As a small business owner you can setup a Facebook page for free and get likes and push content out to people who like you. But, I think the biggest thing that Facebook does better than, Yelp, Google, etc... is that you can spend whatever you like and not be locked in when you advertise - for example if you want to pay facebook something like a one time charge of only $5 you can reach another 100 people who you target. You only need one of those people to come to your business and buy something and you have already broke even. Yelp, Google, Foursquare and others want much larger amounts of money and they want to lock you in by setting up a monthly budget. No thanks because if you are not a hawk and watch your account they will charge you when you least expect it. Just my experience with Facebook. I don't do facebook other than for my business.
I read you reply and I appreciate you giving a small business insight to facebook. I had not thought of the points you make about cheap advertisements.
I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but your Facebook site is likely all but unreadable to someone without an account.
I’ve been on the Internet since it was text based and just universities and DOD. I don’t use a Facebook account. When I come upon a business that has a Facebook site that doesn’t link to a real web site, I typically pass it by. It’s just not worth the effort to try and find any info on a Facebook site without an account.
Same deal with Pinterest.
Just in case you weren’t aware...
If you are in a band that is trying to get gigs there really isn’t any option; at least not any option nearly as good for the coin. Pretty much any booking done today assumes the band has a FB page and youtube channel.
I personally like FB, but then I like progressive rock, opera, kimchi, and sushi - yet have friends I respect and admire who hate one or more of those.