Home Wealth Project
Extensive Research On How To Build Wealth From The Comfort Of Your Own Home.
Don’t Get Spooked by Starting Your Own Business
Oct 31st
It’s that time of year when one holiday seems to follow right on the heels of another. Now that summer is wrapped up, you need to get the jack-o-lanterns, Halloween candy and costumes ready for our scariest of holidays.
While ghouls and goblins should frighten you on Halloween, what about starting your own business? Fear (and more specifically, the fear of failure) is one of the strongest forces preventing budding entrepreneurs from reaching their potential. It’s fear that has stopped countless great businesses before they’ve even begun.
A few simple “tricks” can help you overcome your fear of starting or growing a business:
1. Forget about perfection: To often potential entrepreneurs wait until every little detail of their business is perfected before launching. But guess what? Perfection is unattainable. So don’t wait, just go for it! So what if you’re wrong? So what if there are little glitches here and there? Just go with what you have, and build on what you learn. If you wait until your blog, product, website, etc. is perfect, you’ll never launch anything at all.
2. Really think about your worst-case scenario – is it as scary as you think? All too often, we underestimate our ability to recover from a worst-case scenario. If you start a business and fall flat on your face, how long would it take you to recover? How hard would it be to find another job or start another business venture? Would you be down for a few months, a few years? Could you handle that risk? And what’s that risk compared to a lifetime of never chasing your dream?
Of course, you, along with your family, best know your situation and your ability to assume risk. But for many, the monster hiding under the bed is not as bad as you envisioned.
3. Take steps to minimize the downside of failure: No matter your personal situation, you should always manage risk intelligently. Overcoming fear doesn’t necessarily mean you should risk losing it all. You can make the necessary preparations to minimize the downside of failure. For example, you can structure your new business so as to minimize your personal liability. You can build up an emergency fund. Or you could begin the early stages of your business while you still have a “day job.”
4. Be honest about your financing: It’s no secret that Main Street/small business lending isn’t in such great shape right now. We are seeing some venture capital coming back, but for the average small business, traditional funding from banks is still tight. This means you may have to self-finance or start small at the beginning. If you don’t have access to tons of capital, you probably shouldn’t consider launching a manufacturing company with lots of overhead, or a concept with expensive product inventory. However, it’s more than possible to start a business with just a small investment.
5. Think about what’s truly scary: Yes, starting a business can be a scary endeavor, particularly when the news paints such a troubling economic picture. But think of it this way: Never taking a chance on your dreams can be scariest outcome of all.
This fall is the perfect time to start putting a plan in motion to launch a business for the New Year. You’ve got two months to create your business plan, assemble whatever resources you need, and research your legal and tax obligations for starting a business.
So if you’ve been considering starting a business, take a deep breath and jump right in! Set a deadline with yourself (and maybe with a friend to hold you accountable) and do something that will force you into action. With every action you take, you’ll gain confidence and momentum. And who knows where this exciting entrepreneurial path will take you by next Halloween!
Don’t Get Spooked by Starting Your Own Business
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Small Retailers: Don’t Ignore Senior Consumers
Oct 26th
With the holiday shopping season approaching, small retailers are looking for any edge they can get over big-box stores and discount websites. Well, new data from A.T. Kearney’s Global Maturing Consumer study offers an edge you may not have thought of: catering to senior shoppers.
Why should you care about seniors?
- First, they’re growing in number: By 2030, nearly one-fourth (22 percent) of Americans will be over age 60.
- Second, they’re growing wealthier: Worldwide, the share of income for those over 60 is increasing and will continue to rise through 2020. And seniors spend proportionately more of their income on discretionary purchases like eating out than do other age groups.
But seniors uniformly say that retailers aren’t meeting their needs. Here’s why: Most retail shopping centers are focused on younger consumers who are busy with work and family and want to get in and out of stores quickly and efficiently. That’s not what older shoppers want. For seniors who are retired and may have little social interaction, shopping is an enjoyable, leisurely activity they want to prolong. They don’t like big stores, and they hate being treated impersonally.
Can you say “small-business advantage?” The very stores you’re competing with—big-box chains—are the ones who aren’t serving seniors in the way they want to be served. So what do seniors want when they shop? Here’s some of what the study found:
Seniors shop often: While younger consumers with busy schedules try to cram all their shopping into big weekend trips, seniors make more frequent trips. Two-thirds of respondents aged 70 to 80 say they shop twice a week or more. They typically shop on weekdays, and prefer to go in the mornings.
Readable signage: Seniors felt that signage, prices and store directions were hard to read. Fifty-two percent of those in the 60-70 age group, 58 percent in the 70-80 group, and 66 percent of those over 80 say they can’t read labels clearly, even when wearing corrective lenses. While you may not control labels, you do control shelf signage and other elements, and you can make sure staff is available to help seniors read the “fine print” on product packaging.
Friendly, well-trained staff: Seniors complain that stores are generally understaffed and, when they do manage to find a clerk, the staff is not well trained enough to help them. They also enjoy chatting with staff, so make sure your employees don’t rush them through checkout.
Seating: Since many seniors walk to nearby stores rather than drivie, the experience can get tiring. Most respondents (63 percent of those under 70 and 75 percent of those over 70) said they would like to be able to sit down in stores. (I think adding some comfy chairs is a benefit that anyone, not just seniors, would appreciate.)
Small size: Seniors prefer smaller stores with a well-edited selection of items.
High quality: Seniors buy fewer items than other age groups but generally spend more per item. This holds true even for low-income seniors—they are more focused on quality than price, and are very brand-loyal. For higher-income seniors, there is a trend toward “trading up”—cutting back on quantity but buying higher-quality items, especially in the food, beverage and clothing categories.
Online experience: Because seniors have the time to do lots of research before making a purchase, they are typically heavy Internet users. Half of survey respondents use the Internet, and 20 percent use it for buying or researching products, with the youngest, oldest and wealthiest groups the most likely to shop online. The same principles that apply to store signage and packaging also apply online: Make sure your website is easy to navigate, that fonts and color combinations are easy on older eyes, and that you post a phone number or other way to contact a live person prominently.
