Facebook has surpassed Google in use by small businesses as a tool for marketing and brand promotion, according to a study released this week by local business network MerchantCircle.
Seventy percent of respondents claimed they use Facebook for marketing purposes, which is up from 50 percent a year ago and a nudge higher than Google's 66 percent.
The surge reflects Facebook's skyrocketing popularity - as the social network is expected to soon break 600 million members - but also the cost-efficiency of maintaining a Facebook presence. According to the report, 37 percent of respondents cited Facebook as one of their most effective marketing tools.
"Online marketing continues to be a challenge for most local businesses, and many merchants are working with very small budgets and almost no marketing resources," said Darren Waddell, vice president of marketing at MerchantCircle.
While Facebook is most popular in the U.S., Canadians have also been some of the most active users of the social network. Last month, the company launched a new service in Canada that allows users to receive deals in exchange for "checking in" to various businesses through Facebook Places.
