Web User Guide
www.jumpstartcommunity.com
Š JumpStart Small Business Community Inc. All rights reserved.
Jump in. Boost your business.
Get in touch Email : info@jumpstartcommunity.com
Tell a Friend Have you got a friend or colleague who is self–employed or who owns a small business? Tell them about JumpStart!
Voice : In Toronto : 416.421.1255 Toll-free : 1.866.662.6607 Fax : 416.421.9813
If we all make growing the community our goal, everyone will get that much more out of it. The more members we have, the greater the benefits. And as an added incentive, current members get a discount on next year’s membership for referring a friend to JumpStart, when that person joins.
Address : JumpStart Small Business Community Inc. 1543 Bayview Avenue, Suite 513 Toronto, ON M4G 3B5
Just make sure you’re logged in so we know that you’re the person who sent the referral. That way you’ll be sure to get the referral credits.
INFOBAY Email a friend Let your fellow small business owners and entrepreneurs know about the great new community you’ve discovered. Click on “Tell a Friend” to send an automatic email that lists all the benefits of joining JumpStart.
2 • Web User Guide v1.0
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 15
Resources
Table of contents Click with other small business owners online .......................................................................... 4
JumpStart is your resource for all things business and balance related. That’s why we have a special section on our site that’s dedicated to helping you learn. With book reviews, letters to the editor, how–to articles, and business and lifestyle tips, it’s a healthy mix of the information you need to help you achieve success and balance in your life.
Getting started ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Creating My JumpStart ........................................................................................................................ 8 Our Community ...................................................................................................................................... 9
INFOBAY Get involved The Resource area is always evolving. We’re constantly looking for new and interesting ideas to make it relevant to your needs. Have an idea for an article? Tell us about it. If you’re a Showcase Member, select “Be an Expert” to find out how you can propose your own article or column.
14 • Web User Guide v1.0
Send in your stuff All letters, submissions, book reviews and articles go through our site editor. If you’d like to write an opinion or a how–to piece, get in touch with her at editor@jumpstartcommunity.com. She’d love to hear from you.
Activities & Workshops ....................................................................................................................... 10 Member Marketplace .......................................................................................................................... 11 Sponsor Marketplace ........................................................................................................................... 13 Resources ................................................................................................................................................. 14 Tell a Friend .............................................................................................................................................. 15
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 3
Click with other small business owners online 2 5
6
7
11 7
8
3 9
10
13
www.jumpstartcommunity.com is the hub of our community. It’s a dynamic online resource that’s all about making your life easier, boosting your business — and helping you find the balance and success you need. Use it to connect with other members, get info about our sponsors, find out about events in your area, or just browse around and get inspired. Take advantage of it! The site is filled with business and lifestyle information, contacts, savings and more. And check back regularly — just like your business, it’s always evolving, so you never know what great new idea we’ll be introducing next.
1
Using the Sponsor Marketplace Navigating the Project Marketplace Post. Posting projects is free for members. Select “Post a Project” to submit your project description and contact info. Please note that only projects appropriate to JumpStart and its members will be posted. Search. To search for a project or contract, select a field that matches your experience, or choose “All” to see all available postings. If there’s something that you’re interested in, bid on it. Bid. Send your information, along with your rate or a cost estimate, to the email provided on the project posting. Please note: JumpStart is not involved in the process of matching candidates with employers.
12
4 • Web User Guide v1.0
4
To find a JumpStart sponsor, key in the type of business you’d like to search, or select “All” to see a complete list. Ongoing offers, exclusively for JumpStart members Search the Sponsor Marketplace to see exclusive offers on lifestyle and business products and services. Check often for new sponsors and special or seasonal promotions from existing sponsors.
INFOBAY What is a JumpStart sponsor? It’s a national or regional company that has agreed to help out our members through exclusive offers and VIP opportunities.
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 13
Using the Member Marketplace (cont’d) Create your listing
INFOBAY Need help making your listing look and sound great? Everyone on the JumpStart team is a self–employed professional. If you’re looking for design help, technical assistance or copywriting services, go to “About Us” and select “JumpStart Team” to find people who can help.
12 • Web User Guide v1.0
Once you’ve filled out your profile, you will automatically be taken to a page where you can create your member listing. You will be prompted with easy step–by–step instructions on how to upload all of your directory items. Simply follow the steps on your “My Listing” page to include all the necessary information. To upload graphics, use “Browse” to find them on your computer. Graphics will automatically be sized to fit our site specifications. If you would rather complete your listing later, or would like to change something, simply go to “My JumpStart” and select “My Listing.” You can update or modify your information anytime.
