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Awesome List of Events for Small Businesses

Jan 8th

Posted by Home Wealth Project in Business Trends

Every two weeks we put together a list of key events for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The following Small Business Events Guide contains worthwhile events for those wanting to grow their businesses:

Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2012 Growth Conference
January 11, 2012, Long Beach, CA

Coming soon to the Long Beach Convention Center — a full-day of seminars and opportunities to help you achieve your biggest branding, sales and profit goals. Plus, a chance to hear first-hand and learn from the experiences of the Entrepreneur of 2011 winners in a special awards luncheon.

Creating a Sellable Service Business
January 16-17, 2012, Las Vegas

Selling your business Do you have a service business and want to know how to position it to be A) Sellable and B) Sellable for the maximum amount of money possible?

John Warrillow, who sold his own consulting and services business, and author of the book “Built to Sell,” is offering this intimate, hands-on workshop on building a sellable business. During this workshop, you’ll get the opportunity to put your business under the microscope with Warrillow and a small group of other successful business owners. Together, you’ll uncover the steps to make your business more attractive to potential buyers – whether you’re looking to sell your business in the near future, or want to start ramping up the value of your business in order to sell it down the line.

Most service businesses never sell. They are started by someone with a specific skill. When the time comes to get out, you’re left with nothing. This workshop aims to change that!

This workshop requires a significant commitment – and so it is only for those serious about changing their future. Register now.

Women Entrepreneurs Festival
January 17-18, 2012, New York City

The Women Entrepreneurs Festival takes place January 17-18 in New York City! The goal of the Women Entrepreneurs Festival v.2 is to sow the seeds for a broader community of women entrepreneurs, and to expose women who have not yet taken the entrepreneurial plunge to the women who’ve already taken it. Sponsored by the Tisch School of the Arts’ ITP program, the fest’s stunning lineup of speakers is here. And the one and only Arianna Huffington will be giving the keynote address. The festival is limited to 250 participants.

Time Management for Busy Business Owners
January 18, 2012, Online

Manage your time well and you take back both your personal and professional life. With so many hats to wear, small business owners and entrepreneurs can get buried in by their “to do” lists.

In this online, interactive seminar, you’ll learn to
assess your time management skills, distinguish between what’s important and what’s urgent, apply tools to determine priorities and more.

The End of Business As Usual: Rewire the Way You Work to Succeed in the Consumer Revolution
January 18, 2012, Online

In today’s rough political and economic climate, businesses need to reexamine relationships with customers and employees to create more positive, engaging experiences as part of everyday business. Join this webinar to hear Brian Solis, author of The End of Business As Usual, reveal how to deliver customer experiences that will increase not only engagement but ultimately loyalty and advocacy. Attend this webinar to learn how to:

Translate listening into learning and insights
Document the impact of disruptive technology on your business
Meet the needs of customers in emerging channels
Foster advocacy by delivering the right value to consumers

The Art of the Cold Call // BUSINESS 153
January 23, 2012, New York City

So your startup doesn’t have any money for a fancy ad campaign or a seasoned sales exec. You can barely keep the lights on as it is. But you know that your product is amazing, and if only your clients knew about you, you would be raking in the dollars. For a struggling start up like yours, there is only one way to make that happen. Pick up the phone. Cold calling is a deeply psychological exercise. We’ll start with a brainstorm. Why is cold calling so hard? What do you feel when you get that call? When you make one? We’ll tackle these issues so that you can build up your confidence and deliver a flawless call.

Introduction to Developing Entrepreneurial Ideas
Four Session Series: January 23 & 30, February 6 & 13, New York City

Do you have an idea but you are not sure if you can make a business out of it, or have an idea but need to refine it? Or need help in creating, reviewing or evaluating an idea? This class will focus over four sessions on the idea generation process and generating creative new ideas and turning entrepreneurial ideas into businesses. Often people think they need just one great business idea and this idea will cover them in a “flash of genius.” While this can be true, often good business ideas get developed, molded, and improved over time. We will discuss both products and services ideas and focus on how to transform an idea or invention into an economically viable innovation and business.

