Facebook business pages are a perfect example of a low cost, high return, online media marketing tool.
They are special pages, which businesses can create on Facebook, for brand building activities.
Here businesses can display information about products/services, promotional offers and company news, to a global audience.
Small business Facebook pages are quite similar to typical user profiles on Facebook, both in appearance as well as functionality.
Facebook pages for business have a series of tabs that can be clicked for information.
The 'Wall' tab displays a news feed and user comments, while the 'Info' tab gives an overview of the company.
The 'Photos' and 'Videos' tabs allow Facebook fans to view uploaded photos or videos.
What's more, you can also add your own tabs, some of which are totally customizable.
Facebook enables you to add various applications to your small business Facebook pages, to help you do business better.
Some of the most popular ones are Marketplace, NetworkedBlogs, Testimonials, Contests, Promotions and Work for Us.
You can also get a development company to design a custom application for your company, which can be later added to your Facebook fan page.
Here are some reasons how Facebook pages can help your small business:

1. Build Your Customer Base: With millions of users, Facebook offers a great platform from where you can secure loyal followers.
   If you are a small business, you may first have to interact one-on-one with your first few fans, to build up trust in your business.
   You could later upload photos, videos and hold small discussions, to attract new visitors.
   This could take some time, but usually pays off in the long run, as fans convert into sales.
   
2. Track Your Customers: The free 'Facebook Insights' web analytics tool gives key information about the people who visited your page like their age, location, sex and much more.
   You can check if you are attracting the right type of clients, or you can change your marketing strategy to fit the demographics you want.
   Page owners may also add Google Analytics or other applications, to dig up more details about visitors who visit their small business Facebook pages.
   
3. Increase Search Engine Rankings: Facebook Pages are made publicly available, so search engines can find and index them.
   When you post interesting photos, videos, blog posts or other content, the viral nature of Facebook communications can result in a huge boost in traffic.
   This can also generate backlinks for your main website, enhancing your position in the search engines.
   
4. Online Reputation Management: When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.
   Are you worried about customers or competitors posting unfavorable comments about your company on the Internet? Well, Facebook can be a great way to put forward the truth by politely replying to such comments.
   You can also learn about customer needs and grouses, and meet their requirements, before things get out of hand.
   Your efficient handling of such situations, will display your commitment to customer satisfaction, and help build confidence in your company.
   
5. Low Cost Marketing Platform: The setting up of small business Facebook pages are completely free of cost.
   These pages are also an ideal platform to send marketing material, such as product brochures, service information, promotional offers and company advertisements, to people around the globe.
   These materials can be sent in a variety of formats like photos, videos, audio clips, interactive clips and text, at practically zero cost.
   

Once a small business Facebook page is created, it may take a few weeks to establish a strong fan base.
If you keep your page content fresh, and interact with fans regularly, it won't be long before word spreads about your company.
Facebook is one of the top buzzwords in online marketing circles.
If you don't have a Facebook page as yet, then it's time you began building one.