Zynga is starting to show ads from Facebook on Zynga.com, its stand-alone website that lets people play its online games away from Facebook.
Since players use their Facebook accounts to log in to Zynga.com, the ads will be targeted to them based the information that they already share on Facebook.
Facebook says advertisers won’t have any new criteria to target people. So logging in to Zynga.com would probably get users the same ads they already see on Facebook.
The move is likely the first step in the creation of an advertising network for Facebook that allows it to show ads on websites beyond Facebook.com. This is something other companies, such as Amazon.com Inc.’s Zappos.com, already do.
The companies are not disclosing financial details of the deal.
Facebook Stock Rallies
Facebook (Nasdaq: FB) closed at one of its highest prices since its initial public offering on Friday.
The stock rose $1.21, or 3.8 percent, to finish at $33.05. It hasn’t closed above that price since May 21, the second day of trading.
The stock finished the week up 10 percent, the second straight week of increase.
Facebook is still 14 percent below its IPO price of $38 a share.
Facebook’s IPO has had a rocky ride. Its debut was delayed by trading glitches on the Nasdaq.
Investors have been concerned about its ability to increase revenue and make money from its growing mobile audience, though many analysts hold positive long-term opinions.
Facebook, along with investment banks that led the IPO, is the subject of dozens of shareholder lawsuits.
Facebook Hires Apple Designer
On Friday, Facebook said it hired former Apple Inc. design manager Chris Weeldreyer.
Weeldreyer will work on mobile products, Menlo Park, California-based Facebook said in an e-mailed statement.