Some of these findings may surprise you, while others may not. But either way, there’s a clear advantage for small retailers who can cater to senior shoppers’ needs and wants.
Small Retailers: Don’t Ignore Senior Consumers
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
3 Things to Know About Virtual Assistants So You Don’t Have a Virtual Mess
Oct 24th
I have been on the ground floor of three startups, and the number-one position that I often suggest small business owners fill as soon as possible is a highly skilled assistant who is passionate about their business. You can’t do everything by yourself. And before you hire your entire family, consider death. If every position in your business is filled by somebody in your family, then what happens when Grandma dies and the entire clan needs to disappear and recover for a few days? Life happens.
You can call a temp service, but in the final analysis that’s nothing more than a glorified answering machine. They won’t have time to learn your business and will be left taking messages, not solving problems.
However, an assistant who has been on the team can help you move forward in quite a few areas. Plus, with a virtual assistant you are not limited by geography or time zones.
A Few Things a Virtual Assistant Can Do
You carry the vision. You are not looking for your virtual assistant to brainstorm your business for you. It’s up to you to judge your next best move based on educated suggestions from your team. But your virtual assistant can help you execute these moves.
Take marketing, for example. Once you decide that it’s vital to your business and that you want to put some time and money into your online presence, then your assistant can oversee your online marketing efforts. This may include consistent tweets, growing your Facebook page and engaging fans, and creating a blog filled with helpful articles.
Your virtual assistant can book your travel, schedule your meetings, and collect research for an upcoming speech. The list is endless once you get over the initial belief that you need to do everything yourself.
A Few Things to Consider When Hiring a Virtual Assistant
There are some legitimate concerns when it comes to virtual assistants. Do you need someone who can do everything or a person with specialized skills? Should you hire a team or an individual? And how to navigate this virtual relationship, so that it doesn’t break when they — or you — move on?
Specialized Skills vs. a Jack of all Trades
Consider hiring people to do what they do best. Instead of a general assistant, get someone who uses social media to do your social media. Get someone who specializes in design to complete design work for you. And add a generalist as your point of contact with the entire team as well as to handle research and traditional administrative tasks.
A Team vs. an Individual
Consider hiring a team instead of an individual. If a member of your virtual assistant team gets sick, then your company doesn’t stop moving forward, because another member of the team can pick up the slack.
Systems vs. Shooting From the Hip
Systems protect your business and your bottom line. Give clear, documented instructions and save them for ongoing use. As your team grows or changes you changes you can simply forward the instructions to the new team member.
I Need Help!
Building a team is the a core step to freedom inside your business. If you decide that you are ready for an assistant, then be sure to check out T.J. McCue’s list of virtual assistant outsourcing sites.
Image from auremar/Shutterstock
3 Things to Know About Virtual Assistants So You Don’t Have a Virtual Mess
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
20-Plus Small Business Events You Don’t Want to Miss
Aug 14th
Every other week we compile a list of great events to help you with your business. The following Small Business Events Guide is worth a close look:
******
National Veteran Small Business Conference
August 15-18, 2011, New Orleans
The Department of Veterans Affairs is hosting this event. The largest nationwide conference of its kind, the National Veteran Small Business Conference provides veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs and SDVOSBs) an opportunity to learn, network and market their businesses.
4,000 leaders from various VOSBs, SDVOSBs, large contractors and federal agencies as well as veterans from the New Orleans area are expected to participate.
Tribal Leadership: The 5 Stages to Increasing Performance and Tripling Profits
August 16, 2011, Online
The principals behind Tribal Leadership can help you change the culture of your organization bit by bit – and make it run faster, better and more effectively. The result you will achieve will be greater strategic success, more effective workplaces, less stress, more fun and 3-5 times more profit! This interactive webinar presentation will focus on leveraging Tribal Leadership to foster a high performance culture and a thriving organization.
Online Marketing & Social Media Crash Course
Multiple Cities & Dates
Discover how you can harness the power of the Internet to get your business found online (in an affordable way), engage new customers with your brand and keep old ones coming back. Deluxe for Business and Sprint are proudly sponsoring these free small business events across six cities in 2011, with the help of host Entrepreneur EXPO and keynote speaker Starr Hall.
August 16 – Los Angeles
September 13 – Miami
2011 Business Conference & Tradeshow
August 17, 2011, Milpitas, CA
The Milpitas Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Industry Council for Small Business Development (ICSBD) and National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) presents the 2011 Business Conference & Tradeshow. This event will include procurement information with large corporations, business to business opportunities, seminars and more.
Webinar to Help Business Owners Learn How to Win Government Contracts
August 17, 2011
To help business owners claim their full share, American Express OPEN and Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) are offering a free, one hour tutorial on Wednesday, August 17th This session will provide top level guidance on what business owners should be doing after they complete their registration on the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) – the primary vendor database for the federal government. Topics discussed include a review of the CCR record, SBA profile, the Small Business Dynamic Search Process, and an overview of how the federal government buys products and services.
Faster, Better, Smarter: How Great Small Companies Use Technology to Drive Growth
August 18, 2011, Los Angeles
At this roundtable discussion, a panel of leaders from some of the fastest growing companies in Los Angeles will discuss how they’ve embraced the latest technologies to get closer to their customers, made the most of their time and scarce resources, differentiated themselves from the competition, and developed innovative strategies that set the stage for growth.
Biz 2 Beach
August 19, 2011, Santa Monica, CA
Biz2Beach is an inaugural networking conference bringing together thought leaders, innovators and trendsetters for an exciting day of exchanging ideas. The “unconference” format of Biz2Beach is unlike most events. Featured speakers with a wide variety of business expertise will lead four intimate breakout discussions. B2B is presented by CallFire, which will unveil the latest iteration of its suite of telecom services.
