More and more small business owners are creating Pages on Facebook to promote their businesses, brands, and products.
Facebook is a great place to keep in touch with current customers, reach new ones, and engage with your community in discussions related to your business. But, it can also be a great place for small business owners to gather information about growing their businesses and a place to network with thousands of other business owners.
Like the top 20 important LinkedIn groups for business, below is a similar list of pages, groups, and other communities on Facebook that should be getting your “Like” today. These communities can offer any number of resources for small business owners.
Facebook Pages for Business
Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday has become one of the best-known promotions of small business in the U.S. “Like” this page and you get information leading up to this year’s Small Business Saturday and are able to connect with other small business owners in your area or field.
This is also a great page to reach consumers who seek out small businesses to support during the holiday shopping season (and the rest of the year, too). Remember, Small Business Saturday is traditionally the day after Black Friday.
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is a federal agency tasked with crafting legislation that empowers small business owners in the U.S.
The agency offers various loans and education programs for small business owners. “Like” this site and you will have the opportunity to network with a vast network of U.S. small businesses that depend upon this organization or follow its activities. And these, of course, could also be future customers or clients.
US Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1912, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce claims to be the world’s largest business federation. It represents the interests of 3 million businesses of all sizes, as well as industry associations.
The Chamber of Commerce page on Facebook will keep you up-to-date on the latest business trends nationwide.
Wells Fargo
Banking institutions like Wells Fargo often target programs and promotions for the small business community. These institutions also tend to offer free online tools that make doing business easier.
In fact, Wells Fargo recently introduced its Wells Fargo Works for Small Business initiative. This program provides small business owners helpful advice and resources for starting and growing your business. A “Like” on this page can help you stay up to date on programs or services you might find useful too.
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau is a resource for small business owners and consumers alike.
The BBB offers free reviews on millions of businesses nationwide. It also acts as a mediator between businesses and disgruntled customers when the situation arises. The organization’s Facebook community offers a place to potentially network with both business owners and customers.
SCORE – “Counselors to America’s Small Business”
SCORE offers free advice to small business owners and entrepreneurs, as well as mentoring and training support from 11,000 volunteers.
Adding SCORE to your news feed could turn you on to some of the helpful information the organization posts regularly. But it is also the doorway to a network of potential mentors, partners and more.
American Express OPEN
Want to learn how to turn selfies into cash? And what new social media platforms you’re not using that could benefit your business?
American Express OPEN on Facebook covers these trends and other helpful topics that keep small business owners in-the-know. There’s also a huge community of small business owners and entrepreneurs just like you to reach out to.
AT&T Small Business
Communications and portability are vital to today’s small business owners.
In addition to highlighting AT&T products, this page also offers insights regarding working in the cloud, the importance of mobile security, and more. And best of all, the information is specifically targeted at small business owners.
National Federation of Independent Business
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is an entity which gives its paid members access to commercial and health insurance, credit card processing, shipping, office supplies, computer bundles, online marketing products and more.
It’s Facebook community is a place where members and non-members alike visit to learn more about what’s important to independent small businesses today.
Well Sourced by Visa Small Business
Well Sourced by Visa Small Business offers advice on how to improve the way you do business. That includes how you treat your employees or colleagues.
This page also focuses on money and time saving measures that can help small business owners run their operations more efficiently. The community provides general information for a wide range of entrepreneurs. It’s a community you may wont to get to know better.
Facebook for Business
There really is no better way to understand how to make Facebook work for your small business than to “Like” the page the social network maintains for that purpose.
This page offers information and tips on what your business should be posting, new features for your pages, and special promotions on boosting your page’s visibility.
Skype for Business
Countless small businesses rely on Skype. The benefits are many. It’s a great way to conduct one-on-one or group video calls and it’s a cheap alternative for making international business calls.
If you are one of the small business owners or managers who use Skype regularly, then the Skype for Business page is probably for you. Regular posts show you tips and hints on how to get more out of Skype for your business. And you can also meet lots of other small business Skype users just like you.
Tuts+ Business
Tuts+ Business offers guidance on running an efficient and effective small business.
Based on its news feed, topics on Tuts+ Business can range from energy efficiency for your small business to the power of email marketing. There are a wide range of topics and the international community can be useful, especially for small businesses seeking partners or contractors with a variety of technical skills.
Google and Your Business
Google is offering new products to small businesses seemingly every day. Adding this page to your news feed is imperative if your business has an online presence.
The page also offers access to the latest Google research on consumer browsing habits and online trends.
Yahoo Small Business
Yahoo also provides a myriad services for small business owners. This page offers more helpful advice to these small business entrepreneurs, particularly those managing their business’ online presence.
Business Rockstars
Business Rockstars is a nationwide radio show that’s dedicated to small business owners and prospective business owners across the country. The show dubs its audience “wantrepreneurs.”
This page often leads you to the Business Rockstars website where you can listen to the program. The radio show connects with business leaders to offer advice for small business owners and those thinking about becoming entrepreneurs.
Office for Businesses
Small businesses across the country and around the world are using Microsoft Office applications to help run their operations.
The Office for Businesses Facebook page serves up helpful hints and tips for Office users. The page also offers general advice for small business owners as well as posts with a bit of levity, too.
Get updates and the latest information from the “professionals” social network while you’re browsing Facebook.
This page often focuses on personnel matters as they relate to running your small business. Topics range from interacting with your co-workers to what to look for in new hires and more.
eMarketer
eMarketer is dedicated to offering research, especially for small businesses utilizing mobile technologies. Current research includes trends in consumer app usage and the impact of online advertising.
Verizon Wireless Small Business
This page tracks the latest in mobile business trends. Verizon Wireless Small Business on Facebook often shares stories of other small business owners who are using mobile technology to grow their businesses.
The feed from this page often discusses other trends like online security, too.
This list represents only a fraction of some of the useful small business communities and resources available on Facebook. But all offer large thriving communities, important information and updates and an opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs just like you.
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I was surprised by how few I was already following. Thanks for the recommendations.
Thanks for sharing these, Mark. I’ve seen a couple I might ‘like’, but will take a look first (American Express OPEN, Facebook for Business and Yahoo Small Business).
Thanks again.
Martin Lindeskog
Ebele: OPEN by American Express is a favorite of mine. [Full disclosure: I have several posts on OPEN AMEX.] I have several pages I have to check out in the near future! 😉
I’ve taken a look at the page. Interesting statuses. Not what I expected. Not sure what I expected though.
William
Thanks for the info. Was glad to see there were this many people looking out for the small business community. I ( Liked) a few of them and will definitely check them out.