AnswerLab Recognized in top Small Company Workplaces Competition

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) May 26, 2011

AnswerLab, the nations leading firm with an exclusive focus on user experience research services, today announced that the company was named a finalist in the Inc. magazine and Winning Workplaces 2011 Top Small Company Workplaces competition. The contest recognizes the nations best small and mid-sized company work environments. AnswerLab was acknowledged for its financial success, excellent management, low turnover, flexible work arrangements, and employee satisfaction. All of AnswerLabs employees participated in the Competitions employee survey, and AnswerLab earned a 99% overall favorable rating.

At AnswerLab, we place a high priority on building a team devoted to providing our clients with trusted, objective user experience research, said Dan Clifford, Co-founder and Managing Partner of AnswerLab. As a professional service organization, we are particularly honored for being recognized by Winning Workplaces and Inc. magazine for keeping both our employees and our clients happy.

Amy Buckner, AnswerLab Co-founder and Managing Partner, added AnswerLab has to compete for great talent here in the Bay Area in this national contest, 14% of the winning Top Small Company Workplaces are from our area alone. That is why we continue to develop innovative ways to attract and retain the Bay Areas best user experience talent.

The Top Small Company Workplaces contest permits companies with up to 500 employees to compete. Winning Workplaces and Inc. received 427 applications for the competition. A national panel of experts in leadership and small to mid-sized business judged the finalists. Selections were based on specific metrics and qualitative assessments of the finalists' success in creating the kind of workplaces that engage employees and deliver bottom-line results. This years winners were announced in Inc. magazine.

About AnswerLab

AnswerLab delivers trusted customer insights that help the worlds leading brands build outstanding digital products and services. The company focuses exclusively on user experience research to understand what people see, do, think and feel when using web sites, mobile applications, and other digital products and services. AnswerLabs clients depend on their recommendations about product concepts, features, design and messaging to create more engaging digital experiences that drive results. Global market leaders select AnswerLab as their user experience research partner, including PayPal, Facebook, TIAA-CREF, Amazon.com, Walmart, Honda, Microsoft, Intuit, ESPN, FedEx, Genentech, eBay, and Harley Davidson. For more information about AnswerLab, please visit http://www.answerlab.com.

About Inc. Magazine

Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. magazine (http://www.inc.com) is the only major business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies that delivers real solutions for today's innovative company builders. With a total paid circulation of 708,450, Inc. provides hands-on tools and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing and technology.

About Winning Workplaces

Winning Workplaces (http://www.winningworkplaces.org) is an Evanston, IL-based not-for-profit, whose mission is to help the leaders of small and mid-sized organizations create great workplaces. Founded in 2001, Winning Workplaces serves as a clearinghouse of information on workplace best practices, provides seminars and workshops on workplace-related topics and inspires and awards top workplaces through its annual Top Small Company Workplaces initiative.

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Angel Investing Brings Money to Small Communities

Chicago, IL (Vocus) October 1, 2010

Currently in the U.S., angel investments contribute over 93 percent of all seed funding under $ 250,000 for small businesses, according to recent research. But this wasnt always the case.

Ten years ago, if a start-up in small town Missouri or Montana was looking for capital, their resources were limited. Most big money venture capitalists lived in California, New York or Boston, and tapping into those faraway funds was a lot harder if you didnt live in on the coasts and didnt access to industry power players. Big-time venture capitalists were rarely willing to take a gamble on a niche idea in a market they were completely unfamiliar with.

Nowadays, its possible to find angel investors not just across the US, but all over the world. Also, investors are more interested in the potential return than where the start-up is based as communication and travel have become so convenient and cheap. Access to these business angels has also become much easier. Websites like Angel Investment Network connect angel investors with entrepreneurs to create a mutually beneficial business relationship based on each partys criteria.

On these sites, a business entrepreneur from Arizona can list his business idea and the capital he needs and then take offers from business angels in New Hampshire or Illinois, anywhere near or far. Some angels initially put up $ 2,500, some $ 250,000 - the potential is endless.