Affiliate Summit East 2011
August 21-23, 2011, New York City
Affiliate Summit East 2011, the premier affiliate marketing conference, is taking place August 21-23, 2011 in New York City. This three-day conference includes an exhibit hall with affiliate merchants, vendors and networks, as well as multiple tracks of educational sessions covering the latest trends and information from affiliate marketing experts.
The Science of Social Media 2011
August 23, 2011, Online
Wondering what really works with social media? Looking to eliminate all the guesswork?
In this new webinar, Dan Zarrella, author of The Social Media Marketing Book, reveals brand new research from 9.6 billion pieces of social media data! You’ll discover how to extend your reach, ensure your ideas spread and measure the real impact of your social media activities. Data-backed, scientifically-proven best practices show you how.
Consumer Products Investing Conference
August 25, 2011, Chicago
Sponsored by Perkins Cole LLP, this conference will discuss trends in early-stage investing, the factors that are most important to investors when they are considering an investment, the best and worst things an entrepreneur can do to get investors’ attention, strategies for growing their businesses, additional advice for entrepreneurs and, of course, the best ways to reach these and other investors.
NAWBO Women’s Business Conference 2011
August 31 – September 1, 2011, San Diego
The NAWBO Women’s Business Conference is the only event of its kind focused on connecting women entrepreneurs to real business opportunities that deliver bottom-line results. The conference brings together businesses of all sizes from various industries to provide women entrepreneurs with both personal and professional tools and resources to take their businesses to the next level of success.
Content Marketing World
September 6 – 8, 2001, Cleveland, Ohio
Learn how to transform your marketing department into a storytelling factory, and engage your prospects and customers in all the right channels with the right messages — including social, mobile, email, online and even print and in-person strategies.
Includes keynotes by NYTimes writer David Pogue and author David Meerman Scott. Choose from 30+ breakout sessions and get the tools you need to be a successful content marketer. Plus, start with an opening night reception at the infamous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Attendees at this year’s conference include marketing professionals from Honeywell, Siemens, Citrix, Oakley, FedEx, Gannett, KeyBank, GE, JD Power & Associates, Cisco, NASA and hundreds of other leading small and large brands.
Use code SBT during checkout to receive $100 off.
Small Business Influencer 2011 Awards
September 13, 2011, New York City
Please join us as we celebrate the top 100 Small Business Influencers of 2011 at the official awards ceremony and reception on September 13, 2011 in New York City, brought to you by BlackBerry, Infusionsoft and Sage.
Don’t miss this fun, high energy evening as we recognize some of the most influential people and companies in the small business community. You’ll have the opportunity to meet Small Business Influencer nominees and judges, network with other small business owners, and win some fabulous prizes. Space is limited so register early!
25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference, Women’s Business & Buyers Mart
September 14, 2011, Chicago
The oldest conference and business opportunities fair for women in business in the country, this is the premier event for women business owners in the Midwest.
This year’s conference offers women business owners solutions to the current problems they are facing and the opportunity to increase the profitability of their businesses by building relationships with corporate and government buyers, business experts and other women business owners.
What Small Businesses MUST Know About Their Website Analytics
September 14, 2011, Webinar
Our guest expert this month is Pierre DeBois of Zimana. In this live session Pierre will discuss the importance of tracking website analytics for small business owners, and attendees will walk away with tips and tools that they can implement immediately. We’ll discuss:
- Why small businesses must know their website analytics
- How to get started
- Which data are the most important to track and what they tell you
- What are some best practices and tools to use
- Where social media fits in and more
This live webinar will be recorded and available afterward to all registered attendees.
September 15-16, 2011, Salt Lake City
Touchpoint is the premiere event for women entrepreneurs, where practical planning meets sky-high inspiration, networking fuels momentum, and high impact strategies are the most coveted party favor.
The 5th Annual event features two days of keynote speakers and panels, as well as plenty of opportunities to network. Topics range from “Making Meaning in Your Business and Contributing to the World,” to how to bootstrap your startup, to how to crush QVC. Enjoy a concert by Jessie Clark Funk, and a Sparkle & Shine Spa Party, featuring manicures and massages.
Brooklyn Business Expo 2011
September 20, 2011, Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Business Expo will bring together the brightest business leaders from the most dynamic companies throughout Brooklyn and the adjoining counties. The Brooklyn Business Expo provides an environment for businesses to enhance their relationships, research the market for the leading products and services, and learn about the latest best business practices. This will be the largest business-to-business expo in Brooklyn.
The New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards
September 21, 2011, New York City
The New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards is the annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of the 500,000-plus small businesses throughout the tri-state area. In its sixth year, the Awards Gala–which sold out in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010–attracts more than 400 business owners and executives and is often referred to as “the networking event of the year.” Don’t miss the chance to do business with the “who’s who” of the New York small business community.
Winning Strategies
September 21, 2011, Miami Beach
This full-day conference event will show you how with proven tactics to impact virtually every aspect of your business. From start to finish, discover insightful ideas, straightforward solutions and fresh perspectives with over half-a-dozen business strategists and experts leading the way.
2011 Internet Marketing Association Awards Event
Thursday September 22, 2011
The IMA’s annual Internet Marketing Awards event will spotlight top industry work, along with world-class speakers who will address cutting edge trends and contemporary topics.
How Small Businesses Can Do Very Big Things With Technology
September 22, 2011, New York City
Very small businesses are often asked to do very BIG things. In fact, in order to thrive (and not just survive) it’s critical that they leverage technology as a powerful tool for business growth. There are hundreds of free and fee tools that you can use to help you save time, save money, be more productive, boost revenue and more.
You’ll learn how to gain insight about your customers, better market to your customers, know what new products or services to launch and much more.
Inc. 500/5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony
September 22-24, 2011, National Harbor, MD
The Inc. 500 | 5000 Conference and Awards Ceremony celebrates the revered Inc. ranking of the fastest-growing privately held companies in America. The momentous event brings together current Inc. 5000 honorees and alumni of the list, along with the greater business community, to recognize the remarkable achievements of these companies and the great contributions they have made to the global economy.
