VendorSeek In the News

VendorSeek.com: The Cupid of B2B

2008-02-18T10:38:00.001-05:00

Mt. Laurel, N.J., February 1, 2008 -- VendorSeek, the business-to-business matchmaker, inspires love connections between buyers and vendors. The southern New Jersey-based company diligently assesses criteria and attributes in order to propose up to five vendors to buyers. Mochanin, a Web design and marketing company, and Bobcat of North Jersey and Mid Hudson, a compact equipment supplier, take pleasure in their harmonious match made through VendorSeek.

Founder, Ken Wisnefski, created the cupid-like business. “I envisioned a better way to facilitate the affiliations assembled in the business-to-business community,” remembers Wisnefski. “Yes, our service is great for both the buyer and vendor in regards to time saved and the ability to focus on other business matters, but I wanted VendorSeek to offer more than that. Our company seeks to unite two businesses, so they may engage in a lasting and mutually-beneficial business courtship.”

Buyers appreciate having a service like VendorSeek to align them with qualified providers rather than partaking in the frustrating and time-consuming search themselves. “We needed a Web design company to help us orchestrate our site,” offers Patrick Ryan of njbobcat.com. “Mochanin was one of the vendors presented to us. We were attracted to them immediately. They gave excellent examples of their work, and took the time to openly communicate with us about possibilities. Mochanin was a great fit; we were quickly ready for a big commitment.”

Buyers place quotes specifying the exact services they desire, producing quality lead opportunities for vendors. Jim Truong, of mochanin.com, likes foregoing the lengthy process of exploring for buyers. “Patrick knew exactly what he wanted,” relates Truong. “He wished to target the local market, and to do it better than his competition. He needed a service provider to aid him in realizing his goals through his Web site.”

Do the relationships built through VendorSeek, ‘the business matchmaker,’ last? Patrick Ryan and Jim Truong have strengthened their business pairing throughout the past year. “I communicate regularly with representatives of Bobcat of North Jersey and Mid-Hudson,” offers Truong. “They are happy with our service and we plan to help them expand on their marketing campaign.” Ryan has no question about Mochanin’s ability to continue to make the union mutually advantageous. “They do a great job for us, they help add to our company’s success,” narrates Ryan. “We appreciate the business relationship we have with them.”

The VendorSeek Web site, found at www.vendorseek.com, enables buyers to get free quotes and qualified vendors to join the system. The site offers articles inspiring smart business decisions through their Industry Experts section.

VendorSeek.com Becomes a “Best Places to Work” Finalist

2007-10-24T07:07:00.000-05:00

Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, October 23, 2007 – The Philadelphia Business Journal has nominated VendorSeek.com as a finalist in their Best Places to Work in the Philadelphia region program. The company received the honor due to its celebrated work atmosphere, benefits, working conditions, and ideology.

VendorSeek was one amongst hundreds of candidates at the onset of the evaluation. The Mt. Laurel-based company was elected as one of fifty finalists to make the prestigious list due to offered benefits and programs as assessed by VendorSeek employees.

“Employees are the foundation of any company,” states VendorSeek President, Ken Wisnefski. “Ingenuity and the pragmatic steps needed to establish a business would not be possible without them. Their satisfaction is warranted and VendorSeek’s success is contingent upon it.”

“I love working here,” relates customer service agent, Eddie Cilurso III. “VendorSeek provides employees with a voice and everyone here contributes towards our victories.”

“We are proud of the feedback our employees provided and honored to be a finalist,” quotes James Keough, Director of Marketing. “VendorSeek is a special place to work because of our attentiveness to each employee and our efficient lines of communication existing throughout the company. We think very highly of our employees and each one of them reciprocates the sentiment; the award is a testament to our culture here.”

The Philadelphia Business Journal features the winning companies in an addendum to their October 19 issue. Finalists are entitled to showcase the 2007 “Best Places to Work” seal on their Web sites and public relations material.

The program was started in June by the Philadelphia Business Journal and involved tabulating the results of thousands of online surveys completed by employees in order to establish a rank order. Top companies shared impressive reviews by employees in relation to work-life balance, respect and caring for employees, recognition of accomplishments, teamwork, and community.

“This is a well-coveted award,” states Wisnefski, “because it is not primarily based on outside factors or assessment. The decoration comes from the employees and their thoughts on the company. We have a phenomenal dynamic at work here, and I am so pleased that we have been recognized for that.”

The VendorSeek Web site, found at www.vendorseek.com, enables buyers to place requests and get free quotes, while qualified vendors can become a part of the system. The site offers articles relating to their service categories through their Industry Experts section.

Online Marketing Enters a New Era: VendorSeek Introduces Pay-per-Lead

2007-08-29T13:14:00.000-05:00

Mt. Laurel, N.J., August 28, 2007 – VendorSeek offers a new solution to online marketing: “pay-per-lead.” The online, business-to-business marketplace aligns buyers seeking services in over 150 categories with pre-qualified vendors. The VendorSeek business model serves as an alternative to the popular online marketing method of pay-per-click advertising.

