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Business & Tech

Emmaus Businesses Take Advantage of Social Media Tools

Emmaus business use of social media tools, such as Facebook, is growing.

Emmaus companies such as Sweet Memories, The Creamery on Main, Iobst Travel, Ackley Sweeney Advertising and others have been using forms of social media advertising — usually Facebook — to get the word out about their activities.

Julia Horn, owner of at 328 Main Street (www.facebook.com/jobstravelamex) has a knack for the Internet.

She has volunteered to teach workshops for other Emmaus businesses free of charge on how to use social media.

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"I’m techy by nature," Horn said. "I like it, use it in my job. It is free. You’d  be crazy not to use it.

"We held two classes at the office (at 902 Chestnut Street). We had about 25 people come out. In the first class, we introduced social media as a whole. Then we set up a business page in the second. In the third (this fall), we will do do Twitter."

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The classes are open to Emmaus businesses, she said. Time and date of the fall meeting have yet to be determined.

Horn said she was one of the first 20 business owners in the Lehigh Valley using Facebook. She said that most people can develop a business page on Facebook in three minutes, but there is a cost to those who want to place an ad.

"Those who do advertising on the side usually have to pay per (user’s mouse) click," she said. "That would take companies to the next level."

Jamie Smith, owner of at 180 Main Street (www.facebook.com/pages/sweet-memories), said she uses Facebook for advertising specials and setting times for cooking classes.

She said she learned to work computers from her three kids, saying, "My kids seemed to be on my customers’ demographics. That was when I started a blog. None of this has any cost.

"Not much has changed in our business in the two years we‘ve been on the Internet. We’re always busy."

One change is customers messaging for particular items, she admitted.

"We’re having people coming in a couple of days and messaging ahead that they want, say, pumpkin scones," she said. "Then we make sure we have them."

Another is the time she sets aside at 6 a.m. each day responding to the Facebook questions from customers.

"People enjoy being listened to," she said.

Bill Kao, owner of at 332 Main Street (www.facebook.com/creameryonmain), said he likes the cost of putting out information on Facebook.

"It’s very economical," he said. "It’s free."

Kao said he is able to target an audience, and not just sending out stuff and hoping that people read it.

Tom Sweeney, chief executive of at 9 North 4th Street (www.facebook.com/ackleysweeneyadvertising), said companies use Facebook and other tools at no cost.

"It doesn’t do much for me," Sweeney said. "We‘ve used Facebook to notify customers about events.

"For the most past, we’re an advertising agent in radio, TV, newspapers and  outdoor ads. Facebook is so inexpensive."

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