Social media has undoubtedly served as an effective avenue for business owners to connect with customers, clients, and even fellow entrepreneurs. However, due to the immense (and continuous) growth of some social networks over the past few years, some communites has become a little too crowded and congested with mindless chatter, aggressive trolls and spammy posts. Additionally, businesses that are struggling to get their voices heard may have trouble doing so, because everyone else in the network is clamoring to get noticed.

If you're a small business owner who wants to zero in on valuable content and helpful people, but are sick of sifting through useless posts on the big social networks then consider joining Small Business Bonfire.

Dubbed as a place "where smart entrepreneurs gather to spark change," Small Business Bonfire acts as a community for small business owners. The website provides tons of opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with like-minded individuals, as well as to get the word out about their company.

The community is relatively new, having been established in early 2011. Nonetheless, even at its early stage, founders Alyssa and Jason Gregory already managed to take great steps towards their goal of providing "help and support for entrepreneurs who are ready to make positive changes in their businesses and the way they run them."

In a nutshell, Small Business Bonfire offers users "an outlet for networking, a place to learn new techniques, a support system for business owners who are driven to reach exceptional levels of success, and a number of other benefits."

Aside from getting their own profile on the Small Business Bonfire website, each member will be able to participate in groups and forums where they can ask questions and share insights about running a business. Whether you're a small tech startup or a brick and mortar store with years of experience, you'll be sure to find discussions that are relevant to your needs. Moreover, the site offers specific avenues dedicated to promoting their members, and entrepreneurs are encouraged to plug their website, products, or services.

Additionally, Small Business Bonfire offers several resources that entrepreneurs can use to take their business to the next level. Aside from publishing regular blog posts, the Small Business Bonfire team also releases a monthly newsletter packed with actionable tips that users can easily implement. Moreover, members get the "Red Hot Tool of the Week" delivered straight to their Inbox. This weekly email highlights a useful tool handpicked by Small Business Bonfire. The staff finds a great productivity, social media, online or other business-related tool, tests it out, and if they think that it'll be useful for entrepreneurs, then they'll feature it as a Red Hot Tool.

The wonderful thing about Small Business Bonfire is its collaborative atmosphere. The founders don't lure members in only to shove their products and services down users' throats. Instead, the site provides a place where users voices can actually be heard. Entrepreneurs who sign up with Small Business Bonfire will certainly know that they're part of something meaningful and important, rather than feeling like they're just another number.