As social commerce continues to expand, local businesses are starting to see industry-specific social media applications for doing business on Facebook.  One of the latest entries, for car dealers, is called Socialink, from video technology company Liquidus.  The new Socialink Facebook application lets car dealers show customized video of vehicles in inventory via the dealer’s Facebook page.

Socialink offers a new way for car dealerships to attract buyers through social media and by providing a personalized shopping experience for every vehicle on their lot.  It extends to social media the vehicle video browsing experience that has helped make dealership websites so popular in recent years.  Facebook visitors can also share their vehicle ‘Likes’ with friends.

In addition to custom voiceover narration and graphic overlays, the new app also provides vehicle details, CARFAX reporting and links to related vehicles.  A “Contact Dealer” form makes it easy for consumers to connect to the dealership and set up a test drive. To search for a car, users can filter dealer inventory by make and then sort by price, year or mileage.  Liquidus says it’s the only Facebook app of its kind to use real-time video technology, ensuring content is always current.  Click here to see how one Ford dealer in Charlotte, NC is already using the app.

An updated version of set for release later in 2011 will include support for viewing on iPads and iPhones and will include a “polling” application that will allow interactive voting from friends to gather feedback on possible vehicle purchases.