Small Business Technology Tour
September 27 – Mountain View, CA
October 12 – Salt Lake City
October 18 – Boston
November 2 – Atlanta
Date TBA – Chicago
Smallbiztechnology.com is excited to bring you the second annual Small Biz Tech Tour. This event is a full day of information, insight, energy and fun.
- Attendees will learn:
- How to boost sales with website analytics
- How smart companies are using mobile technology to be more productive
- Why many small businesses are not getting results with social media and what you must do
- How to stop selling and start publishing content for more sales
- Why websites and email marketing are not dead, and how to get the most out of yours
- How local companies are getting more local customers using technology
- How to increase sales by segmenting your customers
The Small Business Expo
October 5, 2011, New York City
Full-day networking event, trade show and conference for business owners, entrepreneurs and decision-makers.
The Summit for Women in Business
October 6-9, 2011, Pigeon Forge, TN
The Summit for Women in Business is providing and showing you how to implement the needed strategies and tools to remain competitive and current within today’s evolving business climate. Created by women business owners for women business owners, this Summit is designed for SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) entrepreneurs, independent and self-employed professionals.
Western Mass Business Expo
October 18, 2011, Springfield, MA
As the region’s business publication, The Business Journal of Western Massachusetts believes the businesses and communities that comprise Western Massachusetts should be represented at a region-wide trade show to better promote buying and doing business locally. The day begins with breakfast at 7:30 followed by the Expo’s official opening at 9 a.m. and will feature seminars, speakers, lunch and a high-energy, end-of-day networking event featuring music, food and drink.
Media and Entertainment Investing Conference
October 27, 2011, Coral Gables, FL
Sponsored by The Launch Pad at the University of Miami, this conference will cover trends in early-stage investing, the factors that are most important to Investors when they are considering an investment, the best and worst things an entrepreneur can do to get investors’ attention, strategies to grow their businesses, additional advice for entrepreneurs and, of course, the best ways to reach these and other investors.
BlogWorld & New Media Expo
November 3-5, 2011, Los Angeles
BlogWorld & New Media Expo is the first and only industry-wide conference, tradeshow and media event dedicated to blogging, podcasting, social media, social networking, online video, music, Internet TV and radio. BlogWorld conference attendees enjoy more than 120 cutting-edge educational sessions presented by leading bloggers, podcasters and content creators, while the New Media Expo provides the only industry-wide new media marketplace for networking, online business and marketing resources.
Register with the promo code SBTVIP20 to save 20% off any conference pass, or use code SBTVIP50 to save 50% off Expo Passes (which include access to the Exhibit hall as well as all keynotes and parties, just like the conference passes).
Recession Proof Sales Training Seminar
November 7, 2011, Woodridge, Ontario
Recession proof your career with this sales training seminar. You will learn how to increase sales, effective communication, customer retention, marketing strategies and how to attract new customers. Location: Paramount Conference and Event Venue, in Vaughan – minutes north of Toronto, Ontario.
Social Media Makeover Forum at Digital Atlanta 2011
November 8, 2011, Atlanta
This half-day, innovative business conference will take place during Digital Atlanta 2011 – a week-long (November 7-11) calendar of events that will focus on the digital and social media scene in Atlanta. The SMB Social Media Makeover Forum will feature three panels of social media experts from leading brands and agencies. These experts will provide advice to three small and mid-sized businesses who will be selected for social media makeovers.
To find more small business events, contests and awards, visit the Small Business Events Calendar.
If you are putting on a small business event or contest, and want to get the word out, please submit it through our Events & Contests Submission Form (it’s free). Only events of interest to small business people, freelancers and entrepreneurs will be included.
Brought to you as a community service by Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com.
20-Plus Small Business Events You Don’t Want to Miss
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
20-Plus Small Business Events You Don’t Want to Miss
Aug 14th
Every other week we compile a list of great events to help you with your business. The following Small Business Events Guide is worth a close look:
******
National Veteran Small Business Conference
August 15-18, 2011, New Orleans
The Department of Veterans Affairs is hosting this event. The largest nationwide conference of its kind, the National Veteran Small Business Conference provides veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs and SDVOSBs) an opportunity to learn, network and market their businesses.
4,000 leaders from various VOSBs, SDVOSBs, large contractors and federal agencies as well as veterans from the New Orleans area are expected to participate.
Tribal Leadership: The 5 Stages to Increasing Performance and Tripling Profits
August 16, 2011, Online
The principals behind Tribal Leadership can help you change the culture of your organization bit by bit – and make it run faster, better and more effectively. The result you will achieve will be greater strategic success, more effective workplaces, less stress, more fun and 3-5 times more profit! This interactive webinar presentation will focus on leveraging Tribal Leadership to foster a high performance culture and a thriving organization.
Online Marketing & Social Media Crash Course
Multiple Cities & Dates
Discover how you can harness the power of the Internet to get your business found online (in an affordable way), engage new customers with your brand and keep old ones coming back. Deluxe for Business and Sprint are proudly sponsoring these free small business events across six cities in 2011, with the help of host Entrepreneur EXPO and keynote speaker Starr Hall.
August 16 – Los Angeles
September 13 – Miami
2011 Business Conference & Tradeshow
August 17, 2011, Milpitas, CA
The Milpitas Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Industry Council for Small Business Development (ICSBD) and National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) presents the 2011 Business Conference & Tradeshow. This event will include procurement information with large corporations, business to business opportunities, seminars and more.
Webinar to Help Business Owners Learn How to Win Government Contracts
August 17, 2011
To help business owners claim their full share, American Express OPEN and Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) are offering a free, one hour tutorial on Wednesday, August 17th This session will provide top level guidance on what business owners should be doing after they complete their registration on the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) – the primary vendor database for the federal government. Topics discussed include a review of the CCR record, SBA profile, the Small Business Dynamic Search Process, and an overview of how the federal government buys products and services.
