I’m going to mention a few phrases here that might turn you off, but I promise I’ll be at least slightly more interesting than you might think. Here: Facebook and Twitter. Yeah, it seems like most people talking about Facebook or Twitter are either criticizing the sites or discussing how to make money from them. Most people who actually use them don’t really talk about them, other than the occasional complaint about, OMG, how addicted they so totally are. But let’s forget about all that. We’re starting to notice at least a few local businesses trying to connect with customers through Facebook and Twitter in interesting, even useful ways. And we’re not talking about our local media outlets basically using tweets and Facebook updates to push headlines and generate site traffic.

Some shops offer special deals, contests, and giveaways exclusively through Facebook, while other places are posting their daily specials and sales. Only one business seems to be focussing solely on Twitter, while a number of owners have thus far stuck to Facebook in lieu of an official/traditional website – in much the same way a band sets up a MySpace page and calls it a day. Behold a sampling of links:

• Isabelle & Co. - WIth no traditional website as of yet, this downtown EC women’s clothing shop uses Facebook to announce new product arrivals and run giveaways.
  Living Room Coffee House - Hardcore Twitter use up in here. They tweet daily food/drink specials and run occasional contests.
  Water Street Deli and Grocery - With no website, Water Street’s house of gyros, falafel, and more uses Facebook to announce daily specials and FB-only deals. It’s also the only place to find their menu online.
  Turk’s Head Coffee House - Downtown’s newest coffee shop uses Facebook status updates to announce daily bakery items, and they’ll often let you know as soon as they leave the oven.
  Gordy’s County Market - The local supermarket chain produces copious tweets and FB updates, mostly to plug promotional events and their “Gordy’s Guru” campaign. A few giveaways and surprisingly few sale item announcments.
  Leinenkugel’s - With over 32,000 Facebook fans, you’d be hard pressed to find a more popular local business, internet-wise. The brewery encourages fan photos and general statements of beery affection abound.
  Deborah Becker (State Farm Insurance) - I’m not sure how many insurance agents chat this much with clients over Facebook and plug local stuff, but Deborah Becker’s page is a bar-setter of sorts in the insurance world.

Obviously, this is a tiny list, and it’s mostly food-related. There are countless local places who simply have a Facebook or Twitter page, but these shops are going at it with a bit more gusto. Are there any others you know of? Leave a comment!