In the age of volatile market conditions, aggressive use of the newer forms of communication by major firms, the need to reach to the customer without barrier has become priority for the business that is still in it's nascent phase. They can't hire as many people as an industry giant can to promote awareness neither they can air their product or service advertisement made by a leading  Ad-agency. But with low cost-yet highly effective use of social media they surely can have an edge. And when we talk about social media, thanks to Mark Zuckerberg, nothing comes closer to Facebook. The social networking site offers hundreds of applications that enables people to do things like never before. Here is the list of some apps, when used properly can surely give a boost to small businesses or a start up. Read on:

1. Iendorse

This application can result in others endorsing your company, who can find it via the extensive IEndorse business database. This will allow you to receive endorsements in order to build your business reputation, as well as its relationships regardless of what you're offering including a service or a product.

2. Pagemodo

Pagemodo helps even the most inexperienced web user create a visually appealing and fully customizable business page. It allows business owners to display products, add their photos, change fonts, as well as being able to embed videos on their main page. It also provides the best of designs without the user needing to be experienced in designing.

3. Networked Blogs

The Networked Blogs apps allows a business’ Facebook page to work like a blogroll, allowing users to promote their blog and link over to their page. This directory of blogs linked right to Facebook sorts your posts by topic, allowing you the greater user following.

4. FanAppz

Fan Appz engagement and promotional applications are designed to create unique and brand-specific experiences for your fans that enable them to interact with your brand. Fan Appz offers powerful promotional applications. Build a sweepstakes in which your fans are incentivized to invite their friends, or create an exciting promotional offer that requires fans to “like” your page and check in to a physical location to unlock an offer.

5. Social RSS

 Social RSS supports all major versions of RSS and ATOM, including media feeds. With this free app users can add their blog and RSS feeds to their Facebook fan page, and even play flash, MP3 and Silverlight files directly from the tab. A free toolbar delivers web radio, eBay, YouTube and Amazon, as well as RSS feeds.

6. SocialFly

The SocialFly application allows business page owners to make notes about their professional contacts, as well as to set notifications to contact them after a certain period of time. With SocialFly, businesses never lose track of their professional contacts.

7. Memorable Web Address

 Individuals or businesses cursed with a common or easy to forget name can separate themselves from the fray using Memorable Web Addresses, a free Facebook app that creates short, easy to remember personal web addresses that take visitors directly to a Facebook profile, page or group. This allows account-holders to share the link with others, post it on forums, show it on other social networking sites or include it on business cards or websites.

8. Workin' It!

Functioning similarly to a LinkedIn profile, Workin’ It! lets users send out their work history to companies seeking employees. This application also allows users to send work history to clients and retrieve recommendation from past clients and employers.

9. MyMoney

MyMoney is designed specifically with small businesses in mind. With a number of features to help manage your finances. It allows you to view account balances, transfer money and review account history, all under the protection of security measures in place to ensure your information stays safe.

10. Ecwid

Why bother with an e-commerce website when you can set up a storefront right in Facebook to showcase your products and services? This innovative social media marketing tool lets your customers use PayPal, Google Checkout, Authorize.net and other payment options to make purchases right from your business fan page.

If you have read till now,on a lighter note one statutory warning must be included and that is , even though these apps can give an edge but being online on Facebook 24/7, using these will not  make your business successful because real business happens in the real world not in the virtual one...at least not until your Zuckerberg or Larry page …!

AW-Jyotishman