A handful of these sites even specialize in regions, like the Midwest or New England, appealing to those angel investors who do prefer to invest in their local communities. Angels who prefer to take on a mentorship role can offer guidance to their invested start up business, whereas others will scour these listings looking for the greatest financial opportunities or the chance to invest in a potential technological advancement.

With the business angel sector having grown exponentially in the scarce-lending times of the recession, this new model of start-up funding is only expected to grow, making viable business ideas a reality in even the tiniest communities.

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Virtuoso Legal Marketing Launches a New Website & Web Design Services for Small Law Firms

Dickson, TN (PRWEB) November 02, 2011

Virtuoso Legal Company now offers complete website strategy services geared for the small law firm. From website design and hosting to maintenance and Internet marketing, they have it all under one roof. It is now no longer necessary for a law firm to work with separate companies to satisfy the requirements to have a well-designed, highly visible website that generates leads.

Founded in 2010, Virtuoso Legal Marketing is a sister company to Work Media LLC, which has been providing search engine optimization (SEO) services to companies of all sizes all over the United States since 2005. Unlike most other companies providing web design services to law firms, Virtuoso Legal Marketing started as an SEO company first, and the idea of generating website leads drives everything the company does.

In addition to website design and on-page SEO services, Virtuoso Legal Marketing can facilitate email marketing, pay per click (PPC) management, local search and Google Places optimization, complete link building services and custom programming.

It is not only its SEO orientation that sets Virtuoso Legal Marketing apart from other web design companies, but the core principles under which it operates: market exclusive service whereby the company will not promote firms that compete against its clients in the same markets and practice areas; no contract requirement; and all work is actually performed in-house by Internet marketing professionals who have years of experience working with law firms.

Contact: Jerry Work

Office: 615-675-8793

Toll Free: 800-281-2226

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Small Businesses Combine Christmas Parties to Cut Costs, Increase Fun

Durham, NC (PRWEB) November 19, 2008

Companies across the world are being hit by a bad economy and canceling holiday parties. There are good reasons not to cancel the party. Save costs by combining parties with another small business and plan entertainment that boost employee morale with employee awards certificates.

The news is full of big companies canceling parties. There's Morgan Stanley, Hearst, Barclays Capital, ABC News, American Express, CitiGroup, and even MTV. It's enough to kill any Christmas spirit.

Small businesses don't have to follow AIG's example by throwing a lavish party and letting someone else foot the bill. Larry Weaver, author and expert in planning fun company parties says its time to be creative.

The tip to combine parties was mentioned in the article, More the Merrier at Christmas, in New Zealand's Star Times. "Auckland-based New Zealand Corporate Events is helping smaller companies make the most of their Christmas party budget by organising combined functions for businesses wanting a little extra for their money," it reads.

Renting a place to hold the party, decorations, entertainment, and food can add up - and combining parties means splitting the bill. "Find a small business with a similar company culture or one that you already work with as a vendor or partner. See if you can combine holiday parties. Not only will this help cut costs, but it can help solidify relationships," said Weaver.

Benefits of Holding a Combined Holiday Party:

Cost savings
More networking opportunities
Bigger company party atmosphere
Higher quality location and food
Better entertainment
Shared party planning responsibilities

Another way to make the party better is to add humor. Weaver's new book Funny Employee Awards: Your Complete Guide to Organizing a Humorous, Entertaining, and Rewarding Recognition Ceremony, has funny certificates which can be framed and presented to employees.

"Giving out funny employee awards can be part entertainment, part morale booster at your holiday party. It gives employees a chance to get to know each other better, and it keeps the mood things light. My book is full of awards and ideas for small businesses to make the most of their company party this year," says Weaver.

About Larry Weaver:

Larry Weaver is a professional comedian and creator of the Funny Employee Awards Show - the company party where your employees are the stars. With nearly 20 years as both a corporate comedian and office worker, Larry brings a unique and refreshing perspective to workplace humor. The Funny Employee Awards blog has stories from successful or humorous office parties around the world.

To see samples of funny employee awards or to order the book, visit http://www.funawards.com/

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