A word from Melea:

People who you don’t necessarily know are looking for you. And they’re doing it either by asking a search engine, like Google, or asking their networks. Search and Social Media are the tools we use to find the information we want and the people we want to do business with. Can the people looking for you find your content?

Who Should Take This Class? You manage a website or own a business, a non-profit, are an artist, selling ______ online. Regardless, you need to know how search engines work. You need to learn how to get other, notable sites to point to your website, how to create search-friendly, relevant content, and how to make that content spread.

This class is five weeks. Optimize your site, optimizing your off-line content, and build strong back-linking relationships.In this class, you’ll learn:

• How Search Engines Work
• How to Optimize on-site content
• How to Create a Link-Building Strategy
• How to run a Pay-Per-Click Advertising Campaign
• What to Pay Attention to In Analytics
• How Search Engine Marketing Can Affect Your Business
• How to Do Keyword Research and Capitalize on the Results

For more information and to register for this class and others like it, click here.

Twitter users, rejoice! We're running a Twitter-only campaign in an effort to gain more followers and increase our website traffic. We're randomly giving out an Apple iPhone 4!

 How to enter:

1. Follow us on Twitter: @findthefabulous
2. Post our website url (www.seekingdesigners.com) on your blog or website somewhere visible.
3. Tweet us the url where we can see our link.
4. Retweet the following message:  I just entered to win an #apple iPhone4 with @findthefabulous and you can too! Details: http://bit.ly/9Lxhz0

Remember, you must do each step 1-4 to be eligible to win!  We will be announcing the winner on June 24th (when the iPhone 4 is released).

Contest Guidelines:

1. Make sure your tweets are public. If your tweets are private, we can't see them, which means you can't win.
2. iPhone 4 winner will receive an Apple giftcard in the amount of $200.

Good luck and happy tweeting!

Click here to see what you get with your SeekingDesigners.com standard membership.

Sign up before Monday and get these extras:

1) 1 FREE month-long feature on our homepage (a $200 advertising value).

2) An extra 13th month for free added to your year long subscription.

3) Free BLOGLIST link (your website posted on our blog, indefinitely).

All you have to do is sign up by Sunday May 9th, 2010 11:59 and you will get all this plus all the benefits of being a designer member of SeekingDesigners.com.

Email us if you have any questions or problems registering.

Become a member now and watch your business grow with us!

Not sure?  Read our designer testimonials from members who love being a part of SeekingDesigners.com.

1) Become an entrepreneur and pursue your business idea.

2) Learn how to start a business in New York City.

3) Reshape your business model to changes in the economy.

Do you need guidance on how to sustain or grow your business in the current economic climate? Are you interested in reviewing your business model? Then FastTrac GrowthVenture can prepare you with the tools and support to revise your business plan.

FastTrac GrowthVenture will teach you how to reshape your existing business. At the end of the program, you will have updated your business plan for strategic growth.

FastTrac GrowthVenture consists of:

• An 8-session classroom training held twice a week over 4 weeks (4-hours per session)
• One-on-one assistance from experienced entrepreneurs who will help you review ideas, assignments, and business plan
• Interactive presentations from successful entrepreneurs who can share their experience
• Connection to services that will help you operate and expand your business, including NYC Business Express to learn about the licenses and permits required for your business and NYC Business Solutions to get loan facilitation, legal, hiring and training assistance, and learn about incentives you may be eligible for

Who can apply for FastTrac GrowthVenture?
Growth Venture programs are offered to operating small businesses that have demonstrated market potential and financial stability. You are eligible for FastTrac GrowthVenture if you are a New York City resident with:

• A business that has been in operation for one or more years
• A business that has achieved sales targets and has demonstrated market potential
• A well thought out argument for how FastTrac GrowthVenture will benefit your company
• Access to a computer to complete assignments
• Commitment to attend all sessions (approximately 30 classroom hours) and complete prep work
• A business that specializes in manufacturing and technology (only applicable to next February course)

When and where is FastTrac GrowthVenture offered?
FastTrac GrowthVenture is offered on a monthly basis.

