Today, Smibs has entered Full Public Beta mode for all of our applications.  Essentially, this means anyone is free to sign-up and will have access to our software in seconds.  Here at Smibs, we are excited for this release, as it is a natural progression toward our full launch planned for early in 2009. 

For those who have been hesitant to sign-up for our prior invite-only beta modes, now is a perfect time to try our software and see how it can help you. Our software was designed for small businesses to handle customer relationships, sales activities and networking with other professionals. In addition to small business owners, we are seeing a large segment of our clients using our applications Doorbell and Personal Contacts to organize work schedules, school projects and personal activities. SmibsNet is quickly becoming an online source for employers to search and contact skilled professionals for employment.

For those of you already with SmibsNet accounts, we have added some cool features. SmibsNet is now live and available on Smibs.com.  This means you can search and browse other profiles without logging in.  As well, all profiles are now searchable by search engines, which means more exposure for you and your company.

We are constantly looking for improvements and suggestions from our end-users so don’t be shy to send us a comment or question to support@smibs.com. Thanks to all of our current users and supporters, see you on SmibsNet!

Christian: Hi Elisabeth, do you have some time for an intern-to-intern interview?

Elisabeth: Sure Christian!  Anything for a fellow intern.

Great.  What is your role here at Smibs?

Well, I’m what they call a “New Media Intern”.  Basically my day involves producing SmibsTV and taking care of video content on the web here at Smibs.

You have routinely turned down my requests for a dinner meeting.  Why is that?

The problem is that I usually don’t accept dinners at McDonalds. It’s not you, I swear.

So if we were to go to dinner together, what nearby restaurant would you select?

Ummm… I lied when I said it wasn’t about you.

What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of work?

My hobbies are broad and random.  I can usually be found in a pilates or dance class or having a glass of Merlot with girlfriends.  I’m also crazy into the outdoors and love skiing and camping.  Although, I am afraid of bears.

What is the idea behind SmibsTV?

As I see it, SmibsTV is a medium to showcase successful small businesses so that likeminded individuals can gain tips and insight about entrepreneurship.

Do you have a favorite interview or episode?

Christian!  That’s like picking between children and I love them all. 

You and I both recently graduated from the University of Alberta’s school of Business.  Why do you think your GPA was so much better then mine?

I believe it’s due to the negative correlation between alcohol intake and grades.

You and I often talk about travel, where is the next destination you would like to see?

I’ve always wanted to travel to Egypt.

Would you like to go together?

Uh…(uncomfortable silence)…sure, you free in 2068?

I’ll keep my calendar open. Thanks for the interview and bruising my ego.

Hard thing to bruise.

Here at Smibs, we are always on the look out for innovative new business practices, but what you don’t know is that we are also on the look out for generically named magazines spelled out entirely in capital letters.  Enter: GOOD magazine, founded by Ben Goldhirsh.  The surname may sound familiar because Ben is the son of Bernie Goldhirsh, the creator of the highly influential (and also generically named) Inc. magazine. Ben’s GOOD magazine focuses on socially conscious issues, sustainable living and politics.

What makes GOOD innovative or different?  Well for starters, Ben gives away all the proceeds from the subscription-based magazine to a charitable organization of your choice. Since the 2006 launch, GOOD has yet to break even, let alone post a profit. The company has done a lot for charities and non-profits and to date has already given away over $850 000 to these institutions.  GOOD’s website is also host to a rich variety of web-based content including a regular video newscast, an impressive community site and a decent library of current events based mini-documentaries.

GOOD has been criticized as being ‘too idealistic’ in their business model. I think they are quite savvy. Giving away their subscription base to charity could be considered a marketing strategy. They receive priceless public relations coverage from the media and the consumer feels like they have financially contributed to a worthy cause. This personifies GOOD magazine as selfless contributor to charities.  In reality, subscriptions account for very little income for most magazines where as most income comes from advertising dollars. So to recap, GOOD gains legitimacy as a philanthropist from both the media and the consumer while actually contributing a very small percentage of total income to charities. That being said, I feel that GOOD magazine should be recognized for what it is (i.e.: a very entertaining magazine with great web content) and not for what it wants to be (i.e.: Robin Hood).

