Northwest Online Entrepreneur Networking Founders are Helping to Change the World

By Lori Richardson

Northwest Bureau Chief
(Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Alaska)

In the rainy, cloudy, sometimes dreary Seattle area, a phenomenon has been building, which is bringing isolated entrepreneurs out and socializing in coffee houses and venues around the Northwest. More importantly, it is based on a platform that works online and in-person all over the world, in 80+ countries.

Every entrepreneur and micro business owner should join Biznik, and I will tell you why. The design of this platform and the thought behind it is totally incredible. I know that even after I explain a bit more about the power of Biznik, you may be skeptical or just may not get it. That's ok, I suggest you check it out and learn a little about Biznik each and every week. It is worth the time.

First, I'll offer some full disclosure. I am crazy about Biznik, and I am a Biznik Ambassador, which means that in my locale, I host events and spread the word of this platform.

Here is one example of why I love Biznik: If you click on one of the Biznik links, and if you join, you'll join through my name. You can scour the site to see that this is not a trick or any sort of financial gain for me as an affiliate, but instead, Biznik rewards referrers by giving you a "badge" showing how many people you have referred to join this no cost site. I think that is amazing, because I'd rather be known as a connector than make a buck or two from referring anyone - and I love watching my connector number grow.

Another example of why I recommend Biznik to others: they have dozens of testimonials from members who tout how greatly beneficial this community is. I see it as a game-changer, once the word gets out. It is the best-kept secret outside of the Northwest.

A Biznik Ambassador is someone most anywhere in the world (outside of Seattle) who understands the Biznik way, which is a collaborative approach to business building, and who would like to share the joy of Biznik by holding a couple of events each month in your locale. Why? In the Seattle community, there are over 6,500 Bizniks - most all solo or indie-preneurs. Some are creatives, as you'll see, but many are service providers who don't call this group their target market - but they do gain benefit of participating, getting referrals, and connecting to potential alliance partners this way. Restaurant and café' owners should join - as forward-thinking Russell Lowell did recently, because they can tap into their local community by posting special offers and promotions.

In the last year and a half, I have learned about video, SEO, social networking, financials, and dozens of real business topics in addition to many sessions where the heart or soul in business are involved. Biznik touts collaboration - it is in their manifesto.

More facts about Biznik, straight from founder Dan McComb:

Biznik doubled in size and in revenue in first 6 months of this year. We currently have 17,000 members in 118 countries. Biznik is currently growing at the rate of 50 new members/day.

93 percent of Biznik's supporting members (they pay $10 or $24/mo) rank in the top results on Google for either their name or keywords.

Other interesting trivia: Lara (Biznik's other co-founder) and I were honored by Seattle Business Monthly, which included us in their top 25 innovators for 2008 list in the October issue.

We are looking for Ambassadors in communities outside of Seattle. And we are set to launch a Groups feature - that will allow any networking group to use Biznik's platform for their group - by Thanksgiving.

So don't take MY word for it….. try it yourself. And send every entrepreneur you know to this site, it could dramatically help them grow their business, increase revenues, become more innovative, and introduce them to local (and far-away) amazing connections.

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Lori Richardson is a Dun & Bradstreet blogger, writing for AllBusiness and Hoover's. She is President of Score More Sales, a sales effectiveness consultancy based in Seattle, WA.