Category Archives: Small Business

Microsoft Announces New Small Business Specialist In San Francisco

Posted by on September 13, 2011 1 comment

Microsoft Announces New Small Business Specialist In San Francisco










San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) October 25, 2005

Microsoft Corp. today announced TechSoEasy has become the first Small Business Specialist San Francisco that specializes exclusively in Small Business Server solutions for companies with less than 25 employees. To attain this new designation, TechSoEasy has demonstrated expertise in planning and building solutions for small businesses. As part of the Small Business Specialist Community, TechSoEasy will receive a rich set of benefits from Microsoft, including access to training specifically designed for the small-business industry,.

“TechSoEasy is extremely pleased with our status as a Small Business Specialist in San Francisco,” said Jeffrey B. Kane, principle of the TechSoEasy Microsoft practice, “For our small business clients, this special designation adds another aspect to our Microsoft Small Business Server solution practice and extends the value we bring to our client relationships in the Bay Area.”

The Small Business Specialist Community, available as a competency-like designation as part of the Microsoft® Partner Program, was developed in response to input from customers and partners that expressed a need to build easier connections that enable small-business customers to quickly and easily identify technology partners best suited to support them.

“Small businesses are looking for partner companies that understand their unique business needs,” said Jon Witty, Northern California Area General Manager, Microsoft Small and Midmarket Solutions & Partner Group. “With resources like the Small Business Specialist Community and the partner locator tool on the Microsoft Small Business Center Web site, it will be much easier for small businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area to identify local partners that are best able to address their specific needs. We are confident this offering will help TechSoEasy reach its full potential by creating more visibility, opportunity and demand in the local small-business segment.”

As one of the requirements for attaining Small Business Specialist status, Mr. Kane had to pass Microsoft’s Small Business Sales and Marketing Skills Assessment, designed to test the company’s knowledge of the dynamics and dependencies of the small-business market, as well as the value to small business of several software solutions, including Windows® XP Professional, Microsoft Office 2003 and Windows Small Business Server 2003. In addition, he also had to pass a certification exam that measures the ability to design and implement solutions for the small and medium-sized business by using Windows Small Business Server 2003 and the Windows Server System™.

The Small Business Specialist Community was announced earlier this month at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2005.

TechSoEasy, based in San Francisco, was founded in 2004 shortly after Microsoft released Small Business Server 2003 in order to help any small company of less than 25 employees realize their full potential.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Social Network for Entrepreneurs Provides Small Business Help

Posted by on September 2, 2011 1 comment

Social Network for Entrepreneurs Provides Small Business Help











Get small business help through the Small Business Bonfire.


Stewartsville, NJ (PRWEB) February 28, 2011

Small Business Bonfire, an online community providing help and support for entrepreneurs and small business owners, launched recently at http://www.smallbusinessbonfire.com. The community, founded by Alyssa Gregory, focuses on collaboration between small business owners.

The Small Business Bonfire challenges entrepreneurs to identify what is not working for their businesses and to change how they operate to improve success. Members of the community gain access to a growing social network of other passionate and talented entrepreneurs who share experiences, exchange ideas and offer small business advice.

Other membership benefits include access to the Red Hot Tool of the Week, which highlights new productivity, social media, Internet or other business-related tools tested by the Small Business Bonfire team. Membership also includes access to the Small Business Library, a collection of reports, guides, tip sheets, swipe files, worksheets, forms and tools submitted by other Small Business Bonfire members.

Alyssa Gregory started the site because she was inspired by support, guidance and advice she received from other small business owners when launching her first business. Gregory feels that all small business owners can benefit from the support of other entrepreneurs.

“We all have a story; we all have the potential for success; and we all face challenges in our small businesses,” says Gregory. “One of the most effective ways to get small business help is by communicating and collaborating with your peers. The Small Business Bonfire provides the environment for entrepreneurs to do that.”

Gregory strives to be more than a silent owner on the site. She plans on sharing her own experiences, advice and resources on the community and says she will not hesitate to ask questions herself.

The website currently offers a free Kindling membership level with paid premium membership levels set to launch by the end of March. In the future, Gregory says Small Business Bonfire plans to launch a printed monthly newsletter, quarterly magazine, live video conferences and a store selling small business products.

To join Small Business Bonfire or for more information, visit http://www.smallbusinessbonfire.com.

About Alyssa Gregory

Alyssa Gregory is a small business enthusiast, writer, speaker and consultant who has a passion for learning, creating opportunities for collaboration, and sharing knowledge. She reaches over 700,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs every month through her many online and offline ventures, and is well respected by her peers for the high quality information and advice that she shares with her readers, clients and colleagues. Her work can be found on About.com, SitePoint.com and a number of other small business sites. A full listing of her credentials can be found on http://alyssagregory.com.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Small Business Bonfire Participating in 2011 New York Times Small Business Summit

Posted by on July 31, 2011 1 comment

Small Business Bonfire Participating in 2011 New York Times Small Business Summit











Get small business help from the Small Business Bonfire.


