Contests & Awards: PitchIt!, Leading Moms, Customer Service and ...

Welcome to a fresh list of awards, contests and competitions for growing companies and entrepreneurs.

There are some great contests and awards in this week?s roundup.

If you?ve entered and won a contest or award listed here, let me know so we can share your news.

This list is brought to you every other week by Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com.

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We Media PitchIt! Conference & Challenge
Enter by March 13, 2012

By registering for We Media PitchIt! you get to show off your project and talk about it with influential people who can give you feedback, advice, support and, even, money. You can sign up a spot on the Demo Program or have a voice in feedback loop with other projects. PitchIt! will award $50,000 to help launch two digital media startups. Pitch your ideas. Or vote online to select the Community Choice winners.

Staples Give Your Small Business the Push it Needs Contest
Enter by March 14, 2012

Staples has launched its ?Give Your Small Business the Push It Needs? contest, which will offer five small businesses up to $50,000 in free television advertising in their home market.
Small businesses can enter the contest by submitting a 15-second video about their company on Facebook.com/Staples by March 14. Five winners will be chosen to receive 15 seconds of advertising in a 30-second Staples television ad to run in their local market. Winners can have $50,000 in advertising or $40,000 in advertising and $10,000 in cash.

.Biz 10th Anniversary Contest
Enter by March 31, 2012

Today, there are more than 2.2 million .biz domain registrations and Neustar is taking part in celebrating SMBs that dared to stand out in a crowd.

Businesses can visit http://www.my.biz/10year/ and share how they used .biz to increase the reach of their brand image. Once SMBs have shared their stories, visitors will cast their votes. Winners will receive awards and a Best of .Biz seal to recognize their website.

2012 SCORE Awards
Enter by March 31, 2012

The 2012 SCORE Award categories include Outstanding Veteran-Owned Small Business, Outstanding Minority-Owned Small Business and Outstanding Green Small Business. The SCORE Awards gala will be held in August and will honor successful and innovative entrepreneurs and the small business advocates who support entrepreneurship in America. See website for nomination FAQs and entry details.

Leading Moms in Business Competition
Enter by April 16, 2012

Everybody knows one. Like a super hero, she balances running a family with the heroics of running her own business. We?re talking about moms in business, of course. And now, StartupNation is conducting its third annual ranking of these astonishing entrepreneurs and the businesses they run.

Over the next few months, it?ll be your daily votes that determine the top 200 Leading Moms in Business. In addition the judges will determine special awards and accolades for moms within the top 200 who deserve special recognition.

Inc. 500/5000
Enter by April 30, 2012

There are nearly 7 million private, employee-based firms in America. Only the very best are awarded the distinction of being named to the Inc.500 | 5000, the gold standard of entrepreneurial success. You?ll be listed with other leading companies at Inc.com, and your company may be featured in the September 2012 issue.

If you are proud of your company?s growth over the past three years, you owe it to yourself ? and to your employees ? to apply for the Inc.500 | 5000.

BBB Small Business Customer Service Makeover Contest
Enter by April 30, 2012

The contest is open to small businesses headquartered in Eastern Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island or Vermont. The winning business will receive exposure of their business, improved business practices and professional advice. The contest is free to enter and will provide a learning experience for business owner(s) and employees. BBB will provide up to $5,000 in support and material funds. See website for rules and entry details.

Downtown Ithaca?s Race for the Space
Enter by May 1, 2012

Are you an existing or aspiring retailer or entrepreneur? The winner of Race for the Space will win free rent for one year in a prime retail or office space, a one year advertising package in the Ithaca Times, design services for storefront layout and signage and more. The package is worth over $40,000.

See website for details and entry rules.

2012 Lanza Enterprise Awards Program (LEAP)
Enter by May 3, 2012

Informational Teleconference April 5, 2012: (712) 451-6175, PIN-1095742#

WEDC is once again offering the Lanza Enterprise Awards Program (LEAP) to help women entrepreneurs boost their businesses to the next level. Five $5,000 equity awards will be presented to WEDC 15-Week Program graduates or participants who have completed comprehensive business plans and who meet the award criteria.

