Local Businesses, Let's Harness Social Media

Small businesses are important. Some say they are the backbone of our economy.

And they don't particularly need to be that small on Facebook: Lemont Patch has 1,323 Facebook fans. PC's Pancake Cafe has 819. Front Street Cantina has 919.

Some local businesses have fewer, though. So, I'm proposing a special Facebook exchange. I'll post about you, if you post about me. Then, other local businesses can "share" that post from the Lemont Patch Facebook page on their own pages to help support other local businesses.

If you are a Lemont area business with an independent Facebook page and you'd like to participate, this is what I need from you:

• Business contact name and phone number
• What you'd like me to post on Lemont Patch's Facebook page
• The URL for your business' Facebook page

Keep in mind that you'll want your business name somewhere in the post so I can tag it; tagging is how readers will find your page and (hopefully!) decide to "like" it.

This is what I'll likely be asking you to post on your business Facebook page:

Do you follow Lemont Patch? lemont.patch.com has all the latest news and business information for Lemont, and you can subscribe for the free daily newsletter at http://lemont.patch.com/newsletters.

So, email the information to amanda@patch.com, and I'll let you know what date I've assigned for your Facebook exchange. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to drop me a line, too!