If you want the world to know, post it on Facebook. The social networking site is helping friends to stay connected and now businesses to promote their product. You're used to seeing them on the streets, keeping the city safe. And now you can be friends with the Rapid City Police Department  via Facebook. The PD created a web page less than a year ago as a way of connecting with younger job-seekers - 800 fans later, their Facebook page gives people an inside look at the police world. The Police Department is just one of several Black Hills businesses capitalizing on Facebook's free advertising. The Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau has over 5,000 and Black Hills Harley-Davidson is connecting hog lovers around the world.

Terry Rymer says, "People like to use it to know what's going on not only at Black Hills Harley- Davidson but what's going on with the Rally and the Black Hills."

Megan Palera says, "Harley- Davidson is making it easy for people to become fans. Access to Facebook is available right here in the store. All you have to do is click this link and you're automatically signed up as fan of their Facebook page."

Terry Rymer says, "It was a nice surprise to see how fast it took off. And then once that happened, all of our creative juices start blowing, we figure out different ways of communicating and we use it as a real tool for communication."

The non-profit world is also reaching out to the social networking world. The United Way of the Black Hills is using Facebook to connect with a demographic that it would otherwise not reach. Sara Hornick says, "We had an ad agency director's meeting here a week ago and one of our agency directors said, 'Hey, I saw we met goal. I saw it on Facebook.'" And in the world of marketing, free advertising is always a plus.

Megan Palera