This program is a collaboration among the Lanza Family Foundation, the Women?s Research and Education Fund (WREF) and the Women?s Enterprise Development Center (WEDC). It is designed to help women who are owners of microenterprises (businesses with five or fewer employees) achieve greater business success.

The New York Enterprise Report 2012 Small Business Awards
Enter by May 21, 2012

The New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards is the annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of the 500,000+ small businesses throughout the tri-state area. The Small Business Awards will recognize 5 small businesses for their best practices and 3 businesses under the ?Best of the Year Awards? categories.

A panel of experts in the related fields will judge all award packages. Awards will be presented to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages, revenue profits and/or long-term value. Please note the criteria and requirements listed on the awards website.

If you are putting on a small business contest, award or competition, and want to get the word out to the community, please submit it through our Events & Contests Submission Form. (We do not charge a fee to be included in this listing.) Only events of interest to small business people, freelancers and entrepreneurs will be considered and included.

Please note: The descriptions provided here are for convenience only and are NOT the official rules. ALWAYS read official rules carefully at the site holding the competition, contest or award.

[photo credit: Shorts and Longs Flickr]

Source: http://smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2012/03/contests-awards-pitchit-leading-moms-customer-service-and-more-march-11th.html/

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Sj?entrepren?ren ? Book Proposals 101.: What Marketers Want

Lots of writers prefer to talk about writing books. You hear very few talking about writing reserve proposals. Maybe that?s why it?s easy to forget than a strong book offer is the first step for you to get a great deal for your non-fiction reserve. It?s where you have the big pitch and tell the manager everything that?s going to think that you?re or healthy recipes her are interested to buy.

A book proposal is yet another great time saver for you because you?ll find throughout researching your reserve proposal whether or not your current idea is practical, or whether your current category is already busy with similar books. Let us discuss the parts that make up a book proposal, and a few tips about how to make it really be noticed to a potential publisher.

Title Page
This is the first page of the book proposal. Your title should be focused and printed regarding two-thirds of the way down the page. Towards the bottom left hand corner you will type in your name, deal with, phone number, email address and also the name and contact information for your salmon recipes agent.

Guide
You?ll want to have two or three pages explaining the entire premise of your reserve. You?ll also want to such as a Table of Elements that shows just what points will be covered in each page.

Bio/Credentials
This isn?t just your current usual resume products, this is a big opportunity to sell yourself when the person to write the novel. Write it in the third person beginning your education and credentials. You?ll want quinoa recipes to point out any experience that specifically relates to the topic matter of the book. Perhaps you have written articles or previous books on the topic? Note those also. List any presenting and public speaking that you have done and may do in the future, like television and r / c interviews. Include a very nice photo. It doesn?t has to be a glamour picture, but you do want to seem interesting and engaging. A new 5?x7? is fine.

Competition
A publisher will want to determine if there are books similar to yours already to choose from. It will help them to make sure there is a market for this kind of books. At the same time, you should point out how your reserve will be different, or greater, than what?s by now out there. Do not rubbish someone else?s work. It?s bad form. It?s enough to say the competitor?s book quit something out, or doesn?t cover a specific aspect. If you don?t find out what competing books are available, you can look these up in Books in Print. Most libraries get it in the reference portion.

Outline
This will be your current chapter-by-chapter outline showing what you want to cover, point-by-point, in every chapter. You can intend on allotting about half a page each chapter.

Sample Sections
This is where you get to demonstrate that you really can create! You should submit at the least three chapters associated with content. It doesn?t has to be the first three chapters, but if you haven?t created anything yet these may be the easiest to undertake. Then again, some internet writers like to start in the heart of a book! The main crucial here is to be good?no typos, no misspellings and no real errors.

Marketing
A marketing section of your current book proposal can be so important that many writers will often read it initially. So make sure you spend the time to make this the most effective it can be. Lay out your complete marketing plan right here. Explain who your current target audience is, the dimensions of it is and the key reason why they will buy this kind of book. How do you intend on reaching them? Are you buying your own advertisements? If so, in what textbooks and what is their merged circulation? Will you be reaching out to book clubs, businesses or college instruction where you book could possibly be taught? How can you design your book stand out against the ones that are already to choose from? You want to make the scenario that there is a ready made visitors out there and all this publisher has to complete is reach out and grab them by simply signing you.

