Columbia Engineering Student Envisions a New Way for Businesses and Clients to Connect



Stan German, a sophomore computer science major at Columbia University, has created a social network aimed at helping small businesses and creative professionals to connect with their prospective clients. The website, myBigz.com (http://www.mybigz.com), is a free web application which allows businesses and creative professionals to showcase their work by creating business or professional profiles and form "friendships" with potential clients.

Although myBigz functions as a searchable business and creative professional directory, the website aims to foster a sense of community. The local community page offers a forum for all registered members and visitors who are interested in a particular location. Visitors can create free professional, business, or individual profiles which are quickly indexed by most major search engines (e.g. Google, Yahoo). By creating a profile, members can interact with other members and stay abreast of local business promotions and events.

Businesses and creative professionals can further increase their visibility in the community by taking advantage of a variety of features, including: uploading photographs, web-clips and mp3s. In addition, members can post documents such as news stories, reviews, menus, or post resumes and references. All business profiles feature maps that provide point and click directions. Most importantly, customers and clients in a business's friendship network are automatically updated of any profile changes such as new printable special offer coupons, upcoming events and sales.

Right now a number of businesses have joined and Stan hopes that many more local businesses and professionals join the network. Eventually, he hopes that myBigz.com (http://www.mybigz.com) could help small businesses nationwide reach their target consumers.





Columbia Engineering Student Envisions a New Way for Businesses and Clients to Connect