Branson and Yahoo! launch PPC ads giveaway
29 April 2005
Yahoo! and Virgin founder Richard Branson have teamed up for a new contest for small-business owners.
The search engine and the millionaire mogul are offering ten million free adverts on the Yahoo! network to the winning entrepreneur who "thinks big".
The contest runs from April 28th to May 20th and is open to US-based bosses with fewer than 99 employees that operate a website featuring content related to their business. However, entrepreneurs in the adult entertainment, gambling or travel-related businesses are banned from entering.
Entrants to the Think Big contest will have their business plan evaluated in a three-round process and entries will be judged on the novelty of the business, its ability to attract a national audience, the design and navigability of the website, its ability to generate and convert traffic into customers and an essay offering a business plan.
Mr Branson, who founded Virgin Atlantic Airways and Virgin record stores, said: "I've succeeded in business with big ideas and big exposure. Virgin started out with only three people and grew to become a global company through unique advertising and marketing opportunities."
"Yahoo! created the Think Big contest to offer a business owner a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take their business to the next level by leveraging the power of the Yahoo! network," said Todd Daum, vice president of Yahoo! Search Marketing. "We are honoured to have Sir Richard Branson, one of the world's most successful businessmen, help us to select a winner that truly 'thinks big.'"
The pool of candidates will be narrowed to 100 semi-finalists, who will undergo a second round judged by Yahoo!'s search marketing representatives, narrowing the field to five top semi-finalists. Mr Branson will evaluate the final five and select the winner, who will receive ten million advertising impressions on Yahoo!'s network - eight million on Yahoo! sponsored search and two million banner ads on the Yahoo! network.
According to the US Small Business Administration (SBA), there are currently 25 million small businesses in the United States, representing approximately 99.7 per cent of all employers.
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