Faster, Better, Smarter: How Great Small Companies Use Technology to Drive Growth
August 18, 2011, Los Angeles
At this roundtable discussion, a panel of leaders from some of the fastest growing companies in Los Angeles will discuss how they’ve embraced the latest technologies to get closer to their customers, made the most of their time and scarce resources, differentiated themselves from the competition, and developed innovative strategies that set the stage for growth.
Biz 2 Beach
August 19, 2011, Santa Monica, CA
Biz2Beach is an inaugural networking conference bringing together thought leaders, innovators and trendsetters for an exciting day of exchanging ideas. The “unconference” format of Biz2Beach is unlike most events. Featured speakers with a wide variety of business expertise will lead four intimate breakout discussions. B2B is presented by CallFire, which will unveil the latest iteration of its suite of telecom services.
Affiliate Summit East 2011
August 21-23, 2011, New York City
Affiliate Summit East 2011, the premier affiliate marketing conference, is taking place August 21-23, 2011 in New York City. This three-day conference includes an exhibit hall with affiliate merchants, vendors and networks, as well as multiple tracks of educational sessions covering the latest trends and information from affiliate marketing experts.
The Science of Social Media 2011
August 23, 2011, Online
Wondering what really works with social media? Looking to eliminate all the guesswork?
In this new webinar, Dan Zarrella, author of The Social Media Marketing Book, reveals brand new research from 9.6 billion pieces of social media data! You’ll discover how to extend your reach, ensure your ideas spread and measure the real impact of your social media activities. Data-backed, scientifically-proven best practices show you how.
Consumer Products Investing Conference
August 25, 2011, Chicago
Sponsored by Perkins Cole LLP, this conference will discuss trends in early-stage investing, the factors that are most important to investors when they are considering an investment, the best and worst things an entrepreneur can do to get investors’ attention, strategies for growing their businesses, additional advice for entrepreneurs and, of course, the best ways to reach these and other investors.
NAWBO Women’s Business Conference 2011
August 31 – September 1, 2011, San Diego
The NAWBO Women’s Business Conference is the only event of its kind focused on connecting women entrepreneurs to real business opportunities that deliver bottom-line results. The conference brings together businesses of all sizes from various industries to provide women entrepreneurs with both personal and professional tools and resources to take their businesses to the next level of success.
Content Marketing World
September 6 – 8, 2001, Cleveland, Ohio
Learn how to transform your marketing department into a storytelling factory, and engage your prospects and customers in all the right channels with the right messages — including social, mobile, email, online and even print and in-person strategies.
Includes keynotes by NYTimes writer David Pogue and author David Meerman Scott. Choose from 30+ breakout sessions and get the tools you need to be a successful content marketer. Plus, start with an opening night reception at the infamous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Attendees at this year’s conference include marketing professionals from Honeywell, Siemens, Citrix, Oakley, FedEx, Gannett, KeyBank, GE, JD Power & Associates, Cisco, NASA and hundreds of other leading small and large brands.
Use code SBT during checkout to receive $100 off.
Small Business Influencer 2011 Awards
September 13, 2011, New York City
Please join us as we celebrate the top 100 Small Business Influencers of 2011 at the official awards ceremony and reception on September 13, 2011 in New York City, brought to you by BlackBerry, Infusionsoft and Sage.
Don’t miss this fun, high energy evening as we recognize some of the most influential people and companies in the small business community. You’ll have the opportunity to meet Small Business Influencer nominees and judges, network with other small business owners, and win some fabulous prizes. Space is limited so register early!
25th Anniversary Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference, Women’s Business & Buyers Mart
September 14, 2011, Chicago
The oldest conference and business opportunities fair for women in business in the country, this is the premier event for women business owners in the Midwest.
This year’s conference offers women business owners solutions to the current problems they are facing and the opportunity to increase the profitability of their businesses by building relationships with corporate and government buyers, business experts and other women business owners.
What Small Businesses MUST Know About Their Website Analytics
September 14, 2011, Webinar
Our guest expert this month is Pierre DeBois of Zimana. In this live session Pierre will discuss the importance of tracking website analytics for small business owners, and attendees will walk away with tips and tools that they can implement immediately. We’ll discuss:
- Why small businesses must know their website analytics
- How to get started
- Which data are the most important to track and what they tell you
- What are some best practices and tools to use
- Where social media fits in and more
This live webinar will be recorded and available afterward to all registered attendees.
September 15-16, 2011, Salt Lake City
Touchpoint is the premiere event for women entrepreneurs, where practical planning meets sky-high inspiration, networking fuels momentum, and high impact strategies are the most coveted party favor.
The 5th Annual event features two days of keynote speakers and panels, as well as plenty of opportunities to network. Topics range from “Making Meaning in Your Business and Contributing to the World,” to how to bootstrap your startup, to how to crush QVC. Enjoy a concert by Jessie Clark Funk, and a Sparkle & Shine Spa Party, featuring manicures and massages.
Brooklyn Business Expo 2011
September 20, 2011, Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Business Expo will bring together the brightest business leaders from the most dynamic companies throughout Brooklyn and the adjoining counties. The Brooklyn Business Expo provides an environment for businesses to enhance their relationships, research the market for the leading products and services, and learn about the latest best business practices. This will be the largest business-to-business expo in Brooklyn.
The New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards
September 21, 2011, New York City
The New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards is the annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of the 500,000-plus small businesses throughout the tri-state area. In its sixth year, the Awards Gala–which sold out in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010–attracts more than 400 business owners and executives and is often referred to as “the networking event of the year.” Don’t miss the chance to do business with the “who’s who” of the New York small business community.
Winning Strategies
September 21, 2011, Miami Beach
This full-day conference event will show you how with proven tactics to impact virtually every aspect of your business. From start to finish, discover insightful ideas, straightforward solutions and fresh perspectives with over half-a-dozen business strategists and experts leading the way.
