On March 31, Grand Rapids businesswoman Donna Wilson will launch an innovative virtual business community that helps cash-strapped, schedule-tight small business owners generate market exposure, land new clients, and boost their bottom line – all through online networking and referrals.
Wilson's management consulting firm I-Core Networks and Milync Digital Design created the new virtual business community, MyCitySources.com. The site provides a variety of tools to help members reach their target market and other members who can refer them to potential clients.
"I do a lot of networking, and I noticed that the business people who need to network most don't have the time," Wilson says. "Everyone needs help advertising their business, but small businesses don't have the money to pay for it."
Members also get a blog site, a gallery page, member forums, and an internal web-based calendar for their business to use. An internal search engine allows users to search for businesses by name, profession, and location.
Other tools include an event calendar; a referral directory that's open to the public where business owners can refer others (or be referred); and an individual micro web site.
"The micro site allows business owners to develop a web presence for very little cost to see if it works for them," Wilson says.
MyCitySources.com currently has 50 members. One incentive to sign up now is a one-year free membership. When membership reaches 500, Wilson will assess a small membership fee to any newcomers.
"My mission is to be the wire that connects business leaders to whoever they need to connect to in order to create their success," Wilson says.
She plans to add polling and survey services, webinars, and training podcasts in future months.
Source: Donna Wilson, MyCitySources.com; Rich Zeck, Frenz Coffee House
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at
[email protected].
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