For listing specifications, please refer to the enclosed info sheet. You’ll also find a printable version of the specs at www. jumpstartcommunity.com/marketplacespec. aspx. Please note that your listing may be edited for content or style, in order to stay consistent with the quality of the overall site. If you have questions, please contact us at memberservices@jumpstartcommunity.com. Searching the Member Marketplace To find a JumpStart member, select the city and business type, or choose “All” to see all member listings.
Here’s what you’ll find online 1 Member login. Enter your username and password to access the areas of the site available exclusively to JumpStart members.
5 My JumpStart. Fill out your JumpStart profile to create a customized home page with content that is meaningful to you.
2 About Us.
6 Our Community.
Find out about our values and philosophies — and the benefits of being a member. Learn about all the entrepreneurs involved in the building of JumpStart Community.
Interact with your fellow JumpStart members using forums, bulletin boards and more.
3 Contact Us.
Get in touch by phone, email, fax or mail. We’ll get back to you within 48 hours. 4 Terms and conditions/privacy.
Please read through this info to understand our legal and privacy policies.
7 Activities and Workshops.
Find everything from member–run business seminars to lifestyle–based activities in your area. 8 Member Marketplace. Search a comprehensive directory of all JumpStart members.
9 Sponsor Marketplace. Find out about JumpStart sponsors and their offers to members. 10 Resources. Short, informative slices of expertise from our members on topics you want to read about. 11 Tell a Friend. Send an email about JumpStart to another small business owner. 12 Sitemap. If you have trouble finding anything, check the site map. 13 Search. To make it easier to find things on our site, our smart search looks for the word you’ve typed in, plus similar key words.
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 5
Getting started
Using the Member Marketplace Certain features of the site are reserved for members. To be able to access everything, you’ll need to key in your unique username and password (you received them in the email that confirmed your JumpStart registration). If you’d like to change your password to something that’s easier to remember, go into “My JumpStart” and choose the “My Profile” option. Then click on the “Password” button, and enter your new password. If you have any trouble, get in touch at support@jumpstartcommunity.com.
Tell us what you think Members want to know what you have to say about a specific workshop or activity. Select “Feedback” and use “Submit” to post your comments, or choose “View” to see what other people have said.
Use the Member Marketplace to search for other members (both Showcase and non– Showcase Members), find out more about their businesses — and what they’re offering their fellow JumpStart members. Your member listing
Start them off right with JumpStart Jr. Looking for a way to get your family involved? JumpStart Jr. is all about helping your kids learn the value of an entrepreneurial spirit — and the benefits of a balanced lifestyle. Look in the Activities section for more information.
This is your chance to advertise to other JumpStart members. Include your logo, a brief overview of your company (keep it under 15 words) and your contact info. If you have a special offer for JumpStart members, don’t forget to mention it. If you’re a Showcase Member, your listing will be a little more detailed. In addition to your logo and company info, you can include advertising, testimonials and more.
6 • Web User Guide v1.0
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 11
Activities & Workshops JumpStart offers a variety of workshops and activities. Workshops tend to be more business–focused, with topics that help with facets of your business, like HR Basics, Tax Tips for Small Business and Marketing 101. Activities are more about lifestyle. You’ll find things like cooking classes, rock climbing groups, book clubs — great ideas that help you have fun and find balance.
Find an activity or workshop
Fill out your profile
Now you’re ready to explore
Select “Search Activities” or “Search Workshops,” then choose the type that interests you. (Don’t forget to select your city.) If you want a list of everything that’s available, choose “All.”
Once you’re logged in, select “My Profile.” It’s a questionnaire that lets you tell us exactly what information and offers are relevant to you. Filling in your profile is an easy, step–by– step process. You can always select “All” if you want to check off everything in a section, or choose “None” to skip a specific category.
You’ve logged and in filled out your profile (or decided to save it until later).
Don’t see anything that you’d like to attend? Select “Request an Activity” or “Request a Workshop.” To take a look at what other members have asked for, select “View Requested Activities/Workshops.” Add your name to an activity that’s already been requested — it will show potential organizers which requests are the most relevant. If you’re a Showcase Member, you can also offer to run activities or workshops. It’s a great way to help other members — and get your name out to the community. Contact us at info@jumpstartcommunity.com to find out more.
