MyCardBlog

One of my most popular post here at MyCardBlog is “How to Apply For Business Credit Cards?“. As I indicated in the post, there are many good reasons why you want to apply for a business card. If you have a good cash back business card like SimplyCash Business Card and TrueEarnings Business Card from Costco and American Express, you can charge all of your expenditures on that card and then your credit usage as reported on your personal credit card report will be really low (Of course, you want to use a consumer card to build your credit history.). The credit usage (ratio of balance to credit line) is an important factor in determining your credit score or credit performance. In this way, you can enjoy more credit sign-up bonuses by taking the advantage of App-O-Rama strategy.

If you are a small business owner, you can’t imagine how much you can save by using a small business credit card. And, actually, all of the credit card issuers know that the business credit card market is much more profitable than consumer credit card market. Credit card issuers are trying a lot of marketing strategies to attract more small business owners to use their credit card products. That’s why business credit cards have more sign-up opportunities out there (The Gold card from American Express is offering 25,000 bonus points.). Another feature I want to mention here is many credit card issuers have build some business networks for small business owners to discuss business issues, share your opinions, and learn business knowledge. The following is a list of small business networks from credit card issuers.

OPEN FORUM from American Express: (www.openforum.com) This is a business forum and resource directory. Business owners can discuss and hare their opinions at the open forum. At the same time, American Express will also invite some successful business owners to share their experience there. Furthermore, American Express has added posts from several prominent bloggers such as John Battelle’s Searchblog to provide more useful information.

Small Business Online Community from Bank of America: (www.smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com) This is also a forum and resource directory. Members will also share their stories there. Bank of America also has a special team to write up some articles for forum members. If you are a customer of Bank of America, that’s a good place to talk about business.

SlingShot from Capital One: (www.joinslingshot.com/business) This is different from above mentioned two forums. The primary goal of this site is to provide resources for business owners. Of course, every member can discuss and share their opinions there.

Ideablob from Advanta: (www.ideablob.com) This is a special website! Business owners can share their ideas there and Advanta will award $10,000 monthly to the best idea as voted by members. There are also some great advisers trying to help business owners make their businesses grow all the way to success.

The Visa Business Network on FaceBook: (www.facebook.com/visabusinessnetwork) Facebook is a good place to find a new friend and communicate between your friends. Visa just launched this network in this June and will give out $100 advertising credit to the first 20,000 business that join its new The Visa Business Network on Facebook. It claimed that it’s a place that can help you and your business succeed.

If you’re a busines owner, or want to run a business in the near future, the above mentioned forums and websites are good for you.