RatePoint releases tools for Facebook optimization

A new suite of tools from online reputation management hub RatePoint may help small businesses engage more deeply with consumers. The tools are specifically made for the Facebook portal and give small businesses the ability to collect and promote product reviews throughout the social hub.

by Kristina Knight

The RatePoint platform allows small businesses to leverage the huge consumer base logging on to Facebook daily by adding a customized RatePoint Tab to their profiles. The tab allows consumers to browse and submit reviews for marketers' products or services directly through Facebook. Meanwhile the business can share their email newsletter through the interface so that their deals, news and information are shared socially in addition to via email.

"Referrals are essential to increasing sales and building a brand, but are often overlooked," said Neal Creighton, RatePoint Co-Founder and CEO. "With more than 500 million users on social networks like Facebook and Twitter...small businesses need to plug into the social media dialogue to effectively engage with their audiences in a meaningful way. [Leveraging] consumer-generated testimonials through RatePoint will provide reach, relevance and a whole new meaning to 'word-of-mouth'."

According to data from Experian/Hitwise, Facebook was number one in their Top Twenty Websites for the week ending May 22, 2010 with just over 8% of all online visits. Facebook surpassed Google as the most-visited hub. For social networks, alone, Facebook captured more than 55% of visits for the same reporting period, making it the most-visited social network as well. YouTube ranked second with 16% of visits and MySpace ranked third with 11.6% of visits.

Tags: Experian Hitwise, Facebook optimization, RatePoint, social marketing, social network optimization, social networks