Pay-per-click advertising is highly coveted by online advertisers because it brings them closer to the buyer. Jim Keough of Impact Direct, an online SEO provider, explains the attraction towards pay-per-click. “Other forms of online advertising such as pop-up and banner ads are noticeable, but you have very little control over when and where they appear. Pay-per-click ads are optimized to appear in relation to the services offered,” Keough states. “For instance, if someone searches for an SEO service, depending on my company’s investment in the pay-per-click campaign, we have a chance of appearing at the top of the results page. It brings you closer to the buyer; but pay-per-click has weak points. Competition for top spots and incidents of click fraud pose problems for advertisers using the form of marketing.”

VendorSeek offers online advertisers another option, realized in what they call “pay-per-lead” advertising. Robert Leckey, Vice President of Sales for VendorSeek, explains the business model. “Pay-per-click brings you closer to the buyer because you assume that those who click on your ad are looking for your service. VendorSeek’s model brings the vendors even closer to the buyer,” mentions Leckey. “A vendor in our system is contacted after a buyer has already filled out a request for the service. There are no assumptions; the buyer has made actions towards looking for a provider. Our vendors pay for leads, not for clicks; there is a closer proximity to the buyer and the sale in using our model.”

Many vendors have voiced their satisfaction with the system and disbanded their pay-per-click campaigns in order to “pay-per-lead.” “We have had great success with the VendorSeek system,” replies James Keough. “There is no blind searching for buyers as with traditional methods of marketing, and the closeness to the buyer is greatly improved in contrast to pay-per-click advertising. Pay-per-lead is the new way to market your services on the Web. The buyers are virtually brought to your doorstep; it is up to your sales techniques to start the relationship.”

VendorSeek brings something new to the buyer and vendor. “We offer a great option for the buyer and vendor,” quotes Ken Wisnefski, VendorSeek President. “The buyer does not need to spend business time looking for efficient services; they get up to five free competitive quotes per request. The vendors get a transparent analysis and effective method in relation to their return on investment; no marketing venture surpasses our pay-per-lead model.”

Business Experts Offer Industry Insight: VendorSeek.com Allows Users to Learn from the Best via their Industry Experts Section

2007-08-06T14:23:00.000-05:00

Mt. Laurel, N.J., August 7, 2007 – VendorSeek.com, widely regarded as the leading online business marketplace, provides a comprehensive Industry Experts section on their site with in-depth commentary on over 150 different business based services. The content is provided by professionals that are part of the VendorSeek.com Approved Vendor Network and is designed to enlighten readers on the ins and outs of various industries.

Company President, Ken Wisnefski, sees the Industry Experts page as a helpful resource for buyers to augment their knowledge and aid them in making beneficial decisions for their businesses. “Awareness is so vital in business. You need to know as much as possible in order to steer your company down the right paths,” comments Wisnefski. “The catalyst for starting VendorSeek was based on the vision to have a cohesive business marketplace. Hosting valuable knowledge is a part of my initial concept.”

VendorSeek.com encourages its vendors to add to the Industry Expert cannon. “We like the idea of our vendors’ information on our site,” states Wisnefski. “It endorses our efforts to help the buyers and it creates a great supplement to our own writers’ content. Andrew Pauson, President of Tele-Center Inc., is a contributor to VendorSeek’s Experts page. “We are happy to relay our wisdom through our articles on the site,” declares Pauson. “We enjoy the occasion to create a connection with the readers and present an experienced view into our industry.”

Jim Truong of Mochanin, a Web site service provider, appreciates the chance to share his company’s intelligence with potential buyers and other readers. “The industry we are in is constantly changing with new technology,” exclaims Truong. “Sharing our knowledge by addressing topics and questions that a buyer may have ensures that the client can make smarter buying decisions. The Industry Experts section is a great opportunity for us to share our insight about our evolving industry.”

The page is segmented into categories such as Marketing, Training and Consulting, and Call Center Services. “Our Web workers have done a fabulous job making the page more user-friendly,” mentions Wisnefski. “We have instituted a navigation system similar to Google. Readers can use the search box for a given topic and gain access to a list of articles pertaining to the subject requested.”

VendorSeek.com regularly adds categories to their site, thus increasing the range and amount of articles in their Industry Experts section. “We supply the demand of the buyer. Each new category creates opportunities to educate the consumers and amplify their awareness,” explains Wisnefski. “The Industry Experts section is part of the synergy present on our site. Our continuous growth ripples throughout all portions of our company creating new contingencies and helping us spawn new ideas.”

The VendorSeek Web site, found at www.vendorseek.com, enables buyers to place requests and get free quotes and qualified vendors to become part of the system, in addition to offering articles relating to their service categories through their Industry Experts section.

Company Crowns Both Buyers and Vendors the Winner: VendorSeek’s Model Awards Vendors with Leads and Buyers with Multiple Quotes

2007-07-12T12:52:00.000-05:00

Mt. Laurel, N.J., July 12, 2007 -- VendorSeek.com bases their model around the benefits of multiple quotes. The online marketplace, launched in 2002, provides buyers with multiple quotes from their 7,000 + vendors. The business-to-business service provides competitive quotes to buyers in over 150 categories including commercial loans, Web site design, and search engine optimization.

VendorSeek President, Ken Wisnefski, procured the vision for his company well before its inception. “Before I started VendorSeek, I worked in the business industry,” states Wisnefski. “I realized there were many opportunities to buy services, but there was no cohesive way of analyzing your options and getting a competitive quote without having to go through many motions; and in the business world, time is very valuable, you cannot spend a whole day contacting vendors and pondering which move is the best for your business.”

