Announcing Imagine Access, your go-to portal for all things code!

Dream it. Build it. Live it.   January 2015           Having trouble viewing this email? View in browser     Discover Imagine Access We just launched Imagine Access, a new program that gives students coding and collaboration software to develop apps, games and websites. We've got the tools you need, no matter your skill level or experience, and all at no cost to students. Download free coding software today!     Code your way to cash prizes Sharpen your programming skills and win cash prizes in Code Hunt, a monthly competition designed by the pros at Microsoft Research. It's a real-time competition between thousands of student developers around the world. Register now and get started!     On-demand from MVA: Using Git with Visual Studio 2013 Watch this course to see why Git has become wildly popular as a source control system for devs. Expert instructors show how to use Git with the Visual Studio IDE and the value of using Git with Visual Studio Online and Microsoft Azure.     Learn to build great apps with C# / XAML These on-demand courses show what you can do with C#, a simple, powerful object oriented language that helps devs create Windows apps, Web services, database tools, components, controls and more. Take advantage of these free training courses and learn how to develop apps for a variety of scenarios.     2015 Project Blueprint Winners Announced The results are in. Meet the winners of the latest Imagine Cup challenge. Team Scrolling from the U.S., Team Dogma from Germany and Team Eye3 from Canada. Learn more about their exciting ideas!     Teen coding whiz wins big! Sabrina Wallace, a Las Vegas teen, took home a big prize at the AT&T hackathon for her innovative app designed to keep drivers awake on the road. Read more on our student developer blog!     Microsoft respects your privacy. Please read our online Privacy Statement. If you would prefer to no longer receive this newsletter, please click here. To set your contact preferences for other Microsoft communications click here.     Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052 USA

Two small businesses share their strategies

If you are having trouble viewing this email, please visit the online version. Modern Business and SMB contest     Business Insights Newsletter February 2015       Office 365 questions? Bring them to the chat!   Get your hair cut Try on a shirt No one in their right mind would cash out their 401K to start a business. Or would they? Citizen Frederick owners Antonio and Nolan did. They created a unique store that combines a men’s clothing store and a barbershop. Then they entered the Microsoft Small Business Contest and won $20,000 to help their business take off in style.   Cash is king Cater to the customer Dan Jolly’s story sounds like an urban myth, but it’s real. Dan started a business during a recession with the purchase of a failed business. Six years later, he has three successful locations and won third-place in the Microsoft Small Business Contest. Dan shares tips for success—such as "cash is king" and "cater to the customer"—in his contest video. Break the monotony With business podcasts Your choice: Listen to boring DJ banter during the tedious miles of your commute, or learn things like how to get along in the office, how billionaires got that rich, how to manage startup challenges, and more in these excellent podcast series. Opportunity knocks Get your business online now GoDaddy can get your business online with your own domain, a professional website, and the lowest guaranteed price on Microsoft Office 365. For only $6.25/month, you’ll get Microsoft Business Premium for one user. You can add up to four more accounts at a discounted price of $75.00/year. Best of all, you’ll have two of the biggest names on the planet backing your business.   Everyday ideas For low-cost marketing You go to the dentist every six months. You take a vacation once a year. You report your taxes every April. How often do you think about marketing? If you're like many small business owners, not often enough. Read about 10 low-cost marketing ideas to help your business get more customers. Free ads And helping hands too If you had four hands you could get more done, but people would stare at you, and not in a good way. Instead, get one of our employees to help you design and run an online advertising campaign at no cost to you. Apply today for a chance to get up to $400 of free ads on Bing Ads and a personal assistant.   Know your customers Grow with CRM Do you wish you were psychic so you could know what your customers want? You don’t have to be a mind reader. You just need the right tools to help you discover what customers want and when they want it. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online has all the right tools. Get it now for up to 32% off.         Microsoft respects your privacy. To learn more please read our online Privacy Statement. If you would prefer to no longer receive this newsletter, please click here. To set your contact preferences for other Microsoft communications click here. Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052 USA