Stewartsville, NJ (PRWEB) May 18, 2011

The Small Business Bonfire, an online community providing small business help and support for entrepreneurs and small business owners, has been invited to participate in the Local Resource Café during the 2011 New York Times Small Business Summit, taking place in New York City on June 13, 2011.

The Small Business Bonfire is one of only 14 organizations in the tri-state area chosen by the New York Times to come and share small business help and expertise, network with Summit attendees, and provide a central area where attendees can find out about recent industry trends and talk with small business experts.

The Small Business Bonfire (the Bonfire), which can be found online at http://www.smallbusinessbonfire.com, is an online community of passionate and talented entrepreneurs from a variety of professional fields who come together to share experiences, exchange ideas and offer small business advice. Focusing on the benefits of collaboration between small business owners, the Bonfire challenges its members to identify what is not working for their business and make the necessary changes to increase their success and accomplish their business goals.

Alyssa Gregory, founder of the Small Business Bonfire recently stated, “We are so honored to be participating in the upcoming Summit. We are proud of the way this online community has come together, and we look forward to sharing our knowledge and expertise with Summit attendees on behalf of the Bonfire community.” Gregory went on to say, “Along with utilizing the many tools and resources available at the Small Business Bonfire, our members provide help and support for one another. They understand that one of the most effective ways to get help for their small business is by communicating and collaborating with their peers. Our community provides a social network platform for them to do that.”

Along with the social networking benefits, Small Business Bonfire members also enjoy access to the Red Hot Tool of the Week email, which highlights productivity, social media, Internet or other business-related tools that are tested by the Bonfire team. In addition, premium members of the Bonfire have access to monthly printed newsletters, CDs of the month, Featured Member profiles on Facebook, social media help, business coaching, original blog content for their own blogs, and a number of other benefits.

Recognized by the New York Times as an expert local resource for small businesses, the Small Business Bonfire continues to grow its online presence and provide a networking platform for the small business community.

To join the Small Business Bonfire or for additional information, visit http://www.smallbusinessbonfire.com or http://facebook.com/smallbizbonfire. Visit http://www.nytsmallbusinesssummit.com to learn more about the upcoming New York Times Small Business Summit.

About Alyssa Gregory and the Small Business Bonfire

Alyssa Gregory is a small business enthusiast, writer, speaker and consultant who has a passion for learning, creating opportunities for collaboration, and sharing knowledge. In early 2011, she founded the Small Business Bonfire; a social, educational and collaborative community for small business owners. The goal of the Small Business Bonfire is to provide small business help and support for entrepreneurs who are ready to make positive changes in their businesses and the way they run their businesses. Visit the Bonfire at http://www.smallbusinessbonfire.com for more information or to join the community. Visit http://alyssagregory.com for more about Alyssa Gregory.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Small Business Trends and SmallBizTechnology.com Honor Top 100 Small Business Influencers of 2011

Posted by on July 31, 2011 1 comment

Small Business Trends and SmallBizTechnology.com Honor Top 100 Small Business Influencers of 2011











New York, NY and Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) May 27, 2011

Small Business Trends and SmallBizTechnology.com announce the first annual Small Business Influencers 2011 initiative. The Small Business Influencer honorees will be the top 100 news outlets, corporations, journalists, leaders, and gurus selected through an online nomination process that takes place from May 25 through July 8, 2011. Thereafter a voting and judging process will culminate in announcement of the Top 100 Small Business Influencers in mid-August, 2011.

“The Small Business Influencer Initiative was launched to honor people, companies and organizations that have made a worthwhile contribution to North American small businesses” states Anita Campbell, one of the founders of the event. “We hear so much about high-powered CEOs and Fortune 500 companies in the media today, but it is the small businesses that drive the economy.” Ramon Ray, co-founder of the Small Business Influencers added, “These people and organizations have all accomplished something that influences the small business world in a meaningful way. They are truly a vital part of the small business community.”

The Small Business Influencer initiative excitement has already begun, drawing several sponsors, with others to be announced. More than a quarter of a million small business votes are expected to be cast during the voting process, in phase two.

The Influencers’ founders anticipate that the social media buzz – before, during and after the voting and selection of the top 100 influencers — will generate lots of excitement and visibility for those so honored. “Originally we were going to simply select the Top 100 Influencers. But the more we thought about it, the more we realized we could easily miss key influencers. We wanted to give the small business community the opportunity to nominate who they think is important,” says Campbell. “Just being nominated by and being visible to the small business community for your contributions is a big deal.”

The Top 100 Influencers also will be honored at an awards event in New York City on September 13, 2011. In addition to receiving publicity, the Top 100 will also be entitled to use branded “Top 100 insignias” on their marketing materials and websites.

To find out more about the Small Business Influencer Initiative, visit the website at: SMBinfluencers.com.

About Smallbiztechnology.com

Smallbiztechnology.com is a media company that produces online content and live events educating small and mid-sized companies on how to strategically use technology as a tool to grow their businesses. Original content published on the site includes news, feature articles, interviews and video about technology for growing businesses. Smallbiztechnology.com also produces online and live events including 12 Hours of Tech for Growing Businesses, the Small Business Technology Tour, the Taste of Technology Small Business Series, and the Small Business Summit.