(Editors Note: Ben Goldhirsh was recently interviewed on CBC’s ‘The Hour’.  Check out the interview here)

Recently, I received a forwarded email from a friend entitled “The $11.00 House”.  I thought that maybe I would see a picture of some random homeless type with a cardboard box house.  I clicked on it, expecting a cardboard structure, with a cardboard mailbox and a cardboard welcome mat.  Instead, I see a beautifully renovated historic two-story house with an eleven-dollar price tag.

David Stockburger, a former lawyer, has decided to create a contest where a worthy recipient would get his recently restored house for the price tag of eleven dollars.  In addition, the people who enter must also provide a reason why they should own the house.  Based on a minimum of 25000 entries, the contest would net David and his wife Ester a reasonable market rate for the house.  Here is the catch: David will close down the contest and refund all the entry fees unless the minimum of 25000 entries is reached by the December 31, 2008 closing date.

As of November 22, the contest has received a paltry 156 entries. I am not entirely sure why the contest has received so few submissions. The contest itself has also received good publicity with local coverage on radio and television new casts.  I suspect the written submission may deter some people, as they deem themselves ‘unworthy’ of being given a home for such a low cost.

Sadly, I doubt that David and Ester will reach the minimum required entries.  Personally, I love the idea of the contest and I think it shows a lot of innovation and nerve to have attempted it. I am somewhat reminded of another contest, where a man traded a paper clip for a house. I am not sure if you will see a new trend develop in this method of creatively selling property, but given the current housing market I wouldn’t be overly surprised.  Check out their website to find out more about the houses’ story.

Christian: Hey Alvin, I want to start this interview the right way but I am afraid I have some pretty bad news for you.

Alvin: I can handle it.

Okay, this is hard for me to tell you.  I think that someone, possibly me, has eaten your lunch out of the fridge.

Are you sure it was mine?  There are lots of left-overs in there.

I am pretty sure it was yours; it had your name on it.

You aren’t serious.  You are joking around, right?

First question, what is your role here at Smibs?

I am a software developer on contract for a secret project.

What drew you to computer programming?

I loved that there was this discipline that combined creativity with logic.  I also love new technology and innovations.

You now live in Edmonton, but you came here by way of Calgary.  How did it feel to cheer for a hockey team that actually won games over the last couple of years?

I was cheering for the Calgary Stampeders, Grey Cup champions.  What happened to the Oilers last game versus Detroit? Oilers winning?  That was so last century.

You are in the process of creating new applications for Smibs.com, do you care to shed some light on what you are developing?

Bright lights focused on developers and their projects often impair productivity.  I can tell you that the product will have a slick user interface to help people bring their web content into the current century.

Forrest (Lead Programmer at Smibs) tells some pretty terrible programming jokes. Do you have a better programming joke then Forrest’s?

Did you hear the one about the blonde (male) programmer?  This is a family show so I won’t reveal the details online…

What sort of trends have you seen emerging in web applications over the past couple of years?

It’s all about the “me” generation now, developing networks of “peers” and “fans” worldwide.  If you are interested in iTouch toting gray nuns with raggedy anne dolls playing WoW to save souls, you can find it on the ‘net.  Everyone’s included just don’t dump on someone else’s fun.  

What are some of your hobbies?

I enjoy dancing, specifically the “Argentine Tango”.

In the ‘about’ section of Smibs.com, I labeled you as a ‘classically trained dancer’.  Is that label accurate, or should I change my policy of write first ask questions later?

It’s not accurate in the least.  I don’t have the cup, tights, or see through dance partners to do classical dance.

Maybe that’s something for your Christmas list?

I suppose so, sure.

Thanks for the interview Alvin.  Again, I am terribly sorry about whoever ate your lunch out of the fridge this morning.

I think we have established it was you.