The contest is easy to enter - you just have to own a home based business, spend a few minutes writing about what you do and who you help and then spread the word. I entered the contest about two weeks ago and have used Linked In, my opt-in email address list and contact lists from the organizations I participate in to get the word out "VOTE FOR ME!" (And I emailed my folks). The idea is to turn the spotlight on one of the fastest growing business segments in America- the home based business owner. There are ten categories - from financial to yummiest and voting takes place through September 30. Have you heard about the StartupNation contest to recognize the Top 100 Home Based Business Owners?
I recently had the pleasure of chatting with StartupNation's founder, Rich Sloan about the contest and home based businesses and this is what he had to say:
Rich, as the founder of StartupNation, what inspired you to create this online resource for home based businesses?
I know what it's like running a business from home. Did it for over 8 years in a windowless basement. We know that home-based entrepreneurs are often overlooked as a sector of the business marketplace and we wanted to change that. The StartupNation Home-Based 100 is our way of celebrating the achievements and fascinating endeavors of the people behind the best of America's 19 million home-based businesses.
As more traditional marketing is being replaced or supplemented with e-marketing strategies are you seeing an increase in web marketing home based businesses?
Web marketing is white hot! The web is where the future is, at least in part, for every business in existence. I truly believe that. And anyone good at offering marketing assistance to maximize the power and punch of the web is sittin' pretty!
What role is social media playing in helping home based businesses connect with prospects?
Social media connects you to customers, collaborators, sources of inspiration, and chips away at those feelings of isolation that plague many a home-based business warrior.
Emily Borders (SuN associate from whom I first learned of the contest via Twitter) shared a fact that home based businesses aren't getting the same media play (i.e. INC 500 businesses) as other start ups. What do you recommend owners of home based businesses do to create media buzz for their business?
First and foremost, home-based entrepreneurs need to start looking at themselves as the smart, savvy, cut-above people that they mostly are. No more casting your gaze to the ground in the midst of bigger players or brick-and-mortar businesses. This is a new era in which it's actually smarter and preferred to run a business from home. Second, leverage the colorful aspects of what you do to appeal to the media. Thirdly, position yourself as an authority in your field and let the media and trade associations know you're standing by. Lastly, be remarkable. Stealing this from Seth Godin, but it's so true. Do something that's special, memorable, that goes an extra mile and converts people from bystanders into believers. If you can wow them, they'll end up being your buzz machine.
What benefits have you seen for prior winners of the Top 100 contest?
· Being named a winner put my business on the map.
· I'm taking orders from every state in the country, I can't believe it!
· My phone is ringing and emails are streaming in at the same time.
· I've started franchising my business.
· We've grown over 550% since being named a winner, in spite of the recession.
· We grew so much, we were forced to get a brick-and-mortar office.
Those are significant benefits! Keep your fingers crossed for me (better yet, vote - see the box on the left?) and good luck to all of the participants. Thanks so much for your time, Rich, and most importantly, thanks for the recognition of home based businesses and the contribution they make.

