b5media

January 7th,2008

We Have A Winner!

By Kelly Erb

After eight weeks of tough challenges and insanely brilliant responses, we have a winner in our first ever b5media Business Channel Apprentice Contest.

But first, a recap…

Week One began with our blogs divided into two teams, the Aces and the Pros.  The Aces, led by team leader Miranda Marquit at Yielding Wealth, won our first challenge with their recommendations for spending $500 for a new business.

Not to be outdone, the Pros led by team leader Celine Roque of Pimp Your Work, bounced back in Week Two with their advice on avoiding bad PR when things go wrong.  It was to be their last win.

The Aces rolled through the next three challenges winning with entries explaining how to deal with the press, expanding a small business without breaking, and making the decision to buy or rent space for an existing (and growing) business.

After Week Five, the game changed.  The teams merged and it was every blog for itself.

Week Six challenged the bloggers to reveal the best business advice they’ve received.  Kristen, over at Biz Chicks Rule, took home top honors.

In Week Seven, Mary Emma at Home Biz Notes, was the winner for her heart winning and inspiring success story.

With competition down to the wire, Ren at Accounting Solver won Week Eight’s challenge with his recommendation for the “don’t miss post” on the b5media Business Channel.

That left only four blogs in the competition for the final challenge:  Accounting Solver, Greener Assets, Home Biz Notes and Successful Blog.  I knew I needed reinforcements for the final, so I called in the experts:  Channel Editors and gurus at b5media to be my secret guest judges.  Their votes, together with my votes and your comments were tallied to determine a winner.

The challenge was to explain why you blog.  The entries were terrific.  The competition was fierce.  The final votes were close.

And the winner of b5media’s first ever Business Channel Apprentice Contest is…  here.

Congrats to the winner and thanks to my phenomenal team at the Business Channel for playing along and working so hard at this contest.  I truly have an amazing assortment of writing talent and all around great people at the Business Channel.  Don’t believe me?  Check us out.