SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Facebook Inc.’s quest to lure more advertisers to its popular online hangout is getting an assist from Visa Inc.’s marketing machine.

As part of a small-business network Visa designed for Facebook, the world’s largest credit and debit card processor is paying for $2 million of advertising on the socializing site. Visa also will promote the new Facebook service in a multimedia marketing campaign this month.

Visa is giving a $100 advertising credit on Facebook to each of the first 20,000 U.S. businesses that download the Web application needed to join the network. About 80,000 small businesses already have profiles on Facebook.

Visa’s service is designed to provide small-business owners with tools and tips on attracting new customers, trimming costs and other ways to make more money. Businesses that belong to the Visa network on Facebook also will be able to communicate with each other to share ideas or even negotiate deals.

Visa knows a thing or two about marketing, having devoted decades to building one of the world’s best-known brands. The company spent $581 million on advertising and other promotions last year.

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