2011 Internet Marketing Association Awards Event
Thursday September 22, 2011
The IMA’s annual Internet Marketing Awards event will spotlight top industry work, along with world-class speakers who will address cutting edge trends and contemporary topics.
How Small Businesses Can Do Very Big Things With Technology
September 22, 2011, New York City
Very small businesses are often asked to do very BIG things. In fact, in order to thrive (and not just survive) it’s critical that they leverage technology as a powerful tool for business growth. There are hundreds of free and fee tools that you can use to help you save time, save money, be more productive, boost revenue and more.
You’ll learn how to gain insight about your customers, better market to your customers, know what new products or services to launch and much more.
Inc. 500/5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony
September 22-24, 2011, National Harbor, MD
The Inc. 500 | 5000 Conference and Awards Ceremony celebrates the revered Inc. ranking of the fastest-growing privately held companies in America. The momentous event brings together current Inc. 5000 honorees and alumni of the list, along with the greater business community, to recognize the remarkable achievements of these companies and the great contributions they have made to the global economy.
Small Business Technology Tour
September 27 – Mountain View, CA
October 12 – Salt Lake City
October 18 – Boston
November 2 – Atlanta
Date TBA – Chicago
Smallbiztechnology.com is excited to bring you the second annual Small Biz Tech Tour. This event is a full day of information, insight, energy and fun.
- Attendees will learn:
- How to boost sales with website analytics
- How smart companies are using mobile technology to be more productive
- Why many small businesses are not getting results with social media and what you must do
- How to stop selling and start publishing content for more sales
- Why websites and email marketing are not dead, and how to get the most out of yours
- How local companies are getting more local customers using technology
- How to increase sales by segmenting your customers
The Small Business Expo
October 5, 2011, New York City
Full-day networking event, trade show and conference for business owners, entrepreneurs and decision-makers.
The Summit for Women in Business
October 6-9, 2011, Pigeon Forge, TN
The Summit for Women in Business is providing and showing you how to implement the needed strategies and tools to remain competitive and current within today’s evolving business climate. Created by women business owners for women business owners, this Summit is designed for SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) entrepreneurs, independent and self-employed professionals.
Western Mass Business Expo
October 18, 2011, Springfield, MA
As the region’s business publication, The Business Journal of Western Massachusetts believes the businesses and communities that comprise Western Massachusetts should be represented at a region-wide trade show to better promote buying and doing business locally. The day begins with breakfast at 7:30 followed by the Expo’s official opening at 9 a.m. and will feature seminars, speakers, lunch and a high-energy, end-of-day networking event featuring music, food and drink.
Media and Entertainment Investing Conference
October 27, 2011, Coral Gables, FL
Sponsored by The Launch Pad at the University of Miami, this conference will cover trends in early-stage investing, the factors that are most important to Investors when they are considering an investment, the best and worst things an entrepreneur can do to get investors’ attention, strategies to grow their businesses, additional advice for entrepreneurs and, of course, the best ways to reach these and other investors.
BlogWorld & New Media Expo
November 3-5, 2011, Los Angeles
BlogWorld & New Media Expo is the first and only industry-wide conference, tradeshow and media event dedicated to blogging, podcasting, social media, social networking, online video, music, Internet TV and radio. BlogWorld conference attendees enjoy more than 120 cutting-edge educational sessions presented by leading bloggers, podcasters and content creators, while the New Media Expo provides the only industry-wide new media marketplace for networking, online business and marketing resources.
Register with the promo code SBTVIP20 to save 20% off any conference pass, or use code SBTVIP50 to save 50% off Expo Passes (which include access to the Exhibit hall as well as all keynotes and parties, just like the conference passes).
Recession Proof Sales Training Seminar
November 7, 2011, Woodridge, Ontario
Recession proof your career with this sales training seminar. You will learn how to increase sales, effective communication, customer retention, marketing strategies and how to attract new customers. Location: Paramount Conference and Event Venue, in Vaughan – minutes north of Toronto, Ontario.
Social Media Makeover Forum at Digital Atlanta 2011
November 8, 2011, Atlanta
This half-day, innovative business conference will take place during Digital Atlanta 2011 – a week-long (November 7-11) calendar of events that will focus on the digital and social media scene in Atlanta. The SMB Social Media Makeover Forum will feature three panels of social media experts from leading brands and agencies. These experts will provide advice to three small and mid-sized businesses who will be selected for social media makeovers.
To find more small business events, contests and awards, visit the Small Business Events Calendar.
If you are putting on a small business event or contest, and want to get the word out, please submit it through our Events & Contests Submission Form (it’s free). Only events of interest to small business people, freelancers and entrepreneurs will be included.
Brought to you as a community service by Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com.
20-Plus Small Business Events You Don’t Want to Miss
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
You Don’t Need to Be Oprah to Build Your Legacy
Jul 15th
By definition legacy is “a gift, something handed down from a predecessor.” Our life and what we do here during our time on earth is our legacy. That legacy is the body of life and work that we pass on that ultimately perpetuates us and leaves our imprint behind.
Oprah shared her legacy from the 25 years of her television show. During her last one May 25, 2011, she talked about:
- finding her calling
- her platform
- her power to change her reality
- listening to the whispers
- validation
- positive energy
- daily gratitude
It got me thinking that each one of us has a legacy that we are responsible for. It is what we want to be known for and remembered by. It is a universal human need we all have! We all need and want . . .
- to be seen
- to be heard
- to be valued
Oprah earned that validation over time and that’s why we validate her. Each one of us, no matter our position or status, has to earn validation.
In his recent book Enchantment, Guy Kawasaki talks about the three pillars of enchanting brands: likability, trustworthiness and quality. He cites the likability of Virgin or Richard Branson, the trustworthiness of Zappos and the quality product that’s Apple.