Jim Keough of Impact Direct, an SEO (search engine optimization) service, offers comment on VendorSeek’s system, “We are both a vendor and a buyer with VendorSeek. We attract leads from being in their system, but we also are in need of business services ourselves. We have success with getting great quotes. We save both time and money from working with other vendors in the system. Really, we save money on both ends, because we also do not have to worry about marketing as much. We get search optimization leads all the time from VendorSeek.”

Wisnefski compares his own concept to that of LendingTree, which enables potential buyers to get multiple mortgage quotes. “I really liked the LendingTree notion of buyers benefiting from the lenders competing for them. I thought the concept could be implemented into the business-to-business world,” states Wisnefski. “The great thing about VendorSeek is both buyers and vendors benefit. Buyers get competitive quotes and vendors get quality leads, which are increasingly difficult to accrue due to the large numbers of providers present on the Web. It is a beneficial situation for both sides.”

The VendorSeek Web site, found at www.vendorseek.com, enables buyers to place requests and get free quotes and qualified vendors to become part of the system, in addition to offering articles relating to their service categories through their Industry Experts section.

Customers Create Business’ Categories: VendorSeek Supplies Services Based on the Demand of the Buyer

2007-07-06T10:37:00.000-05:00

Mt. Laurel, N.J., July 5, 2007-- VendorSeek.com, an online business-to-business marketplace facilitating the commerce between buyers and vendors, is expanding their categories. VendorSeek offers free quotes from over 7,000 vendors in more than 150 categories such as Search Engine Optimization, telemarketing, Web site design, and warehouse services. The five-year-old company located in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey has added Commercial Cleaning and Postage Meter services to their categories.

The expansion was inspired by recent demand for the services and the ability to locate qualified vendors. “We have a lot of categories in the making,” states VendorSeek President, Ken Wisnefski. “Once we realize the potentiality and demand for a given service, we then recruit qualified vendors. The process takes some time due to our close screening and research on each vendor in our system. We pride ourselves in delivering quality to our buyers, so our vendors must be highly exceptional.”

VendorSeek’s President started his company because he felt there was a void in the business-to-business industry. “Before I began VendorSeek, I was working on a project involving multiple vendors,” exclaims Wisnefski. “It was a nightmare. Not only was it a laborious effort to find and contact the vendors, but there was such a huge difference in the quality of service. Quality vendors were available, but there was no way of foreseeing the good, the bad, and the ugly. VendorSeek’s vendors are pre-qualified, so there is no need to worry about their caliber.”

VendorSeek currently processes over 6,000 calls per month from buyers searching for services. Wisnefski describes how he gets ideas for new services from buyers, “Some buyers call looking for services that we do not presently offer. The requests are recorded and then we do some research on our own. If we can create a category offering prime vendors and will also be popular with buyers; we will deliver.

The VendorSeek Web site, found at www.vendorseek.com, enables buyers to place requests for free quotes and vendors to submit a request to become part of the system, in addition to offering articles relating to their service categories through their Industry Experts section.

Businesses in Love with New Concept: VendorSeek Inspires Lasting Relationships between Buyers and Vendors

2007-06-25T12:23:00.000-05:00

VendorSeek.com is the matchmaker of the business world. Since its inception in 2002, the business-to-business site located in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey has facilitated relationships between buyers and vendors. Much like a dating service for businesses, VendorSeek tailors their services to suit the desires of buyers and vendors. VendorSeek’s individualized and analytical approach to each request and match made, is stimulating more vendors and buyers to become a part of the process.

Finding a productive, lasting relationship is difficult in the world of business. Vendors spend money on attracting buyers to use their products and services, while buyers spend time locating efficient vendors to fulfill their needs. Both parties aspire to find one another, but with countless numbers of buyers, vendors, and outside factors, the process becomes frustrating.

VendorSeek President, Ken Wisnefski, was met with comparable frustration before he started the company. “I was working on a project which involved contacting multiple vendors for quotes and other information. I found the process to be impersonal and insensitive. Businesses want to make money, but there is more to it than that. Success will come when the right synergy is created. It is a process often devalued in business, because everyone is so anxious about their revenue. When the right relationships are created, the money will come. These sentiments served as the impetus for VendorSeek’s concept”

Wisnefski began a service that he sees as the cupid of the business world. “We are the matchmakers of business. Dating services help people start productive relationships, and that is exactly what we do for businesses. We closely study the dynamic of each buyer and vendor with the hopes of both starting something with a future and will make both parties happy.”

Wisnefski’s clients have been happy with the services he provides. Carisa Sanders of Carisa Sanders Marketing provided her sentiments on VendorSeek. “I would not ever think a company other than my own could produce such quality; but, it is true. I will not use another service no matter how they give me a song and dance of the quality.”

"MoreVisibility is very pleased with our relationship with VendorSeek,” stated MoreVisibility.com’s President, Andrew Wetzler. “We attract quality business from their services. The process is easy, associates are knowledgeable and helpful, and their Web site offers great information. We look forward to continued success in our partnership with VendorSeek and we are proud to be a contributing author to their Industry Experts page."

