Twitter, Facebook turn retailer-friendly

Social networking sites and iPhone applications have emerged as the new platform for retailers to promote their goods this holiday season.

According to a survey by BDO Seidman, more than half of the retailers are using social networks in their marketing strategies.

In 2007, only 4 per cent of the stores adopted such policy.

Brick-and-mortar retail stores including Macy’s Inc., Best Buy Co., J.C. Penney Co. and Staples Inc. are some of the stores using Twitter, Facebook and YouTube for increasing their sales.

These shops also have special offers for their followers online, reports the Washington Times.

Staples is offering Twitter “followers” an opportunity to win a 1,000-dollar Hewlett-Packard laptop and printer, while Old Navy’s Facebook fan page is offering men’s clothes at a cheaper price.