Stevie Awards – The International Business Award /Company of the Year - Business Services“Bizloop”Series Contributions
Community-based portal site for Japanese SMEs
covering all of Japanese prefectures

Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Introduction

Our "Bizloop Search" is a portal site which keeps on expanding day
after day for support of information distribution for Japanese SMEs.
In 2010, the number of Bizloop Search users increased highly, andthe site developed remarkably as a community-based portal sitewhich covered all of 47 prefectures in Japan.
*The Bizloop series was awarded the prize two years running in IBA in 2009 and 2010.

Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

2Issues Facing Japanese Regional Communities
Below are the main issues faced by regional communities and Japanese SMEs in Japan:

ThemesLocal Stimulation
The Key to Local
Stimulation
Is the SME

4.2 million SMEsin JapanIssues
Regional Economic Development

Current Status
Weakening of entrepreneurship and local
businesses
Widening gap between stores

Resolution of the Digital Divide

Delay of IT transition for SMEs/personal
businesses and widening gap with large
corporations

Stimulation of Employment

The largest decline in employment inhistory
Expansion of recruitment of foreigners

Environmental/CSR Activity Stimulation

Barriers to participation by regular citizens

Our
Our “Bizloop”“Bizloop” portfolio
portfolio ofof portal
portal sites
sites strengthens
strengthens thethe connection
connection between
between thetheregion
region andand SMEs
SMEs andand contributes
contributes toto solving
solving problems
problems faced
faced byby JapaneseJapanese society.
society.
Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

3

Bizloop Series and Community-based Portal Site
IFNet Co. developed the “Bizloop” series of community-based
SME portal sites as a way to deal with issues facing Japanese regional communities.
Incorporated regional sites in accordancewith the administrative districts of Japan!

In January 2011
launched 47 portal sites covering every
prefecture in the country !
Completion of covering all of theadministrative districts throughout Japan !
Bizloop Local Version
Bizloop Search Nationwide

http://www.bizloop.jp/

64,000 SMEs
are registered

We contribute to solving community problems!

“Bizloop Search” of IFNet Co. was awarded the grand prize in theInternational Business category of the Stevie Awards in 2009 and 2010,and continues to expand and develop the business. The site’s primary
mission is to support Japanese SMEs by providing service information
through the Internet. In 2011, Bizloop Search completed the launch of
47 platforms to contribute to community development throughout Japan.

As of April 2011
Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

4

What is Bizloop Search? – Simple and Free Web Advertising Media Bizloop Search is for any Japanese SMEs, including corporations and SOHOs.
Any information regarding their company can be listed on the portal site as simply as blogging.

1. Basic Company Information
Companies can post their trade name, address, phone number,
Google Maps URL and other details.

2. Introduction of Products and Services (3 pages max.)
Products and services, images, text and hyperlinks can be posted.
Slideshow display of images is also available.

3. Email Template for Inquiries
Receive and reply to inquires from users interested in listed
products and services using mail templates.

4. Sites for Mobile Devices
All information on Bizloop can be viewed using mobile phones fromthe major domestic carriers. The same information is available via
third-party virtual reality services.

Basic
Basic functionality
functionality ofof Bizloop
Bizloop Search
Search is
is available
available forfor free!
free!

Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

All registered information
is obtained directly
by our staff

5

Bizloop Series Growth and Achievement (2009-2011)
The Bizloop Series has continued to achieve significant year-on-year growth.
April 2009

April 2010

April 2011

Growth %vs previous year

# of registeredcompanies

25,31044,61564,098143.6%# of page views

357,719596,952

1,014,908

170.0%# of unique users

145,006

271,402420,580154.9%

Achievements•Launched “BizloopGSL” Earthquake Recovery Support Project for East Japan (May 2011)•Completed launch of 47 local portal sites for all prefectures in Japan (January 2011)•Reached 60,000 registered member companies (January 2011)•Released “BizloopGSL” environmental certification services to reduce CO2(November 2011)•Received the Distinguished Honoree award in the Stevie Awards - International BusinessAwards for two consecutive years (July 2010)•Reached 50,000 registered member companies (August 2010)•Completed support for major domestic mobile phone carriers. (September 2009)

The Bizloop Series achieved a striking increase in registered clients by providing a simple method of web-based
PR to Japanese SMEs and has demonstrated great success across all primary metrics.
As a new challenge, we are also implementing environmental support and reconstruction programs for areas
affected by the 2011 East Japan Earthquake via this portal site.
Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

6

Significance of Community-based Portal Site Construction
ToTo Provide
Provide Community-based
Community-based Information
Information Distribution
Distribution47 regional sites
released!