“Our customers are satisfied because it is a win-win situation for both vendors and buyers. We want the vendors to find buyers they can have a lasting, profitable relationship with, and we hope the buyers find the vendor that is the best match for them each time they place a request,” stated Mr. Wisnefski. “With each match we make, we closely analyze the position and needs of both the buyer and vendor. We make sure we are inspiring a lasting chemistry.”

Vice President of Marketing for Trade-In Solutions, Marco Bizzari had good things to say about VendorSeek. "VendorSeek.com made looking for the right vendor incredibly easy. Rather than searching the Web and fielding phone calls all morning to find the right company, I just went to VendorSeek.com and had the contact information of at least five different companies sent to me within 24 hours! I was literally able to sit back and let them solicit my business, instead of the other way around.”
VendorSeek is attracting more vendors and buyers away from traditional means of advertising in magazines, newspapers, and on the Web. For instance, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is prevalent on the Internet. A company will pay a provider to host their ads on Web pages, and the company pays a fee according to how many times browsers “click” on the ads. Flaws, mostly caused by “click fraud,” have marred the process (incidents where competitors or other parties click on ads with no intention of making a purchase while raising the cost of the advertising).

Wisnefski sees VendorSeek as a better alternative to using pay-per-click and other methods. “We have had our own problems with pay-per-click. It can be a nightmare. I find some peace of mind in knowing that other businesses can forego the headaches and use our services. The vendors don’t need to spend money on something that is so impersonal, and buyers don’t have to blindly click on someone’s advertisement. Our process assesses what each party is looking for and can provide. When the analysis is complete, we produce something that is meaningful and productive for the buyer and vendor.”

Today’s business world is tightly packed with buyers and vendors, making it difficult to find the right connection. “It is difficult in current times to find the right fit at the right time for your business. Individuality and personal attention seems to be a luxury when it should be a necessity,” explained Wisnefski. “We are bringing that sentiment back to the business world. As in dating, no one wants to settle, and we don’t want our clients to settle. We make sure every buyer and every vendor is engaged in a tailor-made relationship.”

VendorSeek is bringing new life to business. Vendors seeking opportunities to begin lasting relationships with buyers are welcome. Buyers desiring the services of vendors found to suit your needs can find what they are looking for at VendorSeek.com.

Despite Meager Beginnings, Vendorseek Outshines Outsourcing Competitors

2007-05-15T11:14:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, efficiency is often the last priority of large companies in today’s business world. There are simply too many obstacles -- think “red tape” -- that get in the way of productive environments. While many people can acknowledge the problem, how-ever, it’s truly the unique individual who can take it upon them-selves to step outside the traditional to strike out on their own.

In the case of VendorSeek (http://VendorSeek.com) president Kenneth C. Wisnefski, nothing could be closer to the truth. “I was working as a regional sales manager for a temporary staffing firm when I came up with the concept of VendorSeek,” says Wisnefski. “Anytime we needed to source some sort of service, the process was incredibly slow. We even lost a very large con-tract on one occasion because of it. From that point on I knew there had to be a better way.”

Not one to let ideas fade into obscurity, he started VendorSeek as a Web-based company in2002 with only $2000. For the first two years of business, Wisnefski ran the company out of his basement with the assistance of friends and family members. The process, he reports, was both rewarding and unpleasant at the same time. “I was working my normal nine-to-five job and running VendorSeek in my off hours,” states Wisnefski. “I eventually quit my full-time job and rented a small office to focus on it completely.”

With plans to increase staff numbers to 25 in 2007, his efforts have paid-off more than he ever imagined possible. “We currently have over 7,000 vendors that we out-source to companies seeking cost effective, business-based services and we expect to continue growth. We’re simple, we’re fast and we’re effective, and that’s why we continue to be successful,” adds Wisnefski.

MarketingSherpa features VendorSeek as Leading Lead Generator

2007-05-02T14:24:00.000-05:00

If your looking for leads, then look no further then VendorSeek.com. In their latest article, the wildly popular business advisory company MarketingSherpa puts an emphasis on the effectiveness of VendorSeek. The vendors in the VendorSeek Approved Network receive quality leads from business consumers that are ready to buy.

MarketingSherpa notes that many companies in the B2B arena claim to provide "leads", but that can be far from what you may expect. MarketingSherpa writes "the general definition [of a lead] includes a company that’s a good match for your product but that also has a need for your product and has indicated some interest in listening to offers." VendorSeek provides exactly this! Watch out for companies that are selling you unqualified lists of contacts that may not be looking to buy.

Click Here to read the entire article by Marketing Sherpa titled " Tutorial: Buying Leads - How to Select a Vendor, Available Services and Strategies to Get the Best Leads"

Outsourcing for nonprofits - Article in Philanthropy Journal

2007-01-21T12:21:00.000-05:00

Ken Wisnefski educates on three services nonprofit organizations can outsource found on the Philanthropy Journal web site. Wisnefski explains that nonprofit’s can capitalize on website design, lead generation, and inbound constituent support. The advantages of the three reasons are further illuminated, with the unifying points being that outsourcing will augment the notoriety, funding, and insight in their respective fields.