10 • Web User Guide v1.0
Filling in your profile helps us understand what you and other members are interested in. The more information you give us, the more we can focus on getting sponsors who are most relevant to you. The information in your profile will be used to create a personalized home page for you. “My JumpStart” will have specific news about all the things you’re interested in, and a pre–populated calendar with all the events that apply to you.
It’s time to jump in!
INFOBAY What is an infobay? It’s where you’ll find interesting tidbits like upcoming events, info about Showcase Members, featured articles, reading recommendations, inspirational quotes and more.
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 7
Creating My JumpStart When you fill out your JumpStart profile, you’ll automatically create a customized JumpStart home page that has all the information you want to see at a glance. If you tell us you’re interested in marketing workshops, travel and yoga, those are the events, workshops, articles and offers your home page will contain. You’ll always see the latest info for the areas you’ve chosen as soon as you log in. Your My JumpStart page will also have a calendar populated with all the events that are relevant to you. But it will only appear once you’ve filled out your profile.
Our Community Don’t forget to check back with JumpStart’s main home page every once in a while to make sure you’re up to date on everything that’s happening in the community. To see the main JumpStart page, simply select the “Home” button in the navigation, or click on the JumpStart logo in the top left corner of the page.
This section is all about interacting with your fellow members. Use the forum to discuss issues and exchange ideas. Post announcements and/or requests for upcoming events on the bulletin board. A forum for your ideas Get advice. Post your opinion. Initiate a discussion. Talk to fellow small business owners about anything you want — business, lifestyle, family, community. The forum is your place to share and be heard. The bulletin board: an online source for events in your area If you’ve got an idea for an event in your area, this is where you should announce it. Need some help coming up with an idea for your business? Post a request for a brainstorming group. Nervous about hiring your first
8 • Web User Guide v1.0
employee? Post a request for an interview panel, and JumpStart members with HR experience will come to your aid. Let people know when and where you’d like to meet (a neutral place like a coffee shop or restaurant is ideal). Make sure you include some sort of contact information in your post, and ask that people respond so you know that they are available and willing. Share your expertise by being a mentor Tell us if you want to help a small business owner who’s just starting out — or if you’ve just jumped in yourself and need some advice from someone more seasoned. Get the information you need on the site, and contact us at info@jumpstartcommunity.com to get involved.
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 9
Creating My JumpStart When you fill out your JumpStart profile, you’ll automatically create a customized JumpStart home page that has all the information you want to see at a glance. If you tell us you’re interested in marketing workshops, travel and yoga, those are the events, workshops, articles and offers your home page will contain. You’ll always see the latest info for the areas you’ve chosen as soon as you log in. Your My JumpStart page will also have a calendar populated with all the events that are relevant to you. But it will only appear once you’ve filled out your profile.
Our Community Don’t forget to check back with JumpStart’s main home page every once in a while to make sure you’re up to date on everything that’s happening in the community. To see the main JumpStart page, simply select the “Home” button in the navigation, or click on the JumpStart logo in the top left corner of the page.
This section is all about interacting with your fellow members. Use the forum to discuss issues and exchange ideas. Post announcements and/or requests for upcoming events on the bulletin board. A forum for your ideas Get advice. Post your opinion. Initiate a discussion. Talk to fellow small business owners about anything you want — business, lifestyle, family, community. The forum is your place to share and be heard. The bulletin board: an online source for events in your area If you’ve got an idea for an event in your area, this is where you should announce it. Need some help coming up with an idea for your business? Post a request for a brainstorming group. Nervous about hiring your first
8 • Web User Guide v1.0
employee? Post a request for an interview panel, and JumpStart members with HR experience will come to your aid. Let people know when and where you’d like to meet (a neutral place like a coffee shop or restaurant is ideal). Make sure you include some sort of contact information in your post, and ask that people respond so you know that they are available and willing. Share your expertise by being a mentor Tell us if you want to help a small business owner who’s just starting out — or if you’ve just jumped in yourself and need some advice from someone more seasoned. Get the information you need on the site, and contact us at info@jumpstartcommunity.com to get involved.
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 9
Activities & Workshops JumpStart offers a variety of workshops and activities. Workshops tend to be more business–focused, with topics that help with facets of your business, like HR Basics, Tax Tips for Small Business and Marketing 101. Activities are more about lifestyle. You’ll find things like cooking classes, rock climbing groups, book clubs — great ideas that help you have fun and find balance.
Find an activity or workshop
Fill out your profile
Now you’re ready to explore
Select “Search Activities” or “Search Workshops,” then choose the type that interests you. (Don’t forget to select your city.) If you want a list of everything that’s available, choose “All.”
