SmallBizResource Blog
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Freebie Friday: 6 Contests & Giveaways Galore
Posted by Gayle Kesten
Friday, May 29, 2009, 10:30 AM ET
When you're a small business, a little recognition can go a long way. Add in cash prizes, free hardware and software, and one-on-one expert advice, and the time it'll take to apply for the following half-dozen contests could prove an undeniably sweet ROI.
Online entry forms are now posted for four of the six competitions listed below. The other two involve a site registration or free copies of QuickBooks Pro 2009 for 20 people who help determine the winner for a sixth contest.
As you'd expect, each contest has its own rules. Here they are, listed in order of their deadlines. Good luck!
1. Small Business United Grant Competition
The details: Rate the personal business video stories of the 50 finalists already selected. A judging panel of five also will evaluate the videos based on quality, creativity, and the public ratings. So what's in it for you? Intuit has provided me with 20 free copies of QuickBooks Pro to give away to SmallBizResource readers.
The prizes: Regarding the contest, the grand prize is $25,000, while four runners-up receive $10,000. As for you, the first 20 SBR readers who cast their votes will win free bookkeeping software that retails a penny shy of $200.
The fine print: Place your vote, then email me with your name, email address, phone number, and, if you want, who you voted for. I'll send the first 20 names I receive over to Intuit, which will then email you a link, password, and user name to access QuickBooks Pro. The spokesman I talked to said the company won't add your information to its mailing lists.
Deadline: May 31, 2009 [6/2 UPDATE: YOU HAVE UNTIL END OF DAY WED., JUNE 3, TO EMAIL ME.]
2. DIY Marketing Month Giveaway
The details: Most small businesses don't have the budgets for costly marketing services. Instead, they have to take matters into their own hands to get their word out. To acknowledge those efforts, "UnderstandingMarketing.com is giving away helpful resources and gifts that will assist entrepreneurs in every industry."
The prizes: Include a marketing makeover plan, free press release, UnderstandingMarketing.com's PR Toolkit, and a $250 AmEx gift card.
The fine print: Weekly registration required on the Monday of each week.
Deadline: Giveaway launches Monday, June 1, with five winners chosen randomly each week through June.
3. Skype For Business Competition
The details: The folks at Skype want to hear about how you've put their Internet phone service to work in your business. "This could be an example of how your organisation makes creative use of Skype to communicate with internal teams, clients or suppliers; or an example of how much money Skype has saved your business in the last 12 months." Entries will be judged based on creativity, range of Skype features used, geographic spread of Skype usage, and clarity of writing.
The prizes: Three prizes will be given out in each of three regions (Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific) and include Business Control Panel (BCP) accounts with varying amounts of levels of Skype Credit and certified hardware products. First prize winners will also receive services from a Skype for Business consultant.
The fine print: Entrants must have a valid and active Skype user name and account, business name, and postal address. (Additional details here.)
Deadline: June 15 (end of U.K. day)
4. Entrepreneur of 2009
The details: What are you doing to make an impact in your industry, among your employees, or in your community? "You are the force helping to rebuild this economy -- one small business at a time. You know it and we know it. Now it's time for everyone else to know it." Entrepreneur magazine will select 10 semifinalists, who then have to provide financial details about their businesses and a short video describing what they do. From there, five finalists will be chosen by an independent panel of judges; their profiles and videos (minus the financial info) will go online for public voting.
The prizes: Includes two roundtrip tickets to anywhere within the continental U.S., a $500 UPS Store gift certificate, an expense-paid trip to Entrepreneur's Awards Ceremony to be honored, and a profile and follow-up in the January and December 2010 issues of Entrepreneur.
The fine print: Entrants must have 2008 gross sales of at least $500,000 and own at least 51% of their businesses to qualify. Submitted financial information will be "destroyed" after a winner is chosen, "except as may otherwise be required for record retention purposes." (Additional details here.)
Deadline: June 15
5. College Entrepreneur of 2009
The details: Graduating in a down economy can sure be, well, a downer. If you "can't stand the idea of working for the man" and have a great idea for starting your own business, then here's an opportunity "to dodge cubicleville and move right into the corner office." Explain what's cooking inside of your head, your proposed company name and mission, and target customer. You'll also have to submit a short video explaining your concept. Selection of the winner follows the same process as Entrepreneur of 2009, above.
The prizes: Includes $5,000 in seed money, a $500 UPS Store gift certificate, an expense-paid trip to Entrepreneur's Awards Ceremony to be honored, and a profile and follow-up in the January and December 2010 issues of Entrepreneur.
The fine print: Entrants must be undergraduate students, enrolled for at least eight credits, and ages 18 to 25 at the time of submission. (Additional details here.)
Deadline: June 15
6. Forbes' Boost Your Business Contest
The details: Got guts? The goal of Forbes' competition is "to identify sound businesses with the most promise for growth -- and to educate millions of other entrepreneurs on the hunt for capital." You have a maximum of 500 words to explain your business, how long you've been in your particular industry, how you make money, how you're business is funded, what sets you apart from your competition, and how you would use the grand prize to grow your business. A panel of judges will pick 20 semifinalists, who then have to submit a 30-second elevator pitch to support their write-up. Forbes' online community then whittles the list down to five contestants, who have to submit a more detailed business plan and go to New York for a live presentation. Another round of online voting ensues to determine the winner and runners up.
The prizes: $50,000 in cash plus $50,000 worth of advertising on Forbes.com.
The fine print: For-profit company must have at least one salaried employee in addition to the owner, incorporated (or LLC) for no more than five years, and with revenue of $5 million or less. Entrant must be either an owner or executive in a position to influence the direction of the company. (Additional details here.)
Deadline: June 30
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