About Small Business Trends, LLC:

Small Business Trends LLC is in the business of providing information, news, advice and online community to small businesses and entrepreneurs. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Ohio. Its flagship website, Small Business Trends, is one of the leading sources of commentary, information and online community touching over 2,000,000 small businesses annually.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Small Businesses, Nonprofits Learn How to Find Cause Marketing Partner in Ventureneer Webinar

Posted by on July 31, 2011 1 comment

Small Businesses, Nonprofits Learn How to Find Cause Marketing Partner in Ventureneer Webinar












(PRWEB) July 18, 2011

Cause Marketing: A Win-Win for Small Businesses and Nonprofits, a free webinar from Ventureneer, shows nonprofit leaders and small business owners how to help each other increase visibility, build community, and increase their return on investment, whether that investment is measured in dollars or donors.

A good cause marketing program has the potential to increase donations, volunteers, and supporters for the nonprofit while the business gets access to new, emotionally connected customers, and increases visibility in the community.

“Cause marketing gives both partners a return on their investment, whether that return is supporters, potential income or greater visibility,” said Geri Stengel, founder of Ventureneer.com.

Businesses, take note: Research has shown that successful entrepreneurs build social responsibility programs, such as cause marketing, into their business plans right from the start. And nonprofits, take note. Those same entrepreneurs like to work with local nonprofits and to be personally involved, giving not only money but time and talent.

The key to cause marketing is finding the right partner. How can each partner ensure that the partnership will enhance its support and visibility?

Cause Marketing: A Win-Win for Small Businesses and Nonprofits will help both nonprofit leaders and small business owners decide what kind of partner best suits their organizations and how to make sure the partnership works for both..

Stengel will be teaching the free online seminar on Tuesday, July 26, 2010, 12n-1pm.

She emphasized that cause marketing is not just for the big guys. No matter the size of your budget, cause marketing can add value to the mix. Small nonprofits and small businesses can get and give value from such partnerships.

The webinar will clarify:

The buy-in needed within an organization before undertaking a Cause Marketing partnership;
How to decide if a partner represents the nonprofit’s values;
How to decide if a partner matters to the client base of the business;
What motivates businesses to partner with a nonprofit and vice versa;
What is the value of a nonprofit cause to the small business and vice versa;
The benefits of partnerships for small businesses and for nonprofits;
How to insure that both the nonprofit and the small business are satisfied with the outcome of the partnership.

Nonprofit leaders, board members, nonprofit executive directors, chief financial officers, fundraisers as well as small business owners and entrepreneurs will learn how to put together a socially responsible marketing program in this webinar.

For more information or to register go to Cause Marketing: A Win-Win for Small Businesses and Nonprofits on Ventureneer’s website.

About Ventureneer

Ventureneer connects values-driven small business owners, social entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders with the knowledge they need to make the world a better place and to thrive as businesses. At Ventureneer, entrepreneurial and nonprofit training and advice are practical, accessible, and affordable. Ventureneer blends traditional, formal instruction with informal, peer learning. You can learn new skills, collaborate with peers, develop solutions to your real-world problems, get one-on-one help from experts, and access the information you need to make better decisions for your organizations.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Small Business Assistance Lending Program Gains Massive Response this Quarter, Approving All Applicants in Business 6 Months or More

Posted by on July 31, 2011 1 comment

Small Business Assistance Lending Program Gains Massive Response this Quarter, Approving All Applicants in Business 6 Months or More











Small Business Assistance


New York, NY (PRWEB) July 30, 2011

The 2011 business loan denials of 92% small business applicants has resulted in an increase of bankruptcy filings among small businesses across America thus far, reports Merchant Cash in Advance.

Unsecured business loan provider, MerchantCashinAdvance unexpectedly announced a Small Business Assistance Campaign this week, giving a guarantee approval of funding any business in business for 6 months or more.

The popularity of this Small Business Assistance lending program was inevitable, as the terms of approval are a dream come true for small businesses.

For starters, the Small Business Assistance program does not rely on the business credit or personal credit of the applicant. In fact, the application process does not even involve a credit check. Additionally, the Small Business Assistance funds loaned to the business are unsecured- meaning the business applicant does not put down any collateral.

Uniquely, the program purely bases the loan amount on the business’s performance for its last 6 months of business. Essentially, the dollar amount of the loan typically equates to 1 1/2 months of the business’s gross sales. Although similar unsecured business loan programs have been presented in the past, this Small Business Assistance Lending Program differs greatly in its method of payback:


All applicants has a 12 full months to pay back the amount of the loan, with the option to pay sooner.
Business loan amount borrowed is paid back by a percentage of sales. This amount is chosen by the applicant, not the Small Business Assistance provider.
Each applicant is not required to change merchant account providers or make credit card processing changes.

Since its release, this assistance program has grown exponentially in popularity, funding an upwards of $ 600,000 to small businesses this week.

Small Business Assistance Inquiries: 877-875-0231

http://www.MerchantCashinAdvance.com

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.