Once you’re logged in, select “My Profile.” It’s a questionnaire that lets you tell us exactly what information and offers are relevant to you. Filling in your profile is an easy, step–by– step process. You can always select “All” if you want to check off everything in a section, or choose “None” to skip a specific category.
You’ve logged and in filled out your profile (or decided to save it until later).
Don’t see anything that you’d like to attend? Select “Request an Activity” or “Request a Workshop.” To take a look at what other members have asked for, select “View Requested Activities/Workshops.” Add your name to an activity that’s already been requested — it will show potential organizers which requests are the most relevant. If you’re a Showcase Member, you can also offer to run activities or workshops. It’s a great way to help other members — and get your name out to the community. Contact us at info@jumpstartcommunity.com to find out more.
10 • Web User Guide v1.0
Filling in your profile helps us understand what you and other members are interested in. The more information you give us, the more we can focus on getting sponsors who are most relevant to you. The information in your profile will be used to create a personalized home page for you. “My JumpStart” will have specific news about all the things you’re interested in, and a pre–populated calendar with all the events that apply to you.
It’s time to jump in!
INFOBAY What is an infobay? It’s where you’ll find interesting tidbits like upcoming events, info about Showcase Members, featured articles, reading recommendations, inspirational quotes and more.
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 7
Getting started
Using the Member Marketplace Certain features of the site are reserved for members. To be able to access everything, you’ll need to key in your unique username and password (you received them in the email that confirmed your JumpStart registration). If you’d like to change your password to something that’s easier to remember, go into “My JumpStart” and choose the “My Profile” option. Then click on the “Password” button, and enter your new password. If you have any trouble, get in touch at support@jumpstartcommunity.com.
Tell us what you think Members want to know what you have to say about a specific workshop or activity. Select “Feedback” and use “Submit” to post your comments, or choose “View” to see what other people have said.
Use the Member Marketplace to search for other members (both Showcase and non– Showcase Members), find out more about their businesses — and what they’re offering their fellow JumpStart members. Your member listing
Start them off right with JumpStart Jr. Looking for a way to get your family involved? JumpStart Jr. is all about helping your kids learn the value of an entrepreneurial spirit — and the benefits of a balanced lifestyle. Look in the Activities section for more information.
This is your chance to advertise to other JumpStart members. Include your logo, a brief overview of your company (keep it under 15 words) and your contact info. If you have a special offer for JumpStart members, don’t forget to mention it. If you’re a Showcase Member, your listing will be a little more detailed. In addition to your logo and company info, you can include advertising, testimonials and more.
6 • Web User Guide v1.0
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 11
Using the Member Marketplace (cont’d) Create your listing
INFOBAY Need help making your listing look and sound great? Everyone on the JumpStart team is a self–employed professional. If you’re looking for design help, technical assistance or copywriting services, go to “About Us” and select “JumpStart Team” to find people who can help.
12 • Web User Guide v1.0
Once you’ve filled out your profile, you will automatically be taken to a page where you can create your member listing. You will be prompted with easy step–by–step instructions on how to upload all of your directory items. Simply follow the steps on your “My Listing” page to include all the necessary information. To upload graphics, use “Browse” to find them on your computer. Graphics will automatically be sized to fit our site specifications. If you would rather complete your listing later, or would like to change something, simply go to “My JumpStart” and select “My Listing.” You can update or modify your information anytime.
For listing specifications, please refer to the enclosed info sheet. You’ll also find a printable version of the specs at www. jumpstartcommunity.com/marketplacespec. aspx. Please note that your listing may be edited for content or style, in order to stay consistent with the quality of the overall site. If you have questions, please contact us at memberservices@jumpstartcommunity.com. Searching the Member Marketplace To find a JumpStart member, select the city and business type, or choose “All” to see all member listings.
Here’s what you’ll find online 1 Member login. Enter your username and password to access the areas of the site available exclusively to JumpStart members.
5 My JumpStart. Fill out your JumpStart profile to create a customized home page with content that is meaningful to you.
2 About Us.
6 Our Community.
Find out about our values and philosophies — and the benefits of being a member. Learn about all the entrepreneurs involved in the building of JumpStart Community.
Interact with your fellow JumpStart members using forums, bulletin boards and more.
3 Contact Us.
Get in touch by phone, email, fax or mail. We’ll get back to you within 48 hours. 4 Terms and conditions/privacy.
