Know someone who has made a difference in your business community? That team of people who have been extra helpful above and beyond the call of invoice?
Well, that angel business, journalist, or entrepreneur should be nominated for the Small Business Influencer Award. This program, started by Anita Campbell of Small Business Trends and Ramon Ray of Small Business Technology, is an award for the best experts, software developers, start up team, journalists, and corporations dedicated to the growth of small businesses. It is an open field, so everyone - from the solopreneur to a large business - has the chance to equally recognized. The 2011 award saw a multitude of entrepreneurs across the country.
You can learn more about the program through Deborah Shane's interview of Anita and SMBInfluencer judge Ivana Taylor. They spoke with Deborah (host of Blogtalkradio program Metropolis) about the 2012 campaign. Zimana is proud to be among the small business media partners for the 2012 Small Business Influencer campaign.
I put together a few thoughts about what a small business influencer . Take it as a thought starter on who has made adifference in your community or business.
An influencer can come in many forms but there is one quality for business that an influencer has - the ability to dig within themselves and determine how to contribute. Real influencers try to develop their gift - be it the restaurant owner who is refining their lastest lunch special or the band that is finding another way t o connect to their fans online. It's the small business technologist who is reviewing the lastest software for the benefit of small store owners who does not have time to understand the nuances. It's the banker that takes an extra 30 minutes to explain how financing works to a young entrepreneur.
For these actions to occur, someone has to be in their corner, reviewing information and taking the time to get it right when its needed the most.
The 2012 nominations are open through July 15th, with voting afterwards. The awards ceremony will be in New York City in the fall.
