating up.

Google is enticing sign-ups for Google+ — which zoomed out of invitation-only mode and into public worldwide release in just under the 90 days — by touting its "Hangouts" video-chat feature.

The virtual lounge, which lets up to nine people link up and chat on video and host online broadcasts, will be demonstrated via a live demo tonight, when The Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am hosts the first "Hangout on Air" at 7pm Eastern.Continue reading...

Facebook Deals launched Nov. 3 in the US. Now the location-based is launching in the UK, with charter brands offering specials including Alton Towers Resort, Argos, Benetton, Debenhams, Mazda, Starbucks, and YO! Sushi, plus other parts of Europe — Germany, Italy, France, Spain — plus Canada.

Starbucks in the UK, according to InformationWeek, "is offering a free cup of coffee to anyone (the first 30,000, says the Guardian) who checks in to Places Deals Monday (while) Benetton will donate £2 or €2 to Architecture for Humanity for every person who checks in. Mazda is giving users the chance to earn a 20% discount — or more than £4,600 — off its MX-5 sports car."

Additionally, the first 1,000 Facebookers to check in at Debenhams will receive a free mascara and makeover, and the first four customers to upgrade their contracts and check in at O2 stores will win a free Xbox or Playstation.Continue reading...