The development of specialized Bizloop Search regional sites began in 2008
and ended in January 2011 with the completion of 47 sites covering every
prefecture in Japan.
With national coverage via the portal, listed companies can more easily reach
residents of regional communities. Through coordination with local
governments and other organizations, as well as sales of advertising space,
IFNet provides a platform that promotes strategies that benefit thesecommunities.

“Bizloop Kawasaki”, developed in collaboration with the local government
especially for Kawasaki City in Kanagawa Prefecture, won the “Government
Information – Best Corporate Web Site” award in the “2009 InternationalBusiness Awards”.
The goal of Bizloop Kawasaki is to “deliver clear information about thegovernment from the point of view of the citizen.” It has continued to operate
for four years as one facet of a cooperative project between private
enterprise and the local government.
IFNet and Partners are in the process of developing similar
public/private cooperative Bizloop sites.

Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Joint operation
4 years running!

7Community–based Portals/Bizloop Regional Search
Bizloop Regional Search is comprised of 47 prefectural sites and one official government site.
Bizloop Kawasaki (Government Official）

Bizloop Tokyo

Bizloop Shimane

Bizloop Hokkaido

Bizloop Chiba

Bizloop Okayama

Bizloop Aomori

Bizloop Saitama

Bizloop Hiroshima

Bizloop Akita

Bizloop Kanagawa

Bizloop Yamaguchi

Bizloop Iwate

Bizloop Ibaraki

Bizloop Tokushima

Bizloop Miyagi

Bizloop Tochigi

Bizloop Kagawa

Bizloop Yamagata

Bizloop Gunma

Bizloop Ehime

Bizloop Fukushima

Bizloop Yamanashi

Bizloop Kochi

Bizloop Ishikawa

Bizloop Mie

Bizloop Fukuoka

Bizloop Fukui

Bizloop Kyoto

Bizloop Saga

Bizloop Toyama

Bizloop Osaka

Bizloop Nagasaki

Bizloop Niigata

Bizloop Wakayama

Bizloop Kagoshima

Bizloop Nagano

Bizloop Shiga

Bizloop Kumamoto

Bizloop Aichi

Bizloop Hyogo

Bizloop Oita

Bizloop Gifu

Bizloop Nara

Bizloop Miyazaki

Bizloop Shizuoka

Bizloop Tottori

Bizloop Okinawa

Total Page Views: approx. 230,000/month
http://www.bizloop.jp/region.php
Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Total Unique Users: approx. 150,000/month*As of May 20118Mission.1 of Bizloop Regional Search: Regional Economic Development
One intention of launching Bizloop Regional Search is to promote regional economies.

4.2 million
domestic SMEs

Distribution
Distribution ofof
region-specificregion-specificinformation
information

ExposeExpose information
information toto thethe public
publicUtilization
Utilization ofof advertising
advertising andandpromotional
promotional tools
tools
Bizloop Series Site

Stimulation of SMEs, said to accountfor 99.7% of domestic businesses inJapan, will lead directly to economic
development of local areas.
Implementation of small-scalecommunity-based services is difficult
for large corporations; but SMEs canset themselves apart by leveraging theinformation distribution power of theInternet for PR purposes.

Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Bizloop Regional Search

Regional EconomicDevelopment through
IT Adoption by SMEs

9Mission.2 of Bizloop Regional Search: Resolution of the Digital Divide
The late adoption of IT by SMEs is one barrier to regional economic development.

4.2 million
domestic SMEs

InternetInternet Usage
Usage byby Size
Size ofof EnterpriseEnterprise
Source: 2007-2008 White Paper on SMEs by Small and Medium Enterprise Agency

99.1%

Internet penetration rate

85.7%
85.3%

Personal business owner’s website
publication rate
Business size: Small 8.2％
Business size: Large 23.6％

Company website
publication rate
Large companies

64.4%

SMEs

*SMEs: less than 300 employees

Upon investigating IT adoption in Japan, the gap between large corporations and SMEs/SOHOs, whichhave not exposed their information on the Web yet, is not closing. One cause is that SMEs cannot
afford the HR and monetary cost to expand their IT usage. Using Bizloop, which has no listing fee, isas simple as blogging, and is an effective means of distributing information for SME owners who needto conserve money and time.

BizloopBizloop Search
Search helps
helps eliminate
eliminate thethe digital
digital divide
dividebetweenbetween SMEs
SMEs andand large
large corporations.
corporations.
Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

10

Mission.3 of Bizloop Regional Search: Increased Employment Opportunities
To date in 2011, the ratio of job offers to job seekers in Japan is 0.63, and unemployment is at 4.6%.
This means that 3 million people do not have a regular employment. IFNet is attempting to tackle
unemployment issues using Bizloop Regional Search and new services.