VendorSeek.com Expands Quoting Categories: New Categories Devoted to Business Finance

2007-01-16T10:22:00.000-05:00

VendorSeek.com, a third-party business-to-business referral service, has recently expanded the array of services offered. Amidst the popularity of business expansion and outsourcing possibilities, companies like VendorSeek offer their aid to businesses in search of other businesses for the purpose of augmentation. Prompted by the passion and determination of its founder, Ken Wisneski, VendorSeek now bestows a larger exhibition of services sought after by the public. The array of niche services VendorSeek finds for other businesses has been supplemented into fifteen new categories.

Past success and positive customer feedback made it both economically feasible and logical to expand the accommodations of VendorSeek to the public. Company CEO, Ken Wisneski explains, “We have a dynamite team here that is committed to serving our clients to accomplish optimal results. Thankfully, our vision is being seen by our clients and beyond and in turn inspired us to expand upon what we have to offer. The nature of business these days makes it possible for small to medium-sized businesses to compete with the older and bigger companies and we are more than happy to offer our insight and introduce them to opportunities of advancement.”

VendorSeek now handles referrals in the areas of business liability insurance, group dental insurance, business group health insurance, mortgages, workers compensation, corporate event planning, business accounting, court reporting, corporate training, executive coaching, mergers and acquisitions, voice over internet protocol (VOIP), commercial loans, commercial mortgages, and factoring. With the supplement of these new areas, VendorSeek obliges businesses in over 150 facets. Wisneski stated, “The occasion for amplification is limitless for us as long as we continue our ascendancy and exceed our clients expectations. We are prepared to transcend our own expectations of ourselves as more businesses begin to look in our direction, and we believe they will.”

The nature of VendorSeek’s services awards them accolades from both spectrums of the business-to-business industry. The company not only helps a business with chances of growth, VendorSeek in turn facilitates the clientele of the businesses in which they refer to. Much of VendorSeek’s pride comes from the testimonials of their clients. Phillip Weaver, CEO of Revenue Assurance Partners, has complimented, “We have had tremendous success with our Vendor Seek leads. Not only are we closing more than our fair share, they are with-in the parameters stated and have become meaningful clients for us. Vendor Seek is a top-notch organization and has been very responsive to any questions or needs we have. I highly recommend Vendor Seek for sales leads generation.”

VendorSeek.com is located in Mount Laurel, NJ and was launched in 2002 to serve as a vital business resource for companies seeking to locate cost-effective business based services. Currently, the VendorSeek.com Approved Vendor Network consists of over 4,000 pre-screened national and regionally based vendors. By providing quoting services in over 150 different business based categories, VendorSeek.com has become a trusted resource for prospective buyers as well as a time saving tool for pre-approved vendors to sell their services.

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About the Author:

Ken Wisnefski is founder and Vice President of Operations for VendorSeek.com, the online marketplace leader, connecting thousands of businesses with qualified, professional and competitive business-to-business vendors each week. At its online hub, VendorSeek.com connects businesses of every size and scope with more than 3,000 pre-qualified vendors with expertise in as many as 150 categories. Every month, VendorSeek.com processes more than 5,000 requests from businesses who recognize its value as an impartial resource for reputable, professional and expert service providers.

Philadelphia Business Journal Features the VendorSeek Story

2006-12-01T12:24:00.000-05:00

Ken Wisnefski offers enlightenment about the genesis and implementation of his company VendorSeek in an article featured in the Philadelphia Business Journal. Serving as online aide for small to medium-sized businesses in search of vendors, the company enables their clients to spend more time on their business and less time looking for customers. VendorSeek offers links to over 150 service categories and has represented over 3,000 vendors in the short span since its inception.

Vendor Selection Tips For Small- to Mid-Sized Businesses Adds Experts Resources

2006-10-14T09:49:00.000-05:00

As small- to mid-sized businesses grow, so does their need to find qualified, reputable vendors for everything from call center services, to commercial printing, to search engine optimization, to website design. How can companies maximize their chances of finding the professional, service oriented business-to-business vendors that are best suited to their particular needs? The tips that follow can help.

1. Define the scope of work. What specific services do you need? What are your expectations for the vendor? When will work begin? When must work be completed? What are your budget parameters? Give your vendor prospects all the information they will need to provide you with informed and comprehensive estimates.

2. Are there specific vendor requirements for performing this work? For example, is the work limited to, or best performed by, vendors within a specific geographic area? Are you seeking RFPs or estimates from minority-owned and/or unionized businesses? Are vendors required to demonstrate adherence to international and/or industry-specific business or quality standards? Qualifying your vendor search at the front end can shorten your search time.

3. Explore the competition. It’s easy to use the same vendors you (or your company) have always used, but how do you know you’re getting the most bang for your buck? Research the range of vendors who provide the services you need, and make a point to seek out impartial sources who don’t have a stake in the outcome of your vendor selection process. Remember, the greater the competition, the better your chances of finding a competitively priced vendor who wants your work and will work hard to meet your objectives.

4. Tell your vendor prospects exactly what you want their estimates to outline. Depending on the project, for example, you may wish them to define timeframe for work to be completed, person or people who will conduct the work, specific elements/aspects/units of work to be performed, and, of course, cost for work outlined in the estimate. Your goal is to come away estimates that can be easily compared as you narrow your vendor search.

