Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com have announced the Small Business Influencer 2011 award to honor the companies, organizations and people who have made a significant impact on the North American small business market. The award is sponsored by Blackberry. In phase I, influencers are nominated by general public. In Phases 2 and 3, general public and an all-star judging panel will vote for the top 100. It all culminates with honoring the Top 100 Small Business Influencers in mid-August 2011, with an awards event in New York City on September 13, 2011.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO BE A SMALL BUSINESS INFLUENCER?
A small business influencer is a person, company or other organization that has made a meaningful and lasting impact on the North American small business market. Impact may mean (i) providing products widely used by significant numbers of small businesses, or (ii) influencing significant numbers of small businesses by being a thought leader, or (iii) providing information or services of note to significant numbers of small businesses.
People, companies and other organizations that fall into one of the following five categories may be nominated:
– Leaders (executives, academics, government officials, or key employees who are part of companies or other organizations serving the small business market)
– Corporations (companies that provide products and services to the small business market, and non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and advocacy and support organizations)
– Journalists (individual journalists, reporters, editors, broadcasters, bloggers, podcasters, freelance writers)
– News Outlets (media companies, newspapers, magazines, broadcasting companies)
– Gurus (mavens, authors, speakers, consultants, advocates, professionals such as lawyers or CPAs)
WHEN DO WE VOTE? WHO GETS TO VOTE?
After the nomination period concludes, there will be a period of 30 days for voting. When the voting period is open, voting buttons will appear on the site. To vote, simply click on the “VOTE” button for the person or organization of your choice. Come back daily and vote, between July 11 and August 9, 2011 at 11:59 pm Los Angeles time. Anyone may vote. One vote per IP address per category per day (i.e., 24-hour period).
WHAT ROLE DO THE JUDGES PLAY?
Once the community has voted, the all-star small-business judging panel will cast their votes. The community vote counts for 40% and the Judges’ vote counts for 60%. The top 100 will be announced in mid-August 2011.
WHAT DO THE TOP 100 INFLUENCERS GET?
Every person, company and organization officially listed as a nominee can say they are a Small Business Influencer Nominee. The top 100 Influencers at the conclusion of voting, will each be named to the 2011 Influencers’ list, along with the recognition that comes with being named a 2011 Small Business Influencers winner. Recognition includes publicity as a winner, as well as the right to display Winners insignias on books, websites, brochures and elsewhere.
HOW DO I PROMOTE A PERSON OR COMPANY TO GET MORE VOTES?
Feel free to grab a Badge to promote yourself and your company to your followers. Or hit one of the sharing buttons (Twitter, Facebook, Google Buzz, Stumbleupon, Email) under the description of the nominee of your choice, to share with friends, colleagues, family and followers.
WHO’S BEHIND THE AWARDS?
The Small Business Influencers initiative is jointly produced by Small Business Trends and Small Biz Technology.
Last date for nomination is July 8, 2011 (11:59 pm Los Angeles time)
For more details and nominating your favourite organization or individual, please visit this link.
