Louisville Courier-Journal explores how small businesses can benefit from having a MySpace page.
A growing number of Louisville businesses are turning to the social-networking Web site MySpace.com to connect with customers, promote events and, ultimately, make money.
Taverns, clothing stores and gift shops — many of them independently owned — are creating virtual profiles of themselves on the site as an informal approach to free online advertising. For Peter Berkowitz, owner of Old Louisville Coffee House, the effort was so successful that he abandoned his traditional Web site in favor of MySpace.
“It just seemed redundant,” said Berkowitz, 32, who uses the MySpace profile to post electronic bulletins about live music events, art shows and poetry readings.
Berkowitz said he gets about five requests a day from people who want to be “friends” of the shop’s MySpace page, giving them access to its calendar listings, photos and other details.
