For the second straight year, American Express and Facebook are teaming up for the “Big Break for Small Business” contest, which is “designed to transform the way small businesses connect and engage with customers online” – namely their social media presence.
And this year, five lucky businesses will win $25,000 in cash. Not only that, but they will get to work with AMEX and Facebook “branding experts,” who will tutor them in marketing and social media strategy.
“The winners will learn how to use Facebook to build their brands and better market their products and services to their existing customer base and reach new customer segments. Each winner will get practical and personal training on best practices using Facebook Pages, Ads and Social Plugins, and will receive consultation on their current use of Facebook.”
All small businesses have to do is go to the Facebook AMEX OPEN page and click “enter now.” The entry process involves a short questionnaire where the entrants explain how they would use the contest winnings to improve and grow their small business. They have until 11:59 ET on July 13th to enter.
The top 10 entries will be hand-picked by AMEX OPEN Social Media VP Laura Fink, Facebook head of Global Marketing Communications Heather Freeland, and others including Bonobos CEO Andy Dunn. Once they narrow down the finalists, the five winners will be selected by Facebook users via online vote.
According to AMEX and Facebook, finalists will be judged on “commitment to their business and growth, commitment to the community that fuels their business, overall social media and business need where American Express OPEN and Facebook could improve their business, and energy and enthusiasm for the entrepreneurial community.
If your’re a small business looking to increase your social media presence, it can’t hurt to sign up. You can receive some marketing tools and $50 in Facebook advertising credits just for entering. The ten runners-up will additionally receive $2,500 in advertising credits.
If you want to read about last year’s winners, be sure to check out the Big Break portal.