Campaign
Remember, a publisher wants to acquire everyone connections, so this is another fundamental section of the proposal. How might you put yourself out there for the book? You?ll want to clarify if you?ll be doing presenting and public speaking, or maybe you have a huge record you communicate with by using newsletter every month. The amount of are on your record? If you plan to hire your own private publicist, put that fact within as well. Do you have renowned connections that will help you get hold of great blurbs? Do you have a resources? If so, how much? Absolutely yes, they do want to know if you plan on spending some of your own private money!

Publishing Points
Here you?ll details the length you pop the question for the book (within words) and if the book will have virtually any illustrations or photos. You?ll also need to give an estimate for any time you?ll need to turn in the finished manuscript.

Which is it. When your offer is done you might want to seek the services of an editor or even a book consultant to talk about it and give you a number of strong feedback. That way you?ll know you have it in the best shape doable and you can feel comfortable when you?re sending it all out.

Source: http://xn--sjentreprenren-rqbj.info/2012/03/book-proposals-101-what-marketers-want/

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New report could improve lives of Missouri women, MU researcher says

Public release date: 8-Mar-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jesslyn Tenhouse
TenhouseJ@missouri.edu
573-882-8353
University of Missouri-Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. Though women are better represented in the workforce and in higher education institutions, they still face barriers in employment, education and health care access and are more likely to live in poverty. Now, a University of Missouri expert says new research highlighting current issues affecting Missouri women provides insights that could significantly improve the lives of women throughout the state.

Kristin Metcalf-Wilson, an assistant teaching professor in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing, helped compile the Missouri Women's Report. The report includes gender-specific, county-level data and analysis explaining various aspects of women's health and economic status. In addition to showing the progress made in women's health care access and well-being, workforce and education, economic justice and civic engagement, the report also indicates existing barriers in these areas.

"This report will help health care providers, legislators and women's advocates better understand the relationship among health, poverty and education," Metcalf-Wilson said. "In a time with limited resources, public servants should use this report to create solutions that will improve the health of Missouri women."

For example, Metcalf-Wilson said legislators need to recognize the disparity in socioeconomic status and health care access between women and men ages 64 and older. She urges legislators to develop policy before the rest of the baby boomer population ages. Another concern noted in the report is that, even though Missouri women now earn degrees at nearly the same rate as men, they don't have equal career opportunities or income. Overall, women earn 74 cents on the dollar compared to men; female college graduates earn 90 cents in comparison in some counties.

To reverse the growing disparities, the report encourages economic policies that promote education and career opportunities, especially in science, technology, engineering and math. It also suggests affordable housing, preventative health care and treatment, anti-violence campaigns, early childhood initiatives and increased representation of women in paid government positions.

"Women do better when there's money to support services," Metcalf-Wilson said. "With an economic recession at the state level, we need to know where our money is going and where we'll get the biggest bang for our buck among different counties. Any change to assistance programs disproportionately affects women and their families since women are more likely to be the primary caregivers and single heads of household."

The 74-page report is a joint initiative commissioned by the Women's Policy Alliance, a nonprofit organization that promotes Missouri women's advancement and equity, and produced by the MU Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis. The report is a follow-up to a national study conducted by the Institute for Women's Policy Research in 2004, which gave the health and economic status of Missouri women a C- grade.

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The report was released to the public on March 7 in print and electronic form. To view the report, visit http://womenspolicyalliance.org/missouri-womens-report.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 8-Mar-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jesslyn Tenhouse
TenhouseJ@missouri.edu
573-882-8353
University of Missouri-Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. Though women are better represented in the workforce and in higher education institutions, they still face barriers in employment, education and health care access and are more likely to live in poverty. Now, a University of Missouri expert says new research highlighting current issues affecting Missouri women provides insights that could significantly improve the lives of women throughout the state.

Kristin Metcalf-Wilson, an assistant teaching professor in the MU Sinclair School of Nursing, helped compile the Missouri Women's Report. The report includes gender-specific, county-level data and analysis explaining various aspects of women's health and economic status. In addition to showing the progress made in women's health care access and well-being, workforce and education, economic justice and civic engagement, the report also indicates existing barriers in these areas.

