We've been hard at work on a GreetingCardUniverse Application for Facebook.  This will allow Facebook users to purchase GCUniverse cards, both paper cards and "new" electronic cards (FlipEcards).  This application is expected to go live on Facebook by the end of January.  Here are more details...
 
1) Sell GCU Paper Greeting Cards on Facebook
This will be similar to purchasing a paper greeting card on GCU minus some bells and whistles (no artist storefronts, no custom card requests, no inside image upload for example).  Cards will likely be offered at the same price as on GCU (we'll be doing some price testing), same cards, same printer, same artist fees (%), etc.  For the best shopping experience the shopper will do everything on Facebook (shopping, personalizing, paying) and not routed back to the GCU website.
 
We will now be able to reach the millions of users (40 million and counting) of BigDates Solutions' Birthday Calendar for Facebook application.  These two applications will have great synergy.    
 
One of the many challenges we will face is the unwillingness of Facebook users to do commerce transactions outside of virtual gifts.  The fact that the majority of the Facebook population consists of a non-U.S. users will likely introduce other challenges as well.
 
2) Sell Electronic Greeting Cards - FlipEcards
These will be fee based, electronic versions of GCU paper cards that have flash animation allowing the recipient to "open" the card and view all 4 sides (cover, insides and back).  They will likely be priced at 99 cents with artists earning 30% per card.  FlipEcards will first be available via the GCU Application on Facebook in January.  FlipEcards may be offered on other GCU properties in late 2010 based on what we learn from the GCU Application on Facebook.
 
See sample FlipEcards here:  
Landscape:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/social_networks_2/gcu/facebook/large_preview .php?cart_id=267&mode=ecard
 
Portrait:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/social_networks_2/gcu/facebook/large_preview .php?cart_id=261&mode=ecard
 
The sweet spot for these fee based FlipEcards is to a) earn revenue from Ecard users that are not interested in paper cards and more importantly b) capture the last minute greeting card sales when time does not allow the mailing of a paper card and c) provide a convenient offering for International shoppers who may not want to wait out international mail times.
 
See here from prior thread re: Fee based Ecards:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/forum/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1218475907/54#54
 
ARTIST DECISION TO BE MADE:
If you want to participate in the GCU Application on Facebook AND offer FlipEcards you need NOT take any action.  The setting for participation is already Yes.    If you do NOT wish to participate you must take action.  This will be via a setting on your Global Preferences page (available Thursday, 1/7/10).
 
Electronic Greeting Cards - FlipEcards:
1) Participate - Do Nothing, your setting is already Yes
Your cards (paper and electronic) WILL be offered on the GCU Application on Facebook AND offered as FlipEcards on any other GCU sites & applications.
 
2) Do Not Participate - You must change your setting to No
Your cards will NOT be offered on the GCU Application for Facebook, NOR offered as FlipEcards on any other GCU sites & applications.
 
Any changes to your setting (Yes/No) will be updated online within 12 hours.      
 
We are very excited about this new application and offering and believe it will be bring great things to GCU and our artists.  Please let us know if you have any questions.  We will continue to post updates.

Are cards protected with a watermark of sorts til paid for?   Maybe there should be some kind of tag placed on the cards to follow them once sent so it shows forwarding each time and tell the orig. purchaser they will be charged for each forward beyond orig. purchase.  LOL  it's just a thought if could even be done!
 
Sal  

Sounds like a great idea to me.  I like the flip cards, cute.   rosiecards

Interesting! Like the look of the FlipEcards, very smooth.
 
Will Facebook users be given the opportunity to purchase cards via PayPal? If so, you may want to consider adding a Cherry Credits option for payment for the Asian users (big market), as PayPal is not available in many Asian countries.
 
Corrie
http://www.corrieweb.nl

Wow . . this looks great . . nice and clear. My concern also is regarding forwarding, so perhaps a watermark somewhere would be nice.
 
thanks again for your hard work,
elizabeth

Will all cards be offered for FlipEcards?
How will photo cards/insert face cards be handled?
Will custom requests be available and how will that work?
 
Comment:  I was not able to really read and enjoy the inside verse in the example card due to the size used.  I had to click the magnifier on my screen to read it.  There really needs to be a magnifier built-in to the app so that the image and verse can be seen very clearly, like "you know who" does.

Quote from Mindy on Jan 5^th, 2010, 4:56pm:

I don't see that this option is available yet.    
 
 

Ernestine:  its in your global prefs.  at the bottom!
 
Sal