SBA site offers interactive features
The Small Business Administration gives users of its new website the chance to get customized information on their business situation.
The Small Business Administration is offering business owners new services on its redesigned SBA.gov website, including the new SBA Direct interactive service with customized and geographically based information.
The goal of the new site and SBA Direct is to present information more dynamically to better engage customers, SBA Administrator Karen Mills said.
“With the launch of the new SBA.gov, we have reached a significant milestone in how the agency has evolved in using interactive Web tools, social media and blogs to engage with and better meet the needs of small-business owners,” Mills said Dec. 21.
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With SBA Direct, users are encouraged to enter their ZIP codes and identify their situation and information needs, such as whether they are military veterans, whether they are looking for loans, and whether they are looking for advice on starting a business or complying with government regulations. The service provides information, names and addresses of nearby organizations that offer help with finances, counseling, contracting opportunities and training.
Other new features include an improved search engine and navigation; integration of content from Business.gov on laws, regulations and government programs at many federal agencies; interactive location-based maps to find resources in the users’ geographic area; and user ratings for content, which enable rankings and optimal placement of priority content, SBA officials said.