Three things have been foundational and the cornerstone of building my legacy:
1) Being laser clear on my purpose as a person: educator, motivator and catalyst. I love to learn, help others learn and connect people and things.
2) Being consistent, authentic and open in communicating that purpose to others with a sense of curiosity, adventure, energy, positivity and enthusiasm.
3) Building trustworthiness, quality and value to others because I care deeply about them and I want them to know that.
My friend Tory Johnson, who has done an amazing job building her legacy and brand over the past 12 years, graciously gave me some praise which is on the front cover of my new book: “Deborah Shane cares deeply. Get her on your side.” That meant a lot to me.
If this is part of my personal and professional brand legacy, then I am very happy. You don’t need to be Oprah to build your legacy. Just be you every day.
How are you building your personal and professional legacy?
You Don’t Need to Be Oprah to Build Your Legacy
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
“Built to Sell” – Even Better If You Don’t Want to Sell
Apr 30th
Please don’t overlook this book because you don’t want to sell your business, or don’t want to sell it in the near future.
In fact, the book is just as valuable to small business owners who are looking to make their businesses better, and don’t want to sell.
Bo Burlingham, in his Foreword of Built to Sell, by John Warrillow, says it best:
“The point is that the best businesses are sellable, and smart businesspeople believe that you should build a company to be sold even if you have no intention of cashing out or stepping back anytime soon.”
In 2008, Warrillow received an offer he couldn’t refuse, and sold his business, which was built using the principles of this book. Today, Warrillow and his wife and kids live the good life in Provence, France, thanks to the sale of that business.
This book is actually the second edition, updated with an Implementation Guide, and published in April, 2011 by Portfolio / Penguin. The original version, published in 2010, is written in parable form, and is well-loved by many, including the Small Business Trends Book Review team, and you can read the original review, by Book Review Editor, Ivana Taylor.
I had received a review copy from John Warillow and couldn’t wait to tell you about it. But I didn’t want to regurgitate the information from the original book review (and it’s terrific, and I recommend checking it out), so I spoke to Warrillow, and asked him about some specific parts of the book that really called to me. Here are some highlights from the interview:
Question: What is the number one reason small business owners tell you that they buy your book?
John Warrillow: I hear most often that it’s because they want to grow their businesses. They’ve often reached a ceiling on their earnings. Maybe it’s $200,000. Maybe it’s $700,000. Whatever it is, they want to understand how to make their businesses scalable.
Question: Making a business scalable seems to be an important concept in your book. Can you describe what you mean by that?
John Warrillow: A scalable business has to meet the three criteria I detail in the book: 1) a service or product that is “teachable to employees,” so that the owner isn’t always the one doing the work; 2) a service or product that is valuable to your customers, and is not a commodity; and 3) a service or product that is “repeatable,” meaning customers need to return again and again to buy.
Question: It’s clear how some products are scalable, such as razors. In your book, the main character, Alex, creates a scalable business out of logo design, which many people consider a “non-scalable” business, since it’s a professional service. Is this just an outlier, or can service businesses really create “scalable products?”
John Warrillow: Here are two examples. I know of an attorney, who, instead of offering her services on an hourly basis, like the vast majority of attorneys, offers them in a product package, such as $5,000 for a no-contest divorce, and $1,200 for a new business incorporation. Another example is Hassle Free Home Services, Inc., created by Jim Vagonis. It offers customers a single point of contact for all of their home care needs, by paying a flat fee for one year, in a renewable annual contract.
Question: What’s the most common question you get about your book?
John Warrillow: It’s “why can’t I offer scalable products or services and still do custom work?”
Question: Ah, the old, why do I have to have a niche, why can’t I offer everything argument…
John Warrillow: Yes, and it’s the concept I’m most passionate about. That’s one of the reasons I wrote the implementation guide. In it I describe trying to do just that at one point in my market research business, and failing miserably. I also reiterate throughout the book that the key to success in transitioning to offering only a scalable service or product is to always charge upfront, so you have positive cash flow. You may have some bumpy times, but after a year or so your business will generally grow steadily.
Question: You also make a point about describing your clients as customers, not clients, in a scalable business. Can you explain that a bit more?
John Warrillow: The term “client” implies a consultative, personal relationship. It’s not the kind of thing that can be scalable. If your company has clients, it implies that each client has a one-to-one relationship with someone at your company, often the owner. If your company has customers, the entire team works with them.
As always, I have to thank John Warrillow for writing a great book, one of my favorite business books of all time. The second edition is even better with the addition of the Implementation Guide. Run, don’t walk to get this book. Your business will thank you.
“Built to Sell” – Even Better If You Don’t Want to Sell
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
These Numbers Just Don’t Add Up
Mar 25th
This cartoon was originally captioned, “Yes, I can see that you added these numbers up, but they still don’t, you know. . .add up.” It’s a fine caption, but if brevity is indeed wit, that line is less than witty.
You see, in general, you only have a few seconds to get a cartoon across to a reader, so any shortcut you can take (implying background, simplifying scenery, pruning a caption) helps a lot.
But this one was a stumper. I couldn’t get past setting it up with “added these numbers up,” that is, until I was tinkering with my budget later that day.
I was using the auto sum function when suddenly the above caption came into sharp focus. An Excel-lent improvement, you could say.
These Numbers Just Don’t Add Up
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Don’t Try to Learn from Failure
Feb 28th
Most people believe that entrepreneurs learn from failure. Pick up USA Today, Entrepreneur, or any of a multitude of popular publications and you will find stories about how entrepreneurs learned from their mistakes to become successful the next time around. Using examples of Apple’s failure with the Newton, Frederick Smith’s low grade on the Fed Ex business plan, and Bill Gates’ unsuccessful first computer business, many authors argue that entrepreneurial failure is no obstacle to later success.
In fact, some observers, like entrepreneur and Harvard Business School lecturer Shikhar Ghosh, even say that business failure helps entrepreneurs become more successful the next time around.
