Online exchange for small business owners

It seems fair to say that most small business owners are perpetually in search of two things: 1) new customers, and 2) budget-friendly deals. Aiming to help them get both is Bizual, a new online community and B2B exchange aimed specifically at small businesses and freelancers. Currently in invitation-only beta, Bizual begins by asking members to create at least one offer exclusively for the other members of the site—a discount, a free sample or something else that’s not available to the world at large. Other business owners in search of such a product or service can then take advantage of that offer, thereby getting a special deal themselves while providing the offer creator with a new customer. The offers that are voted most popular get elevated to the top of the list, but members can also search by location and keyword; in addition, they can browse or take what the site calls a “lucky dip.” Members can leave feedback for each other on the site, and a rating system provides reputation rankings. UK-based Bizual is free to use during its beta period, but will switch to a subscription basis after that time, with account levels ranging from a free package to an unlimited one for about USD 99. Increasing numbers of consumers are becoming sellsumers every day, as our sister site notes in this month’s briefing, making the appeal of a site like Bizual even broader than before. It’s a win-win for everyone involved; one to try out or localize for your neck of the woods…?