To Grow Your Business, You Must Also Grow – Attend One of These Events |  |
- To Grow Your Business, You Must Also Grow – Attend One of These Events
- News You Can Use In Your Business – Week Ending July 20
- 15 Beautiful Places to Contemplate Your Startup
- Does Your Business Have “Youtility?”
| To Grow Your Business, You Must Also Grow – Attend One of These Events Posted: 20 Jul 2013 04:00 PM PDT Every week we bring a hand-picked list of events and awards for small businesses and entrepreneurs. If you want to grow your business, you must grow yourself through learning and networking. And if you want to become well known, you must tell the “story” of your company in Awards programs. This is a partial list. To see a full list or to submit your own (it’s free to list), visit the Small Business Events Calendar. Featured Events, Contests and Awards
The Big Awards started with a mission of recognizing real talent and performance. Real business people, those with experience and knowledge, judge the Big Awards. Request an entry kit today and submit your nomination by August 14, 2013.
INBOUND is a 4 day marketing experience that brings together thousands of marketers from around the globe for an annual event held in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. Small Business Influencer Awards 2013 The 2013 Small Business Influencer Awards recognize the apps, organizations and people who have a strong impact on small businesses in North America. Now its 3rd year, the Awards are a coveted recognition for those who serve small businesses. Check to see who’s already been nominated, and nominate yourself, or someone or some organization or app you admire. No fee to enter. Twitter hashtag: #SMBinfluencer.
This conference brings together amazing women entrepreneurs, both on and off the stage. Hear real behind-the-scenes stories of success including JJ Ramberg, Sarah Endline, Janine Popick, and Pamela O’Hara. Expert keynotes and panel discussions include: Getting Funding for Growth with Kay Koplovitz & Peggy Wallace, Turning Ideas into Companies with Yao Huang, 5 Strategies for a Stronger Brand with Julie Cottineau, and a journalist panel on Pitching the Media. SEATING IS LIMITED. More Events
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This weekly listing of small business events, contests and awards is provided as a community service by Small Business Trends and SmallBizTechnology. The post To Grow Your Business, You Must Also Grow – Attend One of These Events appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| News You Can Use In Your Business – Week Ending July 20 Posted: 20 Jul 2013 12:30 PM PDT
Here is our weekly roundup of key news you can use in your small business. Highlights this week are that Google has changed Gmail (and Google Apps mail) forever with tabs. Some marketers and e-commerce sellers are up in arms — but are they overreacting? As has become usual, smartphones also are in the news and their impact keeps growing. Yelp makes an important change in the way local businesses serve customers. And a new startup may have just transformed the independent music business. The Small Business Trends editorial team finds the stories you need to run your business effectively. Read on: Marketing and E-commerceGmail Tabs could cause new headaches. If you haven’t seen the new tabs yet, it’s time to take a look. Email marketers and e-commerce sellers will especially need to figure out how Google’s latest email incarnation may affect their businesses. Decreased cost per click is a big opportunity. It may be bad news for Google but potentially good news for AdWords advertisers. Cost per click for these ads are down six percent and online ads may be more effective than expected. Small businesses should do better at PPC. Larry Kim of WordStream shares the results of a recent informal poll of AdWords advertisers. It shows some of the issues that could be hampering your business’s success as well. How to fight abandoned shopping cart syndrome. Ecommerce merchants all know the frustration. A buyer shows up on your site, puts items in a shopping cart and then…Here are some best practices for what comes next. New study looks at buying online. If you’re in business today, then how customers buy online is probably a concern. Rieva Lesonsky helps us sort out a new study from Shopzilla with a poll of Internet users. TechMotorola’s new phones are coming. Predictions suggest the Moto X and other smartphones will be on the market before summer’s end. Here’s what small business owners need to know about these new productivity tools. Microsoft cuts price of the Surface RT tablet. Disappointing sales and excess inventory have caused the decision. But the question remains whether the new reduced price will make you buy any of these devices that use the scaled-down Windows RT operating system. Some believe the pricier Surface Pro, using full Windows 8, is a better bet for business users. Google Databoard provides new research. The latest Google tool not only gives you access to the latest research from the search engine giant. It also gives you the ability to create custom infographics using that data. Email is a blessing…and a curse. Email allows small businesses to improve response time and increase productivity. But it does something else too, unfortunately. A survey shows email is also eroding the separation between work and leisure. ServicesThe next evolution of Yelp could help your business even more. The website already offers a forum for the best kind of marketing there is: word of mouth. But soon there could be something even better. Get money for music on YouTube. Audium is a startup offering new opportunities for independent musicians. Big record companies and music publishers are no longer the only ones getting paid when their songs appear in online