With Facebook recently making its own Credits the mandatory virtual currency earlier this month, and with it seeing more adoption amongst the bigger social gaming companies and brands with video ads, it’s time for e-commerce and video marketing professionals to tackle the next important question: When is this going to mature into a real opportunity for the rest of us? In this presentation and opinion piece, I explore a number of ways I think that can realistically happen.

I recently gave a presentation at the Mediabistro AllFacebook Expo titled “Facebook Credits and Social Video,” which I’ve made available with the latest updates right below you can go through.

In what I believe is the first ever presentation on Facebook Credits and Social Video, I cover the following topics and questions:

• What is “virtual currency” and “virtual goods?”
• What trends are we seeing with virtual goods?
• Why Facebook launched ‘Credits’
• How Facebook Credits work
• Who’s using FB Credits
• Why marketers and video professionals should pay attention to FB Credits
• Analysts forecasts of FB Credits’ impact on advertising and eCommerce
• Challenges of FB Credits
• New marketing uses and possibilities with FB Credits
• The special opportunity with video for FB Credits
• The relationship of “social video” with FB Credits
• Real examples of “social video commerce” on Facebook
• Remaining questions

I earlier reported over at ReelSEO that I believe it’s too early for most businesses and consumers to really get involved with Facebook Credits for now. However it’s important that we as video marketers and e-commerce professionals keep our eye on important trends, especially when one of them involves the world’s largest social media platform (750 million users and counting), and the integration of a new currency.

That is why I have put together this idea list of how Facebook could provide lots of new content, marketing, and commerce activities for both video professionals and marketers in general with their Credits program reaching maturity over the next couple years:

• Make it more accessible beyond the gamers.
• Allow people to purchase tangible goods and services with it, not just virtual goods.
• Provide it as a reward system for people who watch “Facebook-approved” videos.
• Have a multi-tiered program that would allow small and medium size developers to be able to participate, including one that lowers Facebooks’ current 30 percent take.
• Do a better job of handling privacy implications and security. (Much of the use of Facebook Credits involves turning over some personal data.)
• Let people earn Credits over extended activity on Facebook, without having to necessarily do anything, for a limited time. (This could be done on Facebook-approved sites, for those who are willing to participate.)
• Get involved with altruistic programs – this can involve cause marketing and education
• Get involved with indie labels and music producers on offering Credits as a means of paying for watching live or otherwise exclusive video concerts.
• Create an app that lets people see where they can find videos online that they can earn Credits for watching and participating with some deeper level of focused attention.
• Take suggestions! Set up a community based site where people can share their own ideas on how to improve FB credits and make it more widely available for developers, marketers, consumers, and general enthusiasts.

I encourage you to also check out my earlier articles here:

• Facebook Credits Gaining Momentum in eCommerce: New Opportunities and Challenges for Retail Video
• Will Facebook Credits Revolutionize Social Video Commerce and Retail?

Stock photo image courtesy of iStockphoto #1451044, © Talag