Dates for next FastTrac GrowthVenture:
(5PM- 9PM)
Thursday, April 8th
Monday, April 12th
Thursday, April 15th
Monday, April 19th
Thursday, April 22nd
Monday, April 26th
Thursday, April 29th
Monday, May 3rd

Location: Midtown Manhattan
The Levin Institute
116E 55th Street,
New York, New York 10022 

Future FastTrac GrowthVentures: Courses are offered on a monthly basis. New course schedules and applications are made available once the current applications are closed. Please check back for upcoming course dates.

How do you apply?
Please fill out and submit an online application only once to be considered for FastTrac course that begins on April 8th.

Application deadline:  Tuesday, March 16th at 2PM

Look who's using MyAppCreator.

Take a tour.

Build your app!

Over $10,000 worth of discounted Gift Certificates to designer brands and boutiques.

$25 Gift Certificates for only $10
$50 Gift Certificates for only $20
$75 Gift Certificates for only $30
$100 Gift Certificates for only $40
$250 Gift Certificates for only $100

Join for free now!

Want to market your designer products with ZERO out of pocket costs to your business?

Want to drive traffic to your website and move inventory?

Spendetta.com is a private shopping community that offers its members access to online gift certificates to designer brands and internet boutiques for less. 

Here’s how it works: 

   1. Shoppers find your profile on Spendetta.com.
   2. Shoppers buy a Gift Certificate for less ($25 for $10, $50 for $20, etc).
   3. Shoppers receive a Gift Code from Spendetta.
   4. Shoppers redeem the Gift Code at your ecommerce website.
   5. You increase sales with no excess marketing dollars spent.

Spendetta only makes money when you make money.  The best part: add whatever shopping restrictions you like to the gift certificates ("minimum purchase $50", "black tshirts only", etc).

If your business 1) includes an ecommerce site and 2) as ability to create and accept discount codes, Spendetta can help you.  

Apply for free:  http://www.spendetta.com/getlisted

*Spendetta.com is a sister site to SeekingDesigners.com.  Memberships to each are exclusive, non-contract and non-binding.

The New York Public Library in conjunction with its sponsor, Citi Foundation, is proud to announce the 1st Annual New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition for New York-based startup entrepreneurs with cash prizes totaling over $28,000. The New York StartUp! Business Plan Competition gives aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to bolster their business acumen. Entrants gain practical insights about starting and growing a business, while learning about the comprehensive small business resources at NYPL’s Science, Industry and Business Library (“SIBL”).

Click here for rules, regulations, deadlines and all that good stuff.

Manolucci

Manolucci primarily works with start-ups, mini majors, established designers and commercial brands.  Manolucci is ideal for product development, design and consulting services. They are limited to handbags, belts and wallets domestically but off-shore are capable of making anything like clothing, handbags, shoes and promotional products. 

If you can think it up, Manolucci can most likely make it.

Designers, call U.S. offices at 201.861.2259 to speak to a representative.  Manolucci is located in West New York, NJ about 5 minutes outside the Lincoln tunnel.  Ask for Vic!

For more info on Manolucci visit: http://www.manolucci.com/

Target Interact is a complete BPS (Business Process Services) company dedicated to creating custom solutions to best serve its clientele. Their current direction is working with small to large scale fashion companies on a la carte or front to back solutions.

Target Interact works with their clients every step of the way to make sure that they’re doing things just the way you’d like – and of course offering advice on best practices and ways to save money along the way.

Target Interact web design team is talented and skillful, creating amazing ecommerce websites like www.moodymamas.com, and www.rufskin.com.  TI works within the latest programming techniques to give you a high-end finished and functional site that will still pull in traffic from the search engines. Their clients usually pay for their sites many times over within the same year.

Should your sales and customer service and order fulfillment need a professional touch, TI offer 24/7 service and dedicated representatives committed to keeping your clients happy.  Their fulfillment services are performed five days per week to ensure timely delivery of your latest sales.

It’s not JUST the design or the platform. It’s the partnership and the experience.  It's about gaining new hand-holders and mentors.

To learn more about Target Interact visit: http://www.targetinteract.com/web or contact Michael at michaelmcbride@targetinteract.com or 917.445.6999.

Be sure to mention SeekingDesigners to take advantage of the holiday discount plan.