Yahoo's Search Marketing, formerly Overture Services, announced the launch of its "Think Big" contest today, which will award one small business with 10 million free ad impressions across the Yahoo! network.

Sir Richard Branson, world renowned entrepreneur and founder of Virgin Group, will serve as the official contest judge and will hand select the winning company based on its business plan and proven ability to "think big."

"Yahoo! created the 'Think Big' contest to offer a business owner a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take their business to the next level by leveraging the power of the Yahoo! network", said Todd Daum, vice president, Yahoo! Search Marketing. "We are honored to have Sir Richard Branson, one of the world's most successful businessmen, help us to select a winner that truly 'thinks big.'"

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), there are currently 25 million small businesses in the United States, representing approximately 99.7 percent of all employers. Nearly half of those businesses have a presence online, says the Kelsey Group, and can benefit from Yahoo! Search Marketing's offerings.

The winning business owner will receive his or her own Yahoo! Search Marketing account team, which will help the winner create targeted online advertising campaigns that are customized specifically for their business. Drawing from its wide array of sponsored search, contextual ads and local listings products, coupled with Yahoo! graphical ads, Yahoo! Search Marketing will help the winning business market its products and services to millions of U.S. Internet users.

Yahoo! did not give an estimated value of the prize, but given the minimum PPC fee of $.10 per click through Yahoo! Search Marketing, the minimum value would be $1,000,000.

Yahoo! Search Marketing will accept contest entries between April 28 and May 20 online at http://thinkbig.yahoo.com. Rules for contest eligibility are also available at the contest website.

"I've succeeded in business with big ideas and big exposure. Virgin started out with only three people and grew to become a global company through unique advertising and marketing opportunities," said Sir Richard Branson. "Yahoo! Search Marketing's 'Think Big' Contest is a great opportunity for one business to be launched into the big time!"

Sir Richard Branson founded Virgin in 1970 as a mail order record retailer, which led to the opening his first record shop in London. The Virgin Group has now expanded into international music Megastores, air travel (Virgin Atlantic Airways is the second largest British long haul international airline), mobile, financial, retail, music, Internet, drinks, rail, hotels and leisure, with nearly 200 companies in over 30 countries.

"Internet search advertising can help small businesses 'level the playing field' with much larger competitors. Plus, small business owner advertisers are, in many cases, surprisingly savvy and sophisticated about this type of online marketing, and are using it to drive growth," said Yahoo! spokesperson Ed Bryson.

Yahoo! will announce the Think Big contest winner and provide details about the award event in June.

Yahoo! Search Marketing, formerly Overture Services, changed its brand in the U.S. on April 18. More information: http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com.