Tech's top vendors see small companies as a big opportunity.

Software giant Microsoft (MSFT) tops a new ranking of technology companies effectively serving small businesses online by providing a rich, educational web experience for small companies.

Compass Intelligence, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based consulting firm, analyzes the websites of dozens of tech companies – and interviews small business owners and executives – to come up with its rankings, which it publishes twice each year.

Microsoft leaped to the No. 1 ranking from No. 6 in the first quarter of 2009, essentially switching places with computer maker Dell (DELL) which slipped to No. 6 from the top spot in the first quarter. (Remember, the Compass rankings look at just one part of the tech company's small-business strategy: online reach. All these companies also work through resellers, local affiliates and even have direct sales folks marketing to and servicing small entities.)

That said, the top ten, in order, are: More

Alibaba.com expands staff, launches ad campaign in a bid to sell wares to American small businesses.

You might not be in the market for mass quantities of biodegradable flower pots or fly masks for horses, but chances are there’s someone out there who is. Both are for sale–along with hydraulic briquette presses and canned sweet corn in bulk–on Alibaba.com.

Never heard of Alibaba? More