ABOUT 30 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE BUSINESS TO BUSINESS SOCIAL HELD AT THE ACT ON TUESDAY.

The Downtown Maple Ridge BIA is getting techie.

Net-Zilla Web Consultants have been retained for the next year to provide social media marketing services for the business association.

"Early in our discussions with the BIA it became apparent to me that there was opportunity to help the BIA in Maple Ridge to use social media better to further the goals of the group," said Doug Shortt, principal consultant for Net-Zilla.

Net-Zilla will be creating a Facebook page that is dedicated to promoting local businesses through a variety of methods. Such methods will include active daily posting, building connections with consumers in the Lower Mainland, and enlisting participation through the use of polls, questions, comments, contests, and coupon marketing.

In addition, a YouTube Channel will be set up for member training on how to use social media effectively in addition to another YouTube Channel set up to promote local business videos.

Net-Zilla provides services to set up their clients on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Google Plus and LinkedIn.

"I feel the most important thing that we offer is strategies to help clients learn social media and what it can do for their business," said Shortt.

"Local businesses that rely heavily on traditional promotion methods are missing a big opportunity," said Shortt, who's with the Maple Ridge-based company.

BIA executive director Ineke Beokhorst said there is a lot of interest in learning how social media works.

On Tuesday night the BIA held one of its most wellattended monthly meeting.

"About 30 people came to the meeting. It's obviously a popular topic. There was a lot of interest," she said.

THRIVE FOR BETTER SOCIAL MEDIA

Brenda Garcia and Constant Contact are hosting a social media and marketing event at The ACT Feb. 15.

It's a half-day workshop (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) for local small businesses and will include four speakers discussing free and low-cost marketing solutions. There will also be organized speed networking in between each of the one-hour sessions.

This is perfect for any business that has a limited marketing budget (it costs $20) and wants to learn about email marketing, social media, networking do's and don'ts, and all about blogging. For more information visit www.thrivesolutions.org/the-biz-seminar.

Send your business tidbits to smclaren@mrtimes.com