"This report will help health care providers, legislators and women's advocates better understand the relationship among health, poverty and education," Metcalf-Wilson said. "In a time with limited resources, public servants should use this report to create solutions that will improve the health of Missouri women."

For example, Metcalf-Wilson said legislators need to recognize the disparity in socioeconomic status and health care access between women and men ages 64 and older. She urges legislators to develop policy before the rest of the baby boomer population ages. Another concern noted in the report is that, even though Missouri women now earn degrees at nearly the same rate as men, they don't have equal career opportunities or income. Overall, women earn 74 cents on the dollar compared to men; female college graduates earn 90 cents in comparison in some counties.

To reverse the growing disparities, the report encourages economic policies that promote education and career opportunities, especially in science, technology, engineering and math. It also suggests affordable housing, preventative health care and treatment, anti-violence campaigns, early childhood initiatives and increased representation of women in paid government positions.

"Women do better when there's money to support services," Metcalf-Wilson said. "With an economic recession at the state level, we need to know where our money is going and where we'll get the biggest bang for our buck among different counties. Any change to assistance programs disproportionately affects women and their families since women are more likely to be the primary caregivers and single heads of household."

The 74-page report is a joint initiative commissioned by the Women's Policy Alliance, a nonprofit organization that promotes Missouri women's advancement and equity, and produced by the MU Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis. The report is a follow-up to a national study conducted by the Institute for Women's Policy Research in 2004, which gave the health and economic status of Missouri women a C- grade.

###

The report was released to the public on March 7 in print and electronic form. To view the report, visit http://womenspolicyalliance.org/missouri-womens-report.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-03/uom-fec030812.php

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Develop Android apps from within Android using AIDE (video)

Replication is a necessary survival technique in nature, and now Android apps have joined the self-preservation fray with a new piece of software known as the Android Java IDE (AIDE). An integrated development environment for -- don't you know it -- Android, the package provides would-be coders with a complete set of development tools that include code completion, formatting, refactoring, real-time error checking and more. It's said to be fully compatible with Eclipse projects, and best of all, it's entirely free. So, if you can appreciate this bit of Zen and the Art of Android Development, be sure to check out AIDE today -- and get yourself a keyboard for your tablet while you're at it. Those who'd like a visual introduction will find a video after the break.

[Thanks, Matt]

Continue reading Develop Android apps from within Android using AIDE (video)

Develop Android apps from within Android using AIDE (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 06:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Police  |  Google Play  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/Z97JtapSo2Q/

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Beyblade Triple Battle Set Review

Beyblades are one of the hottest collectible toys for boys right now. Beyblades are metal tops that battle one another with speed, skill, and tricks. There are various types of battlers and performance tops for your boy to collect and battle with.

When Elijah received his first Beyblade for his birthday, I had no idea what they were. Once he opened it, we were all hooked, including my daughter. At first, I thought it was a simple top, boy was I wrong! The Beyblade Metal Masters Tops launch at amazing speeds through the ripcord launcher. Each top is made differently and spins in alternate directions, making the battles unpredictable, challenging, and fun! When we were given the opportunity to review the Beyblade Metal Masters Triple Battle Set, we were psyched!

Beyblade Triple Battle Set

Beyblade Metal Masters Triple Battle Set Video Review

Check out this video review by my 7 year old son on how to play with Beyblades, how to set up Beyblades, and why the Beyblade Metal Masters Triple Battle Set is so good.

Before we had the Beyblade Triple Battle Set, we would battle the Beyblade Metal Masters Tops against each other on the floor. Certainly this was fun but the tops would hit each other and then spin off into different directions. It was fun to see them fly across the floor but no serious Beyblade battles could be had. Now that we have the Beyblade Triple Battle Set, we can battle the tops against each other.

Beyblade Triple Battle Set

Elijah has his favorites and for good reason as they are designed differently and all perform uniquely. The Beyblade Triple Battle Set comes with 2 exclusive tops, so you can start battling right out of the box! Assembling the Beyblades is easy. Insert the ripcord into the launcher, attache the top and then Let It Rip!