5. Ask for, and compare, estimates from at least three vendors. Don’t stop your search with just one estimate in hand; you’ll never know what you’re potentially missing, in terms of value and/or quality of work! Estimates can vary widely; the more quotes you have the better your chance of selecting the best vendor for the job.

6. How quickly do vendor prospects respond to estimate requests? Vendors that want your work will work for it by acting in a professional manner and will reply promptly to inquiries.

7. Ask your top vendor prospects for references, and follow through by calling them. Ask they were happy with the quality of work performed and the service they received. Was the work completed on time, and within budget? Would they use the vendor again? Don’t ignore potential red flags.

8. How “legitimate” is the vendor? Competitive estimates and good references don’t always provide a complete picture. How long has the vendor been in business? Has it been cited by the Better Business Bureau or other watchdog agencies? What’s the vendor’s credit rating? Your goal is to avoid untrustworthy vendors who may be inclined to take your company’s money and run.

Finding qualified vendors can be time consuming, but the consequences of conducting a hasty vendor search can be severe. For better (or worse) vendors you select have an impact on your company’s success. In today’s fast-paced business arena, time is an increasingly rare commodity, yet companies cannot afford to leave vendor selection to chance. Prudent business decision makers streamline their vendor searches by using VendorSeek.com, America’s B2B online marketplace, to access to the most extensive network of pre-qualified business service providers in the U.S.

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About the Author:

Ken Wisnefski is founder and Vice President of Operations for VendorSeek.com, the online marketplace leader, connecting thousands of businesses with qualified, professional and competitive business-to-business vendors each week. At its online hub, VendorSeek.com connects businesses of every size and scope with more than 3,000 pre-qualified vendors with expertise in as many as 150 categories. Every month, VendorSeek.com processes more than 5,000 requests from businesses who recognize its value as an impartial resource for reputable, professional and expert service providers.

Companies Find Match Through VendorSeek.com

2006-07-26T10:23:00.000-05:00

What if there were one place where you could find everything you need for your company under one roof -- almost like a mall for businesses.

One South Jersey company has set up a virtual marketplace to fulfill business needs -- from payroll to Web design.

Vendorseek.com is a business-to-business Web site that connects businesses to the services they need. Whether a mom-and-pop needs an outside company to create its Web site, or a large company is seeking a smaller one to help screen applicants, the Mount Laurel-based site has 3,500 registered vendors to help.

Created by Ken Wisnefski in 2004, then a regional sales manager, Vendorseek was created after he worked on a project and needed to outsource different parts of the task.

"We needed background screeners and it was such a labor-intensive process to find the company to do that," Wisnefski, 34, said. "We knew this would be a decently sized deal."

Wisnefski, a Galloway resident, and a team of people attempted to do the work themselves and found it wasn't worth their time in the end. He knew there was a need for a service that can pair businesses up while weeding out the disreputable companies.

"Vendorseek is a time-saver," said Wisnefski, who is now working full time for his start-up. "The ability to find prequalified companies to work with quickly is valuable."

How it works:

Vendors who want to be listed with the site are screened and placed on probation for 30 days. Vendorseek looks at their references, reviews customer feedback and weeds out vendors who are not legitimate.

"We do credit checks to prevent fraud and check business directories like the Better Business Bureau," he said. "We have had to remove vendors for being too aggressive with customers."

Vendors pay a $99 annual fee and then are charged $10 to $40 per request received, depending on the size of the deal.

Companies seeking vendors fill out a search form stating what they're looking for. The Web site scours the database and alerts the vendors. Then, the vendors respond to the company directly, usually within hours. Companies that use the Web site are not charged a fee.

Vendorseek has expanded to 50,000 registered users, mostly from the U.S., and is looking to expand its categories of services, which now number more than 100.

"A lot of the companies we work with don't have a super-large sales team," he said. "Now many of them are just working off the requests coming from the site."

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About Vendorseek.com

VendorSeek.com, based in Mount Laurel, NJ, is the leading online business-to-business marketplace, offering quoting services in more than 150 business service categories. The company processes more than 5,000 requests per month from businesses that are seeking to receive competitive price quotes from its Approved Vendor Network. A vital resource for companies, VendorSeek.com was launched in the Fall of 2002, and since that time has helped thousands of businesses find the right outsourced partners who offer the best balance of quality and cost effectiveness.

VendorSeek.com Streamlines Website to Accomodate Increased Volume

2006-07-20T10:23:00.000-05:00

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. (July 17, 2006) - VendorSeek.com, the leading online business to business marketplace, re-launched its Web site adding resources to educate users and ease the functionality of the site, now providing expert advice, a purchasers guide, interactive blog and success case studies, in an enhanced Web site design format.

“VendorSeek.com serves as a vital resource for companies seeking cost-effective business-based services. Since our inception, we have mainly been a destination for competitive quoting,” said Kenneth C. Wisnefski, Jr., Vice President of Operations of VendorSeek.com. “This renovated Web site has turned Vendorseek.com into a hub for all outsourcing needs, focusing on educating our users to make informed, efficient decisions.”

Serving as a solution to simplifying the outsourcing process, the resources new to VendorSeek.com’s site collectively provide a destination for users, easing the process of finding vendors or clients. Businesses can refer to an active blog, communicating with users who are looking to meet similar business goals, find answers to frequently asked questions and be guided through the quoting and selection process at each step of the search.