Policy makers often echo this view. For instance, the Director General of the European Commission’s Enterprise Directorate Horst Reichenbach writes, “Usually, failed entrepreneurs learn from their mistakes and are more successful at the next attempt.”
There’s only one problem with the “failure helps” perspective. It’s a myth. There’s no serious scholarly evidence that prior business failure enhances later entrepreneurial performance. Quite the contrary, the existing evidence indicates that entrepreneurs who failed before perform no better than novice entrepreneurs and significantly worse than previously successful entrepreneurs. For example, in a working paper released by Harvard Business School, Paul Gompers, Anna Kovner, Josh Lerner, and David Scharfstein showed that venture capital-backed entrepreneurs whose earlier business had an initial public offering (IPO) had a 30 percent chance of having another venture that also went public, but those entrepreneurs whose earlier ventures didn’t go public had only a 20 percent chance of an IPO the next time around, statistically no better than the 18 percent chance of novice entrepreneurs.
Explaining why previously successful entrepreneurs do better the second time around is easy. They might simply be better at creating new companies than those who have never done it before or failed their first time around. Or previously successful entrepreneurs might not be more talented, but key stakeholders – suppliers, customers, employees and investors – might think they are and lend them their support. Even if stakeholders provide assistance on the mistaken notion that previously successful entrepreneurs weren’t just lucky, their beliefs become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Because the previously successful entrepreneurs garner the support of stakeholders, their prospects end up better than those of novice or previously unsuccessful business founders.
More difficult to explain is the truism that “entrepreneurs learn from failure.” Our collective belief in its veracity stems less from a reasoned look at data and more from what we want to believe. The idea that prior business failure helps fits perfectly with the motto “if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.”
You might say it’s fine to think that entrepreneurs learn from failure even if there is no evidence that it’s true. But this inaccurate belief has a cost. Many unsuccessful entrepreneurs start additional businesses in the mistaken belief that their previous failures taught them how to do better the next time around. And many of these entrepreneurs end up losing money again.
Investors who focus on experience and not past performance often earn less those who back only previously successful entrepreneurs. And policy makers who choose not to focus limited resources on business founders with winning records, under the assumption that “experience” is what matters, often miss the opportunity to enhance economic growth and job creation.
Don’t Try to Learn from Failure
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Obama, Jobs, Zuckerberg, and Schmidt: Don’t Discount the Lobbying
Feb 17th
President Obama is slated to meet with software captains of industry this evening. The most notable players include Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Eric Schmidt. A lot of media commentary seems to be treating this as a celeb gathering, or some kind of running joke. What are they really going to talk about? Isn’t the 26-year-old Zuck a little young to be involved in this?
The point missing from this dialogue is that Silicon Valley software companies have become a major political force in the last decade. They spend millions on lobbying, hire hotshot lobbyists, and have people on both sides of the revolving door. (Al Gore is an Apple director and a Google adviser. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg used to be a Google VP and worked in Larry Summers’ Treasury Dept. before that.)
Though this meeting sounds glamorous on the surface, in execution, it’s the same let’s-scratch-each-others’-backs that you might see in a manufacturing or big oil meeting. Just call it Big Software.
OpenSecrets has more on the Silicon Valley lobbying tour de force:
In 2010, the computer and Internet industry as a whole was the seventh biggest lobbying spender among all industries and special interest areas, investing more than $120 million on related expenditures, the Center for Responsive Politics finds.
“What we can do — what America does better than anyone — is spark the creativity and imagination of our people,” President Barack Obama said. “We are the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook.”
For Google and Facebook, the president serving as their pitchman is indicative of their meteoric rise both outside and within Washington, D.C. And it marks how the political landscape has rapidly shifted for computer and Internet companies, with Washington nonentities of just a few years ago now ranking among the most prominent players in the capital.
TechCrunch has specifics on what each company is interested in:
Policy areas of focus for Facebook include global regulation of software companies and restrictions on internet access by foreign governments; internet privacy regulations, cyber security, and FCC regulations on net neutrality. In total, Facebook spent $351,390 on lobbying in 2010.
Google spent $5.2 million on lobbying in 2010. Google’s lobbying strategy for this quarter focused on online advertising regulation including privacy and competition issues, patent reform, cyber security and online privacy, renewable energy, freedom of expression and censorship, tax reform, free trade, Congressional Internet service usage rules and broadband access.
Apple is notoriously secretive, but here Macrumors and Politico have some hints about its policy interests:
Apple and these other major players are reportedly stepping up lobbying efforts to try to get the federal government to offer a one-year “tax holiday” that would allow them to bring the profits back to the United States while only being subjected to 5% tax, with the rationale being that the money could be put to work in the U.S. to stimulate the economy rather than simply sitting in foreign bank accounts.
Official lobbying disclosures show the company picked up the firm Fierce, Isakowitz and Blalock on Feb. 1 to handle “innovation” issues in Washington. It’s an unexpected expansion for a company that typically keeps a low Washington profile.
Apple has received scrutiny from regulators, who have eyed its App Store guidelines and its handling of Flash video on the iPhone. At the same time, Capitol Hill has ramped up debate over issues such as online privacy and competitiveness – topics that could affect Apple’s bottom line.
Apple’s 2010 lobbying forms reflect the company has been an active participant in those conversations, speaking to lawmakers and federal regulators about patents, research funding, free trade agreements and taxes. It’s new outside firm, Fierce, Isakowitz and Blalock, has handled some of those issues for other industry clients such as CTIA, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, Time Warner Cable and the Coalition for Patent Fairness.
To some extent, Apple, Google, and Facebook’s rootsy brand images veil the fact that in execution, they count as Corporate America. Apple has the charismatic Jobs and still holds that anti-Microsoft, outsider image, even though its status has really changed in recent years. Google has its “Googliness”–art on the homepage, innovative software programs, and a reputation as a really “different” place to work. Facebook still appears young and hip, with that college association. But these companies are real players. Discounting that is avoiding the truth.
View full post on Business Pundit
