Facebook to offer small firms free ads
Facebook has announced that it will help small firms by offering £4.2 million-worth of free adverts to tens of thousands of small businesses across Europe.
The announcement follows the launch of a series of roadshows being run in conjunction with the British Chambers of Commerce on building Facebook business pages, with a report by Deloitte showing that Facebook has contributed £2.2 billion to the UK economy.
Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook chief operating officer, said: "The report shows that Facebook is about a lot more than sharing pictures or keeping up with friends. Increasingly, social media means growth and jobs.
"As the Deloitte study highlights, social media is proving particularly valuable for small and medium-sized businesses, which form the backbone of the European economy.
"The impact of social media is a bright spot in challenging times, but growth won't happen on its own. We need to make sure that we invest in the right education, training, technology and networks so that social media can continue to drive innovation and economic growth."