Assembling Beyblade Tops

The Beyblade Triple Battle Set comes with 3 Beyblade Battle Cores. Battle Cores are the plates placed at the center of the battle set. Each one has a unique grooves that the Beyblade tops ride in. Each Battle Core grooves creates a completely different battle for your battling Beyblades! The speeds at which they battle combined with the different shaped grooves really cause the tops to spin in various directions, knocking into each other, creating the battle. It is a lot of fun ? even for mom.

The Beyblade Triple Battle Set itself is made of a light weight plastic. I expected a heavy duty hard plastic, so I was surprised by this. That being said, it hasn?t made a bit of difference in playing with the product. It has been sturdy and perhaps the thickness of the plastic is directly related to how the tops perform. That was my only initial concern for a product that is nearly $50, but it has so far not been a problem.

Beyblade Triple Battle Set Contents

In fact, the set comes with everything you need for lots of Beyblade fun include the battle arena, 3 battle cores, 2 tops, 2 ripcord launchers, official rule book, and 2 collector cards. This is a perfect starter kit for a boy age 8 and up! (My son is 7 and has a blast with it!)

Like Beyblade on Facebook

Buy Beyblade Triple Battle Set

You can buy the Beyblade Triple Battle Set? at stores nationwide and on Amazon.com.

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This was not a paid post. My own opinions were used based on my perceptions and experience. Thank you to Hasbro who provided the product for review.

Source: http://www.akronohiomoms.com/reviews-and-shopping/toys/beyblade-triple-battle-set-review/

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Ways to Employed Home fitness equipment On the market | Contact ...

In the present hard economy all people are looking for ways to stretch out the particular dollar. Trying to find used fitness equipment programs are amazing a wonderful selection to purchasing exercise equipment.

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For one the designers of home gym machines understand that most of the people whom buy his or her machines will not also have them from your field apart from use them.

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On the other hand content writing was designed to tolerate the particular regression of fitness center mistreatment. Usually this equipment is experiencing testing which court warrants continued make use of each day daily, 7 days every week.

Several gyms and also gyms are available every day of the season consequently these services demand higher quality off their home fitness equipment.

There are plenty of positives to business fitness equipment however, there is a disadvantage to business fitness equipment which is the charge. Brand new machines could cost thousands of money the good news is it has an substitute.

In lieu of purchasing fresh you?ll find used fitness equipment in the marketplace and also conserve close to Half and up. You must do need to be careful although when you should never buy somebody an issue device. Choose a business which is an expert and it has used fitness equipment in the marketplace.

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I will furthermore propose calling his or her range and also addressing those to ensure that his or her are people who educated and able to respond to your questions. By simply calling the business and also watching their site you?ll be sure that you have grown to be quality gently used aloe vera gel.

These firms frequently cash out fitness machines through gyms and also health and fitness clubs leaving
business.

That they transformation and also renovate the particular machines to take pleasure from fresh problem changing any elements and also cleaning
the particular fitness machines to take pleasure from fresh problem.

Source: http://gocontactlenses.com/ways-to-employed-home-fitness-equipment-on-the-market/

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Brazzaville blast toll stands at 180: Congo minister

At least 180 people were killed in the Brazzaville munitions depot disaster, with 1,340 people injured, the Republic of Congo's health minister announced Tuesday after visiting hospitals.

"It's difficult to say, but there are 180 dead in the morgues," the minister, Georges Moyen, told journalists, suggesting the toll from Sunday's explosions which devastated part of the city could rise further.

The last official toll Monday put the number at 150.

The minister was speaking during a visit to the university hospital in the capital, where medical tents have been set up outside the building to cope with the influx of victims. Some of the injured are being treated in hospital corridors for lack of ward space.

International aid for the victims has arrived from France, Morocco and neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, following an appeal by the government in Brazzaville.

"The greatest needs are in orthopedics," said Moyen.

A plane carrying a 25-person medical emergency unit and five tonnes of material from France arrived in the early hours of Tuesday.

Morocco sent a 173-person contingent, including 20 doctors and 16 nurses.

Some 3,000 people have been left homeless after a series of huge explosions at a munitions depot devastated the Mpila district in the east of the capital early Sunday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/brazzaville-blast-toll-stands-180-congo-minister-111959936.html

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