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PINE BLUFF SIGNS ONTO FACEBOOK

By Erin France/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Friday, October 2, 2009 9:28 PM CDT

Along with a few dedicated Web sites, there’s a new place to get information on the city of Pine Bluff: Facebook.

An online social networking device, Facebook features pages where plugged in residents can view events and city photographs at www.facebook.com/PineBluffArkansas.

Members of Facebook can become a fan of the city and receive updates.

This is one of several online sources of city information.

Johnie Martin, a bookkeeper for the Pine Bluff Street Department, manages www.cityofpinebluff.com.

Since December, the Web site garnered more than 550,000 visits, averaging about 2,000 per day, Martin said.

He said Facebook can connect more residents and potential tourists to the city.

“It’s a great avenue to reach people,” he said.

Bob Purvis, the director of the Pine Bluff Convention Center, said Aristotle Web Design of Little Rock was paid $600 to design the Facebook page.

While Facebook does not charge its users, Purvis said the investment is worth it.

“They’ve already got all of our materials,” he said.

Aristotle also created www.pinebluffcvb.org, he added.

Purvis said employees attempted to update the online social networking site, but the amount of time proved too great.

“I don’t have anybody here who that’s what their job is,” he said.

Jennifer Peper, vice president of Aristotle Web Design, said a majority of travelers decide where to go based on online research.

“You’re connecting to a constituency,” she said.

The Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County also hosts a Web site at

www.pinebluffchamber.com/index2.html with area information.

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