[Bizloop[Bizloop Kawasaki]
Kawasaki]
Listing
Listing employment
employment information
information forfor Kawasaki
Kawasaki CityCity“Bizloop Kawasaki” provides a simple search system for locating
employment opportunities and unemployment offices for job
seekers in Kawasaki City. Automated updates of employmentrelated news posted by the city are also available through the site.
Bizloop Kawasaki was covered by Sankei
News, a major newspaper in Japan, as well
as several other domestic newspapers.

[Bizloop[Bizloop RegionalRegional Search]
Search] Coordination
Coordination withwith other
other newnew services
services
In order to discover valuable human resources and new products from various regions in Japan, we aredeveloping a new contest-based service. The service will match participating students and corporations.
Companies, services and people who stand out from the crowd will be featured on Bizloop Regional
Search, stimulating employment opportunities.
Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

11

Mission.4 of Bizloop Regional Search: Environmental and Economic Recovery Support

It is difficult for SMEs to undertake CSR activities.
Bizloop provides services to help SMEs achieve social responsibility.

BizloopGSL
BizloopGSL (Green(Green SiteSite License)
License)This is a service which we offer in cooperation with eco businesses.
Japanese SMEs can purchase an environmental protection license, theproceeds from which are invested into NPOs that participate inreforestation and other activities which contribute to global CO2 reduction.
We contribute to Japanese society and the global environment byproviding CSR opportunities, which are usually available only by larger
corporations, to SMEs.
Environmental
Protection& CSR Support

Social Participationof SMEs

Registered
Registeredcompanies
companieswill
willreceive
receiveaa“Green“Greensitesitelicense”,license”,which
which
affirms
theircontinuedcontribution
tooverseasreforestation.
affirms their continued contribution to overseas reforestation.
ThisThislogo
logowill
willbebedisplayed
displayedin
inBizloop
Bizloopcompany
companyprofile
profilepages
pagesforforthosecompanies.
those companies.

by IFNetA portion of the proceeds of BizloopGSL are donated to the Red Cross as a part of the“Earthquake Reconstruction Project for East Japan”.

Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

12

2011 Business Expansion Plan for the Bizloop Series
Following the “SME Information Distribution Support” and “Regional Revitalization Support”
phases of the Bizloop series of sites, IFNet is planning further expansions for 2011.

Bizloop
Bizloop Series
Series Expansion
Expansion Plans
Plans•Implementation of Registration Directory
Adding to the regular company directory, IFNet will offer an expanded
service directory of “personalized” SME domains as a directory foroutside sites leveraging the power of Bizloop SEO.
•Industry-specific BizloopAdding industry-specific portal sites and improved regional segmentation toBizloop will further increase the effectiveness of targeted advertising.
•Enhancement of BtoB Matching Functionality
Adding the following functionality to the existing “Bizloop Matching” site will
stimulate BtoB business:
1. Wholesale and retail matching
A service that supports matching of targets in Asia
2. Whitepaper Download Service
Whitepaper listing service geared toward wholesalers andmanufacturers
3. Human Resource matching
Promote employment services between Japanese SMEs and skilledworkers

Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

A Medium for Social
Contribution
IFNet will continue to develop theBizloop series as a medium tosupport the marketing activities ofJapanese SMEs while contributing
to economic and community
revitalization.

13Bizloop Series – Web Site URLs SMEs Information Distribution/Regional Portal Sites
Bizloop Search
Bizloop Kawasaki
Bizloop Regional Search
Bizloop View
Bizloop GSL

http://www.bizloop.jp/
http://www.bizloop.jp/kawasaki/
http://www.bizloop.jp/region.php
http://www.bizloop.jp/bizloopview.php
http://www.bizloop-gsl.jp/*Government Official Site
*AR Service*Environmental Certification Services

Advertising/Promotion Portal Site
Bizloop Coupon
Bizloop Sweepstakes

http://coupon.bizloop.jp/
http://present.bizloop.jp/

Alliance/Market Expansion Portal Site
Bizloop Matching

http://www. bizloop-match.jp/

Customer Information Strategy CMS
Bizloop Suite

http://www. bizloop-suite.jp/

The Bizloop Series was awarded the grand prizein the International Business Award category ofthe Stevie Awards in both 2009 and 2010.

Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

14

Corporate Profile

Company Name

IFNet,Inc.

Founded

October 1, 2003

Capital

100 million yen

Representative

Tsuguo Umeda, President & CEO

Headquarters

2-13-6 Kakigara-cho, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Business Category

Telecommunications Carriers （Notification #：A-15-6120）

Number of employees

105 (As of April 1, 2011)

Main BusinessVoice and data transmission services under the
Telecommunications Business Law

Internet connection service
Business advertising
Planning, production and sales of homepage
Data processing services and information services
Computer software development and sales
Network communication services

Copyright(C) 2011 IFNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

We meet minimum requirementsfor privacy mark system and havebeen recognized as a good
corporate standards for security inthe protection of personal
information in September 2010.

15