"Small Business Challenges" website promotes SBSC

Earlier this week I wrote a post about the how SBSC partners have been promoted in a SMB supplement which has gone in many big name magazine publications. This supplement is part of a wider campaign and competition for small business customers to win a business makeover worth around £10,000.

What is the competition?

In order to win, customers have to submit a business challenge in no more than 50 words. Challenges should be related to IT, not to the economy, competitors or difficulty finding the ‘right' people for example. They have until 19 December to submit their entry, after which a panel of judges will select five businesses who they feel stand to benefit the most from Microsoft software. Each of these five businesses will be given a Windows Vista laptop - which will be theirs to keep - which they must use to address their challenge.

The overall winner will be the business judged to have deployed their laptop most effectively. They will win up to 10 Windows Vista laptops (number dependent on the size of the business) as well as the help of a Small Business Specialist to overcome their IT challenges, worth over £10,000. The competition closes December 19th 2008 and the five preliminary winners will be announced on 5th January 2009, with the overall winner announced on 2nd February 2009. 

Go here for more information: www.smallbusinesschallenges.com

How does this effect Small Business Specialists?

So, I guess you spotted that we are offering for a Small Business Specialist partner to help us deliver the prize?! Microsoft has put aside some budget in order to fund some time from one or two SBSC partners.  An SBSC partner will be selected using the following general criteria (note this is a rough guide, there will be official Ts and Cs for selection):

• Their location in terms of proximity to the winning customers
• Their advocacy for Windows Vista
• Their ability to be available week commencing 19th January

What do the participating SBSC partners get?

• Some business funded by Microsoft for this customer engagement activity
• Promotion in the second SMB supplement  - possibly including a photograph of yourself and a quote, including the customer case study (similar to the current supplement).

How does this benefit the all the other SBSC partners?

This is another great opportunity to promote the SBSC partner channel and "blue badge" logo to raise awareness of you as specialists in small business technology. In turn, we expect this should drive more leads your way. Here's how the SBSC have been promoted:

• The current SMB supplement highlights the SBSC partner channel and where to find an SBSC partner
• The next SMB supplement will also highlight the SBSC partner channel and where to find an SBSC partner
• The website promotes the SBSC partner channel.. here's a great quote from the site:

"That’s why Microsoft has developed the Small Business Specialist Community, a group of highly-trained specialists who work with hundreds of businesses every year. The advantage of hiring a Microsoft Small Business Specialist is that you are employing someone who knows your systems and their limitations, your programs, and the best new software to enable you to get the most out of your business."

If you would like to nominate yourself to take part and be that Small Business Specialist please send an email to sbscuk@microsoft.com and advise what experience you have with Windows Vista as well as where you are based.

I'll keep you updated on how this competition progresses.