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Facebook targets SMEs as Google+ increases market share

By Jamie Lawrence | July 29, 2011

Facebook has released a new drive to encourage small businesses to use its services
Facebook has released a new drive to encourage small businesses to use its services
Google’s new social network offering, Google+, is gaining market share rapidly after racking up over 20 million users in three weeks.

Some analysts say it threatens the supremacy of Facebook, which has held onto the number one spot for several years. In June 2011 Facebook received 63.9 percent of all US visits to social networking sites.

But the social media giant is obviously keen to ensure it stays well ahead of Google+, and recently launched a new drive to encourage small businesses to get the most out of using its service.

Facebook for Business
shows company owners how they can benefit from setting up a profile page, creating display advertising and special deals targeted at relevant demographics, and utilising customer feedback in the best way.

A Facebook spokesman said: “Facebook allows small businesses to create rich social experiences, build lasting relationships and amplify the most powerful type of marketing – word of mouth.”

Colleen Taylor of Gigaom.com said: “It serves as a timely reminder that unlike Google+, Facebook encourages companies to use its service for company branding.

“The timing of these events could be coincidental, but it does look like Facebook is taking Google’s recent entry into the social networking landscape seriously.

“The new competition may be stressful for Zuckerberg and company, but ultimately it’s great for consumers,” she added.

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