Inc. Expands Size of Inc. 500 Tenfold, Plots Social Networking Foray

Inc. Magazine's September 2007 issue will cover the annual Inc. 500, a list of private businesses in a number of industries that grew the fastest in their respective classes.

Meanwhile, Inc. Online boasts an unexpectedly larger list: the company's first Inc. 5000.

The magazine profiles private-sector companies for the knowledge development of other entrepreneurs.

A complete list of the Inc. 5000 can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. Red Ventures out of Charlotte and HydraMedia, Beverly Hills topped charts for the Marketing and Advertising sector.

This October the company also plans to unveil IncBiz.net.com, a site where private enterprises can network and exchange information.

Development of niche professional social networks like this one is building in popularity, per a recent Wall Street Journal article, which noted the blossoming of the following niche networks:

* Sermo.com for medicine
* A Reuters social networking destination for finance
* INmobile.org for wireless
* AdGabber.com for advertising

New York Times to launch Small Business Site

The New York Times has launched a new site for small businesses and their advertisers, reports MediaPost.

The new Small Business section will feature regular features and columns, as well as blogs from NYT writers.

The site will also assists advertisers looking to connect with small business owners. ATT, Hewlett-Packard, American Express and FedEx have all signed on as initial advertisers on the site.

Content from outside blogs and sites such as AllBusiness.com and Inc. Magazine will also be incorporated.