The site, www.plink.com, is the first-ever Facebook credits-based program, that rewards members when they spend money at participating restaurants.
If you are one of the 60 million who plays games on Facebook, this new website is targeting you, and it's all centered around your Facebook Credits.
Right now when you play games on Facebook, you earn credits, and you can purchase digital goods like games and streaming movies.
Plink.com is getting in on the action to connect brick and mortar establishments with people online.
9News Your Money Reporter Heidi McGuire walks us through getting signed up and talks to the sites co-founder Peter Vogel about the impact on potential consumers.
Heidi: First, it's free to sign up on Plink.com and you can do this through your Facebook account. But, you'll want to pay attention to the permission box that pops up asking you two questions: 1) If you will allow Plink to post things on your behalf, like photos and notes, and 2) if you will allow Plink access to your data when you're not using the application.
Peter Vogel: "You can still earn credits without. We won't be able to post contests. We won't be able to post a variety of other things. We also announce winners that way and we do have a policy too, that we'll never post anything without your permission."
Heidi: To receive Facebook credits on Plink, you'll be asked to register a credit or debit card. It doesn't want your card number, instead it asks for your bank log-on and password. To be honest, this makes me uncomfortable.
Peter Vogel: "It is something that's been around a long time and it is secure, but we do recognize it's one of the hurdles that we have to explain to consumers. And so through the learning process we know that we'll learn how to educate consumers that this looks a little weird and can be scary, but lots of people do it and it is safe, and they describe it as read only access, so we can't give you money even if we wanted to. We can't take money away. All we can do is see and record it."
Heidi: What does all this mean for those of us who don't play games on Facebook? Do Facebook Credits have any value to us?
Peter Vogel: "This year there will be tons of ways you can rent movies and download music. It's all soft goods. There's a company called Milyoni that you can watch on Facebook."
Heidi: One other reason this business of social commerce matters is that it's growing rapidly. Vogel predicts Facebook Credit economy will double every year for the next five years.
Currently, there are a handful of national chains participating in this in the Plink program, including a couple that are based in Colorado like Quiznos and Red Robin. Plink has plans to add five to ten national retailers in the next six months.