Facebook event for small businesses coming to Carmel

Hamilton County’s four chambers of commerce are teaming up to host a Facebook workshop for small-business owners.

Facebook’s “Small Business Boost” will be in Carmel on Wednesday, Sept. 2, for the free event at the Renaissance Hotel at 11925 N. Meridian St.

The seminar includes a presentation on best practices and strategies from a Facebook small business expert and a question-and-answer session featuring Hamilton County businesses. The panelists will represent the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater in Fishers, Westfield-based agriculture supply website Used Livestock Equipment and Westfield-based women’s clothing store Closet Candy Boutique.

All three entities have a presence on Facebook with thousands of followers. Closet Candy Boutique has nearly 700,000 “likes” on its page.

The joint Fishers and Carmel chamber known as OneZone, the Westfield Chamber of Commerce, the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Hamilton County Chamber of Commerce are co-sponsoring the event, but did not have to provide funding for it, according to Samantha Spielman, a spokeswoman for Facebook.

Small business attendees also will be able to learn about community resources and network with other local business leaders.

Spielman said 250 to 350 people are expected to attend.

The traveling expo has conducted more than 80 events this year, with stops in California, North Carolina and Texas among the locations. A workshop also is scheduled for Evansville on Sept. 3 and New Albany on Sept. 4.

More than 40 million small businesses use the social networking site to connect with customers, according to Facebook. The company saw a 43-percent increase in advertising revenue in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the same period a year earlier.

Republican U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks, who represents Indiana’s 5th district, will be at the event.

“Facebook is a valuable marketing tool, and I appreciate this opportunity for small businesses to learn more about reaching new customers and connecting with existing ones,” Brooks said in a written statement.