For the second year, Chicago-area small businesses are being recognized for their marketing success.Constant Contact®, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTCT) kicked off the 2012 Small Business Online Marketing Contest today in partnership with the Chicago City Treasurer's Office. The contest will award more than $12,000 in cash and prizes to businesses submitting winning entries in "Best Business Email Marketing" and "Best Overall Users of Social Media" categories, including "Rookie Awards."

"Small businesses play a tremendous role in the economic recovery, and we know that they spend a lot of their valuable time on marketing campaigns to make them look fantastic and to achieve great, measureable results," said Chicago City Treasurer Stephanie D. Neely. "This contest is an opportunity to recognize and reward their dedication to excellence in online marketing, and to spread the word about how powerful a successful campaign can be for a small business."

Small businesses based in Chicago can enter the contest from now until Friday, February 29, 2012. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Originality of Concept - Does the campaign introduce a great new idea? (i.e., an interesting promotion or cause).
  • Polish and Appeal - Is the campaign easy to use and aesthetically appealing?
  • Clarity - Is the campaign easy to understand?
  • Effectiveness - Was the campaign effective and did it drive results?

Constant Contact and the Chicago City Treasurer's office will also co-sponsor a series of free educational seminars as part of the contest focused on best practices in email marketing and social media marketing.

"Education is an essential part to being a successful marketer, and even the most marketing savvy small business or nonprofit will benefit from attending one of these seminars," said Steve Robinson, Chicago-based regional development director for Constant Contact. "The response to the last year's online marketing contest and series of free email marketing and social media seminars was tremendous. We hope that these initiatives will serve as a platform that helps drives successful marketing--and ultimately business success."

Additional Resources:

  • For information on the Chicago Small Business Online Marketing Contest, visit www.constantcontact.com/chicagocontest
  • For information or to register for one of the free educational seminars, visit www.constantcontact.com/local/illinois

About Constant Contact, Inc.

Constant Contact is revolutionizing the success formula for small organizations through affordable, easy-to-use Engagement Marketing? tools that help create and grow customer relationships. More than 450,000 small businesses, nonprofits, and associations worldwide rely on Constant Contact to drive ongoing customer dialogs through email marketing, social media marketing, event marketing, and online surveys. All Constant Contact products come with unrivaled KnowHow, education, and free coaching with a personal touch, including award-winning customer support.

Constant Contact and the Constant Contact Logo are registered trademarks of Constant Contact, Inc. All Constant Contact product names and other brand names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Constant Contact, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

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Media Contact:
Constant Contact
Erika Dornaus, 781-482-7039
pr@constantcontact.com
or
Investor Contact:
Constant Contact
Jeremiah Sisitsky, 339-222-5740
jsisitsky@constantcontact.com