Sponsored post

American Express OPEN and Facebook are giving five small businesses a Big Break® to make their dreams a reality. You could be one of them. 

Get $25,000 and more

• You’ll get: $25,000 to grow your business and drive customers to your door, and a one-on-one strategy session with the experts at American Express OPEN and Facebook to put it all into action.

• Your community will get: American Express OPEN and Facebook will be paying a visit to the winners’ communities for the strategy session, and to host an event for local businesses to meet and learn from the experts. Additionally, the winners’ communities will get statement credit offers for American Express® Cardmembers who spend at area merchants that accept American Express Cards one weekend in September. Details to be announced.

Entering is easy

Just answer 3 simple questions at facebook.com/OPEN. See Official Rules for complete details before entering.

Get free Facebook ads just for signing up

You can receive $50 in free Facebook ads when you sign up and watch 4 videos on how to use the ads effectively – $100 in free Facebook ads if you’re an American Express Cardmember or merchant.  * Official Rules Apply

[TERMS & CONDITIONS]

*No purchase necessary. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & DC, who are of legal age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence (and at least 18) & who are owners of a for-profit small business with $10 million in annual revenue or less. Additional eligibility restrictions apply. Contest starts 9:00AM ET June 19, 2012, ends 11:59PM ET July 13, 2012. Void where prohibited. See Official Rules, which govern, for complete details, available at facebook.com/OPEN

This is a sponsored post. Melinda F. Emerson @SmallBizLady is an official judge of the BigBreak® Contest. Complete details are available at facebook.com/OPEN

For more tips on how start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com.

Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is America’s #1 small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. She writes a weekly column for the New York Times You’re the Boss Blog. She hosts #SmallBizChatWednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.