Award-Winning Online Resource for Small Business Responds to Demand, Boosts Content, Launches New Webzine Format

REDMOND, Wash., March 5, 1997 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the launch of a new Webzine format for its small-business Web site, Smallbiz, an online technology and information resource at http://www.microsoft.com/smallbiz/default.htm . Visitor traffic to the site, which was recently named a top small-business Web site by Independent Business magazine and received a USA Today Hot Site Award, has increased more than 700 percent in the past six months. Moreover, subscriptions to the site’s newsletter, NewsFlash , are increasing by about 20 percent
a month.

Smallbiz was developed as part of Microsoft’s ongoing initiative to make it easier for entrepreneurs to start, run and grow their businesses. The site provides rich, easy-to-understand information about how technology can improve their operations in the form of features, departments, technology resources and interactive forums.

“More and more small businesses turn to the Web every day for important information,” said Erin Hiraoka, producer and editor of Smallbiz. “We use feedback from our visitors to continue improving the site and to make it easier and faster to find relevant, valuable, business and technology information online.”


Dynamic Content

The Webzine’s content will change often. The “cover story,” updated monthly, addresses a particular business issue or challenge, and in the Start, Run & Grow department, start-ups, established businesses and growing companies can find solutions that suit their needs. The site also showcases a weekly Focus on Professions, addressing business and technology trends in the real estate, accounting, legal and other professions – providing templates, case studies and other resources specific to those business areas. Other new features include hands-on technology tips from the How-To department; Technology Toolbox, which includes information on Microsoft® products and other resources; and Windows® PC Resource that addresses the issues entrepreneurs face with regard to purchasing and keeping up with the latest in Windows operating system-based PC hardware.

Continuing on the site are Jay Conrad Levinson’s interactive book-in-progress, “America at Work: Guerrilla Marketing With a Secret Weapon”; the Partner Forum, a compendium of information from other companies serving small businesses, including Inc. magazine, CCH, Mail Boxes Etc. and Home Office Computing; and Sound Advice, a column on Web-based marketing by well-known small-business marketing expert Roger C. Parker.

To stay in touch with changes on the site, visitors can register for the Smallbiz NewsFlash – a semimonthly e-mail announcement about new and upcoming features, as well as special, limited-time offers from Microsoft and its partners exclusive to Smallbiz NewsFlash members.

Corporate Information

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.


Note to editors : If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages

Related Posts