Processing more than 5,000 quote requests per month, a redesigned, more streamlined web site with better user understanding will solidify more appropriate leads. Users will be prepared to better identify their needs and speak more efficiently with vendors or prospective clients. This will ultimately minimize long search times for clients and decrease vendors’ long sale cycles while boosting vendor conversion rates.

“VendorSeek.com has seen an increase in volume in both returned visitors and heightened activity in new categories, such as ecommerce and search engine optimization,” stated Wisnefski. “This revitalization with a new logo, images and resources will bring new life to the site, accommodating our proven interest.”
VendorSeek.com’s proprietary technology allows for the highest level of customization in the industry. The system can set caps on quotes and control delivery time. And the human element is applied from start to finish, with every transaction. The company’s personal screening of vendors ensures that its network is composed of providers with demonstrated excellence in their respective categories. Additionally, a VendorSeek.com professional supervises every transaction, which ensures a higher rate of relevant leads for vendors and, in turn, a higher quality of quotes for the businesses that make requests.

* * *

About Vendorseek.com

VendorSeek.com, based in Mount Laurel, NJ, is the leading online business-to-business marketplace, offering quoting services in more than 150 business service categories. The company processes more than 5,000 requests per month from businesses that are seeking to receive competitive price quotes from its Approved Vendor Network. A vital resource for companies, VendorSeek.com was launched in the Fall of 2002, and since that time has helped thousands of businesses find the right outsourced partners who offer the best balance of quality and cost effectiveness.

Five Critical Tips for Successful Sales Lead Generation: Avoiding the Dreaded Sales Call

2006-07-05T10:24:00.000-05:00

OUNT LAUREL, N.J. (June 29, 2006) - Cold calling is a tried and true business development tactic, almost always guaranteeing business growth and success – as long as executives can devote enough time to making hundreds of calls each week. It is proven that the ratio of leads generated to the number of calls placed is low, and yet cold calling is still the most commonly-used marketing technique.

VendorSeek.com, the leading online business to business marketplace, is a proven marketing tactic to assure sales leads, increase revenue and grow businesses without a large investment of time and money, as cold calls are known to do. VendorSeek.com builds a profit margin for any size company by providing it with targeted sales leads that are in demand and looking to outsource.

Impact Direct, an online marketing firm focusing on search engine optimization, took a different, more strategic look at finding new business leads when traditional marketing tactics failed to grow the start-up business. With VendorSeek.com’s tailored leads and proven technique, Impact Direct increased sales by 40 percent to 75 percent each month, expanding the business enough to add almost one employee a month because of increased activity.

VendorSeek.com offers the following tips to become more strategic about growing your business before picking up the phone for even one cold call:

* Find strong leads that are in need of your services. Cold calls and leads from list brokers are not targeted enough and most often lead to uninterested companies and hours of wasted time. VendorSeek.com provides consistent, guaranteed leads of companies that are looking to expand or outsource their business and are currently inviting sales pitches.

* Explore alternate marketing opportunities. Traditional marketing costs are often too steep for a start-up budget and take too long to show results. Internet-based VendorSeek.com is what marketing has now become, as approximately one-third of Americans use the Internet to search for products and service information.

* Identify quickly if your sales pitch is one cause of slow growth. Because of the volume of hot leads and direct competition for a business opportunity, VendorSeek.com users can immediately tell whether proposals, offerings and services are not noteworthy enough. As most companies wait four quarters before they realize a sales pitch or product is not superior to its competitors, VendorSeek.com results indicate this in the first month. It is a tool to help refine and reflect on a company’s services and offerings within its competitive market.

* Do not hesitate to compete with larger companies for business. The Internet, a more cost-efficient marketing tool, has leveled the sales playing field for smaller businesses allowing easier competition with larger conglomerates in its marketplace. A busier marketplace brings the rates down to a fair market value for services offered, opening the door to providing the right cost to consumers for the right value.

* Target the leads that will grow your business. Focus on sales leads that are large enough to grow business and provide a profit margin for the company. VendorSeek.com has one point of contact for each user to identify goals and customize leads that deliver sales opportunities to grow your business, not simply maintain it.

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About Vendorseek.com

VendorSeek.com, based in Mount Laurel, NJ, is the leading online business-to-business marketplace, offering quoting services in more than 150 business service categories. The company processes more than 5,000 requests per month from businesses that are seeking to receive competitive price quotes from its Approved Vendor Network. A vital resource for companies, VendorSeek.com was launched in 2002.

VendorSeek.com Launches Ecommerce Solutions Services

2006-06-28T10:25:00.000-05:00

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. – June 1, 2006 – VendorSeek.com, the leading online business to business marketplace, has expanded it’s current business based quoting categories to include e-commerce development. The new category focuses exclusively on companies wishing to create a web based storefront or existing internet retailers wishing to enhance their outdated e-commerce platforms.

"With the rise of online sales continuing to increase, more and more brick and mortar storefronts are expanding in to web based retailers to attract a larger audience" stated Kenneth Wisnefski, VP of Operations at VendorSeek.com "Our focus is to provide our customers with competitive bids for their e-commerce based projects."