videos. There’s another new video chat tool. Podio introduced the new chat feature recently. It’s available to both users of Podio’s free and pay packages. Here’s how the new Podio video chat app enhances collaboration in your business. An exclusive talk with Connie Certusi of Sage. Sage Small Business Solutions has focused on creating software to automate small business administrative, finance and other tasks. In this video Hangout of an exclusive live session as part of our weekly interview series, interviewer Brent Leary explores with Certusi the company’s philosophy and Sage’s initiatives to support local businesses. FinanceThe state of angel investing. Scott Shane, Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western Reserve University, looks at where angel investment stands after the Great Recession. To sum up, angels are providing less money to more startups. “What is ROI” defined. Understanding Return on Investment can be incredibly important for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Here Small Business Trends founder and CEO Anita Campbell explains ROI and what it means to your business — in a practical sense. Small business loans are critical. So says a new study about the role they play in startup success. Tom Gazaway of Hawkeye Management shares more from the study and looks at the importance of these loans for small business. OperationsMoving your business across state lines. You may have all the details of changing your mailing address and switching cable and Internet hookups figured out. But legally moving your LLC is another story, says Nellie Akalp of CorpNet. Getting past the Blink Factor. The greatest challenge small business face today may not be competition or lack of demand. In fact, it may be how long you estimate it will take you and others to complete a task. EmploymentSmall businesses created 45 percent of U.S. jobs in June. And that isn’t the only thing you’ll likely find interesting about the latest report from ADP. Take a look at the sizes of the businesses that created most of those jobs. Book ReviewNetworking is Dead. Ivana Taylor reviews a book from the business fable genre. Networking is Dead: Making Connections That Matter by Melissa G. Wilson looks at how effective networking is after all. Send Us a News TipHave news you think small business readers would like to know? Send it to: SBTips@gmail.com
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| 15 Beautiful Places to Contemplate Your Startup Posted: 20 Jul 2013 09:00 AM PDT Whether you already have a great business idea or are looking for inspiration for a business startup, consider taking some time to get away from it all. Take a short break to mull over your idea. Clear your head and work out the details for your next venture in a beautiful and relaxing environment. It will bring clarity and energize you for the challenges ahead. But not everyone is the same, so the ideal getaway for you might not be the same as for someone else. To help you choose, we’ve created a list of possible destinations where you can contemplate your startup. Below is are 15 places you may want to consider that you can view as a slideshow or as a single page. 1. The Grand CanyonLooking for some peace and quiet? You can avoid crowds by hiking the Grand Canyon National Park’s many trails or driving to the cool evergreen forests of the North Rim. It’s just the place for aspiring entrepreneurs to enjoy the view at their leisure and think at their own pace.
Grand Canyon Photo via Shutterstock 2. New York’s Central ParkThere's a lot you can do at Central Park, but take a pedicab or a horse carriage tour for a pleasant change. You could also take a bike or just walk while you think about launching your startup.
Central Park, New York Photo via Shutterstock 3. AlaskaLong, very cold winters and short, cool summers await you in Alaska. There are many ways to enjoy the locale but driving allows you the freedom to explore at your own pace. Who knows? As you look on mountains, glaciers and waterways along Alaska's highways you could have your eureka moment.
Lazy Bear, Alaska Photo via Shutterstock 4. CancunThis is a place where you can indulge in water sports, take a tour of eco-parks or visit Mayan archaeological sites. You can relax at the beach and experience Mexican culture at its best. It is a good destination to sit back and let ideas come with clarity and ease.
Mayan Riviera, Cancun, Mexico Photo via Shutterstock 5. The Great Barrier ReefMarvel at the range of marine life and explore tropical islands or simply laze at the beaches. There's a lot that can inspire you at the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Energize yourself for that next startup.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia Photo via Shutterstock 6. The BahamasTry the People-To-People Experience when you visit the Bahamas islands. A far cry from the run off the mill vacation, you'll be paired with a volunteer Bahamian host to see their culture. This one-of-a-kind vacation experience gives you plenty of opportunities to be inspired.
The Bahamas Photo via Shutterstock 7. Yellowstone National ParkAmerica’s first national park lets you enjoy wildlife at its best. Home to grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk, the park is just the place for nature lovers. Your next green business idea could spring forth from here perhaps?
Emerald Pool, Yellowstone National Park Photo via Shutterstock 8. AsilahAsilha, Morocco, is for those of you who love small towns. From the spring through early summer, during its famous cultural moussem festival, the town draws many artists including several Moroccan painters. If you're looking for inspiration, this might be the place.
Asilah, Morocco Photo via Shutterstock 9. MarrakechA city that blends the past with contemporary dynamism, Marrