SmallBusinessNewz

If technology has played an important role in your company's success, it's time to tell the world - or at least Dell and the NFIB - about it.  These two entities have partnered for the sixth time to offer the Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Awards.

Businesses in 13 countries with fewer than 100 employees are eligible to apply through April 3rd.  Once it's all over, national winners will get $25,000 in Dell products and services, along with lifetime NFIB memberships.  One global award winner will receive a full $50,000 worth of goodies and some other assorted odds and ends.

As for what leads up to that point, the contest rules explain that entrants "must 1) describe the innovative ways they use IT in their business to better serve customers (20% of score); 2) show how it has led to significant improvements in the experience of their customers (40% of score); 3) show how they use IT to better manage business operations (15% of score); 4) show how the innovative use of IT has affected the success of the business i.e. growth, profitability, cost reductions (15% of score); 5) tell how the company's use of IT creates a competitive advantage (10% of score)."

Then an array of small business experts and Dell employees will act as judges.

If you've got any spare time at all, it'd be smart to go ahead and fill out an application.  Entering the contest is free, and compared to something like the lottery, the odds of winning the Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award are pretty good.