Wisnefski also stated that currently VendorSeek.com processes just over 200 e-commerce based customer requests per month but anticipates that number to increase dramatically fueled by the launch of the more intensive e-commerce solutions category.

VendorSeek.com provides customers with free price from up to 5 pre-approved vendors. For more information visit www.VendorSeek.com or call 800-446-1073.

* * *

About Vendorseek.com

VendorSeek.com, based in Mount Laurel, NJ, is the leading online business-to-business marketplace, offering quoting services in more than 150 business service categories. The company processes more than 5,000 requests per month from businesses that are seeking to receive competitive price quotes from its Approved Vendor Network. A vital resource for companies, VendorSeek.com was launched in the Fall of 2002, and since that time has helped thousands of businesses find the right outsourced partners who offer the best balance of quality and cost effectiveness.

VendorSeek.com Sees 60 Percent Increase In Requests For Online Quotes

2006-05-10T10:31:00.000-05:00

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. – May 12, 2006 – VendorSeek.com, the fastest-growing online marketplace for the purchase of business services, today announced that requests for online quotes increased by more than 60 percent since 1Q 2006. The company also released a ranking of its top verticals, determined by activity per month, with web design emerging as the leading category at more than 1,500 requests for proposals.

At the online hub, VendorSeek.com, businesses of every size and scope connect with more than 3,000 vendors with expertise in as many as 150 categories. Using the proprietary VendorSeek.com system, businesses may request price quotes, free of charge, for essential services such as call center services or payroll outsourcing.

“Our growth has been steady since our inception, but now – quarter after quarter – it is consistently exponential,” said Kenneth C. Wisnefski, Jr., Vice President of Operations of VendorSeek.com.

According to Wisnefski, an economy that demands efficiency and a growing reliance on technology to conduct business transactions have created an ideal climate for VendorSeek.com to thrive.

“Outsourcing is a cost-effective solution for businesses, and leveraging technology to connect online makes the process of establishing business relationships even more efficient. We founded our business on sophisticated technology, but unlike some of our competitors, we haven’t abandoned a personal touch. In fact, the level of personal involvement that we have structured into our system is part of what makes VendorSeek.com superior in the marketplace.”

VendorSeek.com’s proprietary technology allows for the highest level of customization in the industry. The system can set caps on quotes and control delivery time. And the human element is applied from start to finish, with every transaction. The company’s personal screening of vendors ensures that its network is composed of providers with demonstrated excellence in their respective categories. Additionally, a VendorSeek.com professional supervises every transaction, which ensures a higher rate of relevant leads for vendors and, in turn, a higher quality of quotes for the businesses that make requests.

“The result is a network of very busy vendors, and very satisfied businesses across scores of categories,” Wisnefski said.

With web design leading the pack, as ranked by activities, call center services, order fulfillment services, search engine optimization services and telemarketing services round out the top five, according to company data.

* * *

About Vendorseek.com

VendorSeek.com, based in Mount Laurel, NJ, is the leading online business-to-business marketplace, offering quoting services in more than 150 business service categories. The company processes more than 5,000 requests per month from businesses that are seeking to receive competitive price quotes from its Approved Vendor Network. A vital resource for companies, VendorSeek.com was launched in the Fall of 2002, and since that time has helped thousands of businesses find the right outsourced partners who offer the best balance of quality and cost effectiveness.

Entrepreneur.com Lists VendorSeek.com as a Useful Resource

2005-05-12T10:33:00.000-05:00

In an article detailing business-to-business resources, the trusted Entrepreneur Magazine mentions VendorSeek.com as an excellent resource for businesses. Entrepreneur says that if you are looking for a cost effective business-based service, then VendorSeek.com is a very useful resource to visit in order to receive free quotes from multiple vendors. They also mention VendorSeek.com as a great source for business looking to generate leads.

VendorSeek.com Launches Expanded B2B Online Marketplace

2004-05-02T10:31:00.000-05:00

Cherry Hill, NJ., (August 2, 2004) – VendorSeek.com (www.vendorseek.com), America’s premier online B2B marketplace today announced the release of 100 newly created business based quoting categories. The enhanced website was designed to further assist business consumers in locating competitive price quotes from pre-qualified vendors.

VendorSeek.com currently has over 1,000 companies that are registered in their Approved Vendor Network that offer a “comparison shopping advantage” by providing price quotes to companies that are interested making a business based purchase. Business executives will benefit dramatically through the use of VendorSeek.com’s no-cost “Request For Quote” service since it allows them the opportunity to receive multiple price quotes from pre-screened vendors in a timely and organized manner with no obligation to purchase.

Since 2002, VendorSeek.com has aided thousands of companies in locating cost-effective solutions for services such as Call Center Outsourcing, Third-Party Logistics Services and Temporary/Contract Staffing. Some of the most active newly added categories include Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and IT Outsourcing.

“VendorSeek.com was created to provide business consumers with a simplified way to identify reputable vendors to purchase from….” stated Kenneth C. Wisnefski, Vice President of VendorSeek.com “and for pre-qualified vendors have greater access to potential customers.”

Since it’s inception, VendorSeek.com has processed over 100,000 requests from companies that have utilized their “Comparison Shopping Advantage.” With the recent addition of new categories, VendorSeek.com anticipates processing nearly double that amount in the next 12 months and plans on launching a sister website next Spring.