Social Media Examiner listed its top 10 small businesses pages.

What do they top one have in common?

They look like magazine ads.

They are beautifully composed.

They are inviting.

They are colorful.

The usually feature people.

Those are the ones I liked.

Other winners looked like web pages or Facebook pages. To me, those didn’t stand out because they look like everything else.

See for yourself: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/top-10-small-business-facebook-pages-2011-winners/

What do you think?

Which small business pages do you like?

Why?

I really set off a firestorm of comments Monday about Facebook using the term “friends” when the people you meet online aren’t really friends.

The most revealing comment was from Samantha Hartley who said that most social media marketing was being outsourced. Well, duh. How can your personality shine if some intern in Des Moines is pretending they are you? If that describes you, I don’t even want to be your Facebook friend!

One person who asked not to be named doesn’t call them “friends.” He calls them “suspects.”

Here are cool comments. If you’re reading this on the blog, please comment there. Otherwise, email your comments to me. Let’s become friends!

Samantha Hartley http://www.enlightenedmarketing.com/ writes: I agree with you about Facebook. Seems like in the beginning (2 years ago?) the quality of interaction was better, but it can wear you down. Also, just about anyone with sense is outsourcing a lot of their SM work.

Master media trainer Jess Todtfeld www.SuccessInMedia.com writes: Could not agree with you more about the “friend” thing.  Some people, even in the real world, are more of “Facebook” friends.  

Bart Bartlett www.evoapp.com. writes: A friend summed up Facebook years ago as follows, “Facebook is for friends you don’t have time to talk to on the phone.”  At this point its also well on its way to being a ubiquitous social platform.

Shel Horowitz www.frugalfun.com writes:  I’d say at least 1/4 respond w/ a thank-you note–and sometimes that’s the beginning of a *real* interaction. Of course, I send something cool and out of the ordinary for a birthday greeting, which helps (and I change it each year). I like the phenomenon when meeting in person of reading the nametag and then the big hug.

Darshan Shanti http://the24hourchampion.com/ writes: I think as “connected” as we’ve become, in many ways, we are more distant than ever. I think the “personal touch” is going to make a comeback.

Amy Showalter www.showaltergroup.com writes: Amen and amen to your comments about courtesy and reciprocity online. It seems to be a playground for those who don’t get social graces off line.

My fave example is an acquaintance who has a web site and online community. Thousands of fans, etc. She sends missives on how to be a better girlfriend but when you respond to her requests or even personal emails, she doesn’t say thanks or acknowledge that she received it.

OK, off the soapbox. I just wanted to say I liked your email and “right on!”

Clive Margolis from England www.clivemargolis.com writes:

You are so right about friends.  As a matter of fact I’ve been to quite a few funerals over the past few years (including both my parents) and guess who did show up!  It was all the old faithful crowd!

I’ve also heard it said friends are the people whose company you don’t mind being in – they can be the weirdest characters.  And I also agree about the face-to-face contact – I deal with a lot of agencies on the phone, but you can’t really trust someone till you’ve met them – or got drunk with them as a guy I once knew put it.

Cheerio, Clive. The first Guinness is on me.

I spent the weekend in Boston visiting an old college friend and my wife’s old college roommates.

It was a nice trip where I realized there are friends who you speak with face to face and have shared memories that go back decades and you have “friends” on Facebook who you really don’t know.

Guess which group of friends will show up at your funeral?

It’s no contest.

Too bad Facebook didn’t use the term “prospects,” or “business acquaintances” instead of “friends.”

It would have been much closer to the truth.

My litmus test: If you haven’t spoken with person ever by phone, then they probably aren’t a “friend.”

They can be nice – and they can “like” you but they aren’t a “friend.” Friends are people you have dinner with, share a glass of wine with, and help them move their furniture.

I realize some people really do write to their real friends on Facebook, but if you’re like me, most people on your Facebook page are really business associates and colleagues of those associates who you couldn’t pick out at a cocktail party. Why am I ranting? Because I see the level of “engagement” on Facebook and LinkedIn to be pathetic for the most part. People are spending so much time building their numbers but very little time being personable.

Case in point: People post their birthdays on Facebook. I send a “happy birthday” message. You’d think one person would at least say “thank you” or use that message as a way to begin a conversation?

Nope.

Not my “friends.”

Do yours?