Top 10 Small Business Facebook Pages: 2012 Winners!

By Phil Mershon
Published September 6, 2012

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 1,800 nominations came in from our contest. These represent over 500 small businesses.

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 all have achieved amazing success. The following are the winners of Social Media Examiner’s Top 10 Small Business Facebook Pages for 2012:

#1: How to Market Your Horse Business

How to Market Your Horse Business is an award-winning social media marketing company focused on horse businesses and other small businesses.

Fans: 6,628

What the judges liked:

• Amazing engagement
• Good use of pinning and highlighting
• Effective use of contests and spotlighting contest entrants
• Good visual branding with apps and cover photo
• Answers every post
• Publishes a good variety of content

#2: Recruit Military

Recruit Military is a military-to-civilian recruiting firm, helping veterans and transitioning military service members and military spouses find civilian jobs, buy businesses and improve their education.

Fans: 42,022

What the judges liked:

• Great use of images and quotes
• Love the way they are using Facebook events for their job fairs
• Clever use of “Find a Job Friday”
• Excellent combination of posts on military facts, pictures and resources

#3: Talking Finger

Talking Finger is a social media marketing company.

Fans: 3,289

What the judges liked:

• Great fan engagement
• Nice use of apps—especially love the TF Services app
• Good combination of fun posts and valuable posts on social media
• Superb visual branding, particularly on apps

#4: Earthegy

Earthegy is retailer of ancient gems and modern jewelry.

Fans: 10,169

What the judges liked:

• Cool use of shopping page
• Good fan engagement with photos
• Great use of discount promotion
• Lots of recommendations
• Rewards app is a smart way to get continual engagement

#5: The Chicken Chick at Egg Carton Labels by ADozenGirlz

The Chicken Chick at Egg Carton Labels by ADozenGirlz is a retailer of chicken egg carton labels and other chicken-related products.

Fans: 14,376

What the judges liked:

• Blog app is very well done
• Great niche site with tons of tips and images
• Fantastic engagement
• Good use of contest
• Good variety of posts demonstrating fun, chicken care, chicken crafts and personality.

#6: PoolSupplyWorld

PoolSupplyWorld is an online retailer of parts and products for swimming pools and spas.

Fans: 53,112

What the judges liked:

• Great timeline cover photo
• Coupon option is well done
• Underwater camera giveaway aligns well with niche
• Good use of call to action in posts to spark engagement

#7: Social Media Branding with Kim Garst

Social Media Branding with Kim Garst is a social media marketing business.

Fans: 23,001

What the judges liked:

• Great page with good use of photos
• Engaging posts with good business motivation
• Excellent visual branding

#8: Legendary Whitetails

Legendary Whitetails is a family-owned business selling unique casual apparel, gifts and gear for whitetail hunters through their catalog and website.

Fans: 677,079

What the judges liked:

• Great cover photo
• Excellent use of apps
• 10 Bucks effectively gets more fans with the Reveal tab
• Fantastic use of photos
• They get lots of shares because they ask for them

#9: Dog Pack Snacks

Dog Pack Snacks is a producer and retailer for human-grade dog treats.

Fans: 1,732

What the judges liked:

• Great use of photos—especially the Social Media Examiner tribute
• Dog biscuit app works great
• Nice-looking storefront and email opt-in
• Good variety of posts—particularly like the mix of voices between dog and owner

#10: Chocolate for Breakfast

Chocolate for Breakfast is the business page for Sue Ann Gleason, a culinary nutritionist and marketing strategist.

Fans: 9,858

What the judges liked:

• Outstanding engagement on page—over 60% Talking About This
• Good use of photos
• Entertaining, educational and inspiring posts—particularly like the use of recipes
• Good opt-in app

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 2012: 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—Amy Porterfield, Andrea Vahl and Phyllis Khare (co-authors of Facebook Marketing All-in-One for Dummies) for their participation!

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

Tags: best facebook pages, chocolate for breakfast, contest, dog pack snacks, earthegy, facebook, facebook marketing, facebook page, facebook page contest, how to market your horse business, legendary whitetails, phil mershon, pool supply world, recruit military, small business, small business facebook page, social media branding, talking finger, the chicken chick, 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 »