Please read through this info to understand our legal and privacy policies.
7 Activities and Workshops.
Find everything from member–run business seminars to lifestyle–based activities in your area. 8 Member Marketplace. Search a comprehensive directory of all JumpStart members.
9 Sponsor Marketplace. Find out about JumpStart sponsors and their offers to members. 10 Resources. Short, informative slices of expertise from our members on topics you want to read about. 11 Tell a Friend. Send an email about JumpStart to another small business owner. 12 Sitemap. If you have trouble finding anything, check the site map. 13 Search. To make it easier to find things on our site, our smart search looks for the word you’ve typed in, plus similar key words.
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 5
Click with other small business owners online 2 5
6
7
11 7
8
3 9
10
13
www.jumpstartcommunity.com is the hub of our community. It’s a dynamic online resource that’s all about making your life easier, boosting your business — and helping you find the balance and success you need. Use it to connect with other members, get info about our sponsors, find out about events in your area, or just browse around and get inspired. Take advantage of it! The site is filled with business and lifestyle information, contacts, savings and more. And check back regularly — just like your business, it’s always evolving, so you never know what great new idea we’ll be introducing next.
1
Using the Sponsor Marketplace Navigating the Project Marketplace Post. Posting projects is free for members. Select “Post a Project” to submit your project description and contact info. Please note that only projects appropriate to JumpStart and its members will be posted. Search. To search for a project or contract, select a field that matches your experience, or choose “All” to see all available postings. If there’s something that you’re interested in, bid on it. Bid. Send your information, along with your rate or a cost estimate, to the email provided on the project posting. Please note: JumpStart is not involved in the process of matching candidates with employers.
12
4 • Web User Guide v1.0
4
To find a JumpStart sponsor, key in the type of business you’d like to search, or select “All” to see a complete list. Ongoing offers, exclusively for JumpStart members Search the Sponsor Marketplace to see exclusive offers on lifestyle and business products and services. Check often for new sponsors and special or seasonal promotions from existing sponsors.
INFOBAY What is a JumpStart sponsor? It’s a national or regional company that has agreed to help out our members through exclusive offers and VIP opportunities.
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 13
Resources
Table of contents Click with other small business owners online .......................................................................... 4
JumpStart is your resource for all things business and balance related. That’s why we have a special section on our site that’s dedicated to helping you learn. With book reviews, letters to the editor, how–to articles, and business and lifestyle tips, it’s a healthy mix of the information you need to help you achieve success and balance in your life.
Getting started ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Creating My JumpStart ........................................................................................................................ 8 Our Community ...................................................................................................................................... 9
INFOBAY Get involved The Resource area is always evolving. We’re constantly looking for new and interesting ideas to make it relevant to your needs. Have an idea for an article? Tell us about it. If you’re a Showcase Member, select “Be an Expert” to find out how you can propose your own article or column.
14 • Web User Guide v1.0
Send in your stuff All letters, submissions, book reviews and articles go through our site editor. If you’d like to write an opinion or a how–to piece, get in touch with her at editor@jumpstartcommunity.com. She’d love to hear from you.
Activities & Workshops ....................................................................................................................... 10 Member Marketplace .......................................................................................................................... 11 Sponsor Marketplace ........................................................................................................................... 13 Resources ................................................................................................................................................. 14 Tell a Friend .............................................................................................................................................. 15
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 3
Get in touch Email : info@jumpstartcommunity.com
Tell a Friend Have you got a friend or colleague who is self–employed or who owns a small business? Tell them about JumpStart!
Voice : In Toronto : 416.421.1255 Toll-free : 1.866.662.6607 Fax : 416.421.9813
If we all make growing the community our goal, everyone will get that much more out of it. The more members we have, the greater the benefits. And as an added incentive, current members get a discount on next year’s membership for referring a friend to JumpStart, when that person joins.
Address : JumpStart Small Business Community Inc. 1543 Bayview Avenue, Suite 513 Toronto, ON M4G 3B5
Just make sure you’re logged in so we know that you’re the person who sent the referral. That way you’ll be sure to get the referral credits.
INFOBAY Email a friend Let your fellow small business owners and entrepreneurs know about the great new community you’ve discovered. Click on “Tell a Friend” to send an automatic email that lists all the benefits of joining JumpStart.
2 • Web User Guide v1.0
www.jumpstartcommunity.com • 15
Web User Guide
www.jumpstartcommunity.com
Š JumpStart Small Business Community Inc. All rights reserved.
Jump in. Boost your business.