If you are looking for a chamber to join – the Seattle Chamber is simply the best (even if you live in Bellevue).

BellevueBusinessJournal.com has joined with the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Microsoft Corporation for the “It’s Time for Business with Office 2010 Video Contest.”

Participation is easy. Simply follow three steps to enter:

1. Download a FREE trial version of Office 2010 and use it in your business.
2. Create a short video about your positive experience with Office 2010. Your video must be at least 30 seconds but no more than two minutes in length. Absolutely no video production experience is needed!
3. Complete the video contest submission form at itstimeforbusiness.com. Be sure to follow all the required steps.

Videos can demonstrate your favorite feature of Office 2010, show how Office 2010 improves your productivity, or explain how Office products helped you launch your business. Submissions will be judged on five criteria: originality, creativity, concept, information, and overall presentation.

Prizes
$10,000 Best Video/Grand Prize Winner
$1,000 Best Foreign Language Video
$1,000 Best Video by a Woman-Owned Business

ABOUT THE CONTEST
No purchase is necessary but participants must meet all contest rules and eligibility requirements.

Questions? Read the contest FAQs at itstimeforbusiness.com/contest/faqs. Submissions will be accepted until April 22, 2010.

To participate, contestants must go to itstimeforbusiness.com/contest and download a free trial version of Office 2010 to use in their business. Any business or organization with seven or fewer full-time employees is eligible, so long as they have a Washington state business license and comply with all contest rules. Submissions will be accepted at itstimeforbusiness.com/contest until April 22, 2010.

The winning entry will receive a $10,000 grand prize. Best foreign language video and best video by a woman-owned business will receive $1,000 prizes.

Video submissions should explain participants’ positive experiences with Office 2010. This could include their favorite features of Office 2010, how Office 2010 increases their productivity, or how Microsoft Office products helped start their business.

Submissions must be at least 30 seconds and no more than two minutes in length. Any style of genre or film is allowed, including, but not limited to, animation, drama, still art, imagery, comedy or documentary. Acceptable file formats are .mp4, .avi, .mov, .mpg and .wmv.

The contest is part of an ongoing effort by the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Microsoft Corporation to help small businesses increase productivity and profits through technology training and tools.

Small businesses were projected to maintain or increase investments in technology, even in difficult economic times, according the “Microsoft SMB Insight Report” released last March. Driving technology investments were concerns about declining revenue, competition from larger businesses and general economic difficulties.

“Office 2010 is an incredibly powerful product for entrepreneurs and small business owners,” said Jaana Linsenmayer, senior product manager–IW BMO small business at Microsoft Corporation. “The contest is an exciting opportunity for them to ‘test drive’ the product and get some visibility for their business at the same time.”

“Chambers of commerce are advocates for small business,” said Emmy Jordan, senior vice president at the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. “As the economy begins to recover, we want small businesses to have a competitive advantage through technology solutions and know-how.”

The winner will be announced on May 12, 2010, at the Greater Seattle Chamber’s Annual Tradeshow. Videos of the finalists and the winning entries will be displayed on itstimeforbusiness.com.

For more information about the contest, visit itstimeforbusiness.com/contest.