Top 10 Small Business Facebook Pages: 2011 Winners!

By Phil Mershon
Published September 6, 2011

Small businesses can stand out in a big way with Facebook. If you’re looking for some creative examples of Facebook pages from the small guys, look no further!

More than 1400 nominations came in from our contest.

Our panel of Facebook experts carefully reviewed the nominees and finalists, analyzing their landing pages, engagement, reader involvement and creative use of promotions (among other things).

None of these businesses have huge budgets, yet they have all achieved amazing success. The following are the winners of Social Media Examiner’s Top 10 Small Business Facebook Pages for 2011:

#1: Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel is an Australian travel agency specializing in creating unique travel adventures.

Fans: 79,018

What the judges liked:

Great description of company philosophy on Info page
Appealing use of “photo of the day”
Keeps customers returning through mystery trips (“surprise and delight” element) and an interactive game
Creates customer community on Meet Others page

#2: Easy Lunch Boxes

Easy Lunch Boxes makes healthy, green lunch boxes and containers.

Fans: 11,606

What the judges liked:

Fabulous branding on welcome page, also making clear the incentives for liking the page
Creative use of Photos tab
Excellent responsiveness to each individual commenter
Shares good content for moms/people raising families

#3: SnapRetail

SnapRetail is an online marketing agency for retail stores.

Fans: 3,455

What the judges liked:

Good use of quotes, links and personal stories in posts
Keeps it personal through photo uploads and allowing employees to reveal their identities
“Snappy Hour” is a great way to increase conversation, involvement and answer social media marketing questions
Welcome tab has a good video and integration with other social media platforms

#4: Garden Quest

Garden Quest is an innovative Facebook gardening game that requires knowledge of gardening to win.

Fans: 56,719

What the judges liked:

Effective pre-launch page and campaign – good buzz created
Smart use of incentives for liking the page
Fantastic interaction on the wall (getting fans to post pictures, etc.)
Effective job of marketing its unique 3D gaming experience

#5: Arizona Pro DJs

Arizona Pro DJs is a teen entertainment company based in Scottsdale, AZ.

Fans: 10,261

What the judges liked:

Vibrant graphics appeal to the right demographic
Good use of prizes for liking the page
Great enforcement of spamming policies
Excellent engagement practices of posting photos and music asking for feedback

#6: Dog Training Ireland

Dog Training Ireland are dog trainers and behavior specialists based in Blanchardstown, Ireland.

Fans: 2,287

What the judges liked:

Tons of helpful info on Info tab (might never have to visit website)
Good use of Facebook for customer service (e.g., taking reservations)
Fun video under About Us
Great practice of posting pictures of dogs available for adoption

#7: New Jersey Family

New Jersey Family is a magazine and resource for New Jersey kids, parents and families.

Fans: 2,515

What the judges liked:

Great use of the avatar and photo strip
Outstanding family-oriented content (recipes, trip ideas, free advice)
Good customer engagement
Fun use of Questions tab

#8: Obeo

Obeo is a creator of online interactive visual experiences for realtors.

Fans: 2,378

What the judges liked:

Good use of incentives to like the page for Facebook exclusive promotions
Variety in posts (blogs, pictures, trivia, links)
Nice presentation of video and virtual staging on Welcome tab
Smart balance of content on YouTube tab – informational and inspirational

#9: Piggies & Paws

Piggies & Paws are creators of custom art from children’s hand- and footprints.

Fans: 5,961

What the judges liked:

Fun and engaging Welcome tab (good use of Fan of the Week in avatar)
Find an Artist Near You tab is helpful to fans wanting to host a party
Posts are audience-appropriate
Consistently responsive to fan posts

#10: Brasserie Sixty6

Brasserie Sixty6 is a modern European restaurant in Dublin, Ireland.

Fans: 4,730

What the judges liked:

Excellent use of apps for displaying menu, reviews and reservations
Strong call to action for joining mailing list
Good use of videos
Engagement on wall is personable and consistent

Congratulations to the winners. Be sure to check out these amazing pages!

The Prizes

Each of our winners receives the following:

A free pass to Facebook Success Summit 2011: Each company wins a pass to attend the web’s largest online Facebook marketing conference.

The badge of distinction: If you’re a winner, you can post the image you see here on your blog or Facebook page and please link back to this page.

A special thanks to our judges—Mari Smith (co-author, Facebook Marketing: An Hour a Day), Dave Kerpen (author, Likeable Social Media) and Michael Stelzner (author, Launch)—for their participation!

What do you think? Share your comments in the box below.

Tags: arizona pro dj, best facebook pages, brasserie sixty6, contest, dog training ireland, easy lunch boxes, facebook, facebook marketing, facebook page, garden quest, intrepid travel, new jersey family, obeo, phil mershon, piggies and paws, small business, small business facebook page, snapretail, winners

About the Author, Phil Mershon

Phil Mershon is the director of events for Social Media Examiner. He has worked nearly 25 years in corporate training and management for several non-profits and multi-national corporations. Phil is also a professional jazz and church musician. Other posts by Phil Mershon »