Social media and networking are very popular tools amongst the business sector. Corporations, retailers and entrepreneurs use the platforms extensively to market their products and services to consumers. But recently, a business segment of the government has found a highly beneficial use for platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and is actively using them to further its mission.

The Unites States Small Business Administration (SBA) has recently joined social media platforms and has found the value of using these platforms to help small business owners. The SBA’s regional offices have recently been given a Facebook page and Twitter accounts for their use.

Although the new tools were just set-up and released the third week of December, the agency has already had a successful beginning with these new connections. There are currently over 2,500 followers on the agency’s Twitter account, and close to 5,000 “Likes” on their Facebook page. The agency is expecting that this number will increase substantially as more small business owners find out about the resource, and as more individuals are being assisted through the service.

The government is not a foreign entity to the world of social networking and media. The use of social media was heavily engaged when then Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, was campaigning for the White House. His use of social media (and a subsequent win) set a precedent that many politicians began using in order to obtain favorable results. The SBA using social media as a tool for small business owners is just another example of how effective networking is and how beneficial it can be for the users.

The SBA hopes to provide more tools and resources to business owners through the social platform. Individuals will have opportunities to obtain more customized business loan information, how-to business resources and to stay abreast on changing laws as it affects their businesses.