Tax Tips and IRS Examination Advice for Small Business Owners
January 25, 2012, Wheaton, MD

If you are a small business and want to learn tips about taxes and the IRS examination, this class is for you! This class will be taught by small business accountants and attorneys. In this workshop attendees will learn 1) tax tips, 2) how to prepare for tax season, 3) red flags for being selected for examination, 4) the elements of an examination, 5) how an examination proceeds, and 6) potential outcomes. One 2.5 hour session.

Small Biz Success Summit 2012
Social Media Success Summit - SmallBiz February 1 – 23, 2012 – Online

Presented by Social Media Examiner, this mega-event is designed to help you grow your small business using social media. There’s no travel! You simply attend this online event from the comfort of your home or office. It consists of multiple online webinars and Q&A sessions spread out from February 1 to 23, 2012. Attend all the sessions or as many as you wish – recordings and transcripts also available.

You will hear from 28 of the world’s top small-biz social media experts, including: John Jantsch (author, Duct Tape Marketing), Anita Campbell (founder, Small Business Trends), Michael Stelzner (founder, Social Media Examiner and author, Launch), Mari Smith (co-author, Facebook Marketing), Jesse Stay (author, Google+ for Dummies), Hollis Thomases (author, Twitter Marketing), David Siteman Garland (founder, “The Rise to the Top” and author, Smarter, Faster, Cheaper), Joe Pulizzi (founder, Content Marketing Institute and co-author, Get Content, Get Customers), Brian Clark (founder, Copyblogger Media), Lee Odden (founder, TopRank Online Marketing), Ramon Ray (founder, Small Biz Technology and author, Technology Solutions for Growing Businesses) and Lewis Howes (co-author, LinkedWorking). Register.

Small Biz Big Things
February 7, 2012, San Francisco

Small Biz Big Things is all about YOU, YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR challenges. In this interactive forum you’ll hear from business growth experts who have built (or are building) successful companies and can share their lessons learned, success stories, growth challenges and victories with you.

Speakers include Scott Hintz, co-founder of Tripit, Jim Fowler, who built Jigsaw and sold it to Salesforce.com, and Tamara Mendelsohn, VP of Marketing for Eventbrite.

Come network, have a great lunch and learn from experts who can help you GROW YOUR BUSINESS.

Small Farms Conference
February 25, 2012, Corvallis, OR

The event includes workshops ranging from harvesting rainwater and marketing meat products to grafting vegetables and selling produce to schools and hospitals. Speakers include farmers, OSU faculty, farmer’s market representatives and experts from the state Department of Agriculture.

Other topics include farm financing, land-use legislation and business plan development.

Inc. GrowCo
March 5-7, 2012, New Orleans

Come to GROWCO and master the strategies, tactics, and real-world solutions your company needs to thrive. Packed with actionable insights, GROWCO can be a life-changing event. You’ll learn from mega-successful entrepreneurs whose companies have created millions of dollars of wealth and tens of thousands of jobs…and a lot more.

Seventh Annual Small Business Summit 2012
March 6, 2012, New York City

The Small Business Summit is New York’s premier event for small business owners looking to network with other decision-makers, attend cutting edge seminars and shop around for products & services available to help their small businesses succeed. You’ll network with 500+ attendees, hear from small business experts in exciting presentations and panel discussions, and have a great lunch. The winner of the Small Business Strategy Award will be announced live, plus great raffles and giveaways.

The Super Early Bird Registration Rate of $99 (a $100 savings) has been extended through January 9th.

Social Tech ’12
March 29-30, 2012, Seattle

Social media marketing is no longer an option for B2B—it’s an absolute necessity. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with over 25 of the leading experts who will teach you how to use social media marketing to generate more inbound leads, grow brand awareness, drive conversions, and increase revenue. You’ll meet with industry insiders as well as other B2B marketers to discuss best practices, winning techniques, current roadblocks, and find out what works for your business!

Infusioncon 2012
April 2-4, Phoenix, AZ

Get ready to learn, network and set new ideas in motion! Join hundreds of small businesses from all around the world at InfusionCon 2012, Infusionsoft’s annual user conference, and experience three days of idea sharing and inspiration in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona on April 2-4.

America’s Small Business Summit 2012
May 21-23, 2012, Washington, DC

US Chamber Small Business Summit

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s annual event — America’s Small Business Summit — unites small business owners, managers, and entrepreneurs from across the country to learn, network, and discuss common legislative and management concerns. Past speakers include former President George W. Bush, General Stanley McChrystal, Small Business Editor of the WSJ Colleen DeBaise, and many more. Attendees help influence our nation’s economic and political agenda by advocating for pro-business policies through the Rally on the Hill portion of the program. The event will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., on May 21-23, 2012. For more information and important dates, check the Summit website, www.uschambersummit.com.

8th Annual Kentucky Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference
June 1, 2012, Louisville, KY

The Annual Kentucky Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference (8th KIEC) will bring together distinguished speakers, tech-based economic development practitioners, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, students and postdoctoral fellows.

The conference will focus on growing local initiatives powered by science and engineering talent.

2012 Veteran Entrepreneur Training Symposium
June 11-14, 2012, Reno, NV

Designed by Veteran small business owners for Veteran small business owners, VETS2012 brings government agencies, industry leaders and Veteran entrepreneurs together in a small, intimate forum to discuss the questions you need answered.

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.

From Small Business Trends

Awesome List of Events for Small Businesses

View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends

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5 Website Resolutions to Put on Your List for 2012

Jan 3rd

Posted by Home Wealth Project in Business Trends

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We’re in the New Year and the time for making resolutions about health, wealth, family and oddball bucket lists. Don’t forget about making resolutions about your online presence as well. Your website 2012 resolutions should include content, communications, community, conversations and conversion. The secret of successful small business owners is that they spend more time “on the business” than “in the business.” One of the tools for spending on your business is your web presence.

new year resolutions

Small businesses are great at customer service and realize that their next customer will come from a current customer – Word of Mouth. In the digital world word of mouth is “word of mouse” a powerful tool to gain new customers. A new era of marketing is unfolding and digital marketing helps you in your objective to influence behavior to change positively towards you. The audience who need your product and services are increasingly searching for them online. It is interesting to see how the communication tools are coming together.

We hope you are convinced that even your brick and mortar business needs to be on the web. Guess what - “92% of online adults use search engines to find information on the Web” according to a May 2011 Pew Internet Survey (PDF).

Without further adieu, here are some 2012 resolutions you should include in your business list. Five “C” online resolutions for small business:

Content

Not having a website for your business is not an option anymore. A website or a blog all count as establishing your web presence.
Resolve to update it constantly. Once a day, week or even a month as long as you are consistent.
Show your thought leadership through content. Publish your thoughts on your industry, peers, products, good news about your community.
Education through content – provide tips to your customers, answer the most asked questions on your website or blog.
Fresh and updated content is a good way to ensure search engines are indexing your site often and your chances of appearing in search results will be better.

Communications

Email Marketing is still a top performing marketing channel for businesses. Embrace it and use it to flourish.

It is important for you to get email branded with your business name showing consistency and credibility.
Communicate with your customers to solve their problems with your product rather than selling your product.
If you are sending an email newsletter you should try to use software like Constant Contact, Exact Target, MailChimp or other professional tools. Many of these tools make it easy for you and also guide you to succeed in email marketing.

Establish communications with customers using popular social media tools like Facebook and Twitter. Before you decide on setting up your social profiles, asking your customers where they would like to connect with you is a good idea.

Food trucks use this medium very well to let customers know their location.
Last minute availability of appointments at doctors, saloons.

Your website should have the components of a Web 2.0 site – ability for your web visitors to comment, share your content and bookmark it.

Your blog, social media tools are all communication tools and working together with email make great marketing tools.

Community

Every business should nurture their customer communities by providing them with tools to spread word of mouth.

Customer appreciation days
Special offers for regular customers
Formal or informal meetings with customer advisory boards
Asking customers for ideas to improve products or suggest new product features
Provide easy ways to give you feedback or review your business

Face to face networking is important

Attend local events
Business networking and educational events
Set aside time and budget to attend and learn ways to increase your business

Sponsoring local community events – get involved in local community events, PTA organizations, schools , scout groups.

Cutting edge Technology

While investing in technology evaluate the benefit to your organization and avoid any impulse buys.

Upgrade your Internet speeds if you feel it will increase the speed of your customer transactions.
Get a new smartphone if you are away from your computer a lot and your business depends on emails and orders from customers through the web.
Invest in a tablet if you would like to carry an electronic portfolio to show customers.

Attend trade shows or subscribe to trade magazines to see what new technology can help make your business more efficient.

Consider having an advisory board of people you know who can advise you on new technology.

Conversion: All your resolutions should lead to your objective of growing your business.

Make sure you spend your time on activities that help your business grow.
Social tools can be distracting. Consider them as communication tools and allot enough time to nurture your communities there.
While only talking about sales in a social context is sometimes in poor taste, look for opportunities where you answer peoples questions and offer to help.
Definitely use analytics programs to see where your traffic is coming from and which keywords they are using to find your business online.
If you are a brick and mortar business like a restaurant, try to ask your customers where they found you.

Remember you don’t have to do all these tasks yourself. Weigh the time you would spend with the cost of hiring people to tell your story and concentrate on what you do best – working on your business. What did you add to your New Year business resolution?

New Year Resolutions List Photo via Shutterstock

From Small Business Trends

5 Website Resolutions to Put on Your List for 2012

View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends

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4 Tricks for Building Your Email List

Oct 25th

Posted by Home Wealth Project in Business Trends

2 comments

Email is not dead. Using email newsletters to stay top of mind with your audience and keep them up to date on what’s new and exciting at your company remains a great way to build new and repeat sales. However, before you can use email marketing as a way to leverage visitors and direct them to your website, you first need their email addresses–and you need to build up a certain amount of trust and interest to make them feel comfortable handing over their inbox to you.

How do you sell the benefits of your newsletter to make customers and potential customers feel comfortable signing up?

Below are four handy tricks I recommend.

1. Create a Compelling Offer

If you want a visitor on your site to hand over their personal email address, you need to give them a compelling reason to do so. We’re (rightfully) protective over the sanctity of our inboxes. We don’t allow just anyone in there. For you to get entrance you’ll need to explain to your audience what’s in it for them. What are the benefits they’ll receive for becoming part of your email list? How will it improve their day, life or user experience? Make it worth their time and the invasion of their privacy.

2. Give Them a Little Something-Something

OK, so you’ve gotten their interest. They’re thinking about it and considering whether the offer you just outlined is worth their time. Sweeten the deal by giving them a little something extra upfront. Maybe it’s a free download of a white paper you wrote, maybe it’s a tool or gadget they can download, or maybe it’s a coupon to your site or one of your partner’s stores. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate gift, just something to make their trigger finger a little itchier. We could all use an extra push.

3. Show Them What’s at Stake

Part of encouraging someone toward a desired action is showing them what’s at stake and how your newsletter or your company will help them achieve their goal or eliminate a need. That’s really what they’re signing up for – the answer to their problem. Not only must you show how you’ll be able to do that (as mentioned in the first step), but you should also be able to show what they’ll lose out on if they don’t take the action you suggest.

4. Be Open About How Their Information Will Be Used

This is really important. For someone to feel safe giving you their email address, you need to be really clear and transparent about a couple of things.

How their email address will be used
The process for unsubscribing should they want to stop receiving messages
That their email address will never be sold to other parties

These are huge concerns for the average user, and if you don’t address them, you’re going to have a difficult time getting someone to subscribe to your email newsletter. You should also include information about how often visitors can expect to receive messaging from you. This helps them feel confident that you won’t spam them the death the minute you get their email address.

Your email marketing relationship with a visitor starts when they’re still deciding whether or not they trust you with their email address. By focusing on just a few points like creating a clear call to action and calming any privacy concerns, you increase your odds of getting that email address and opening up a whole new relationship with that visitor.

From Small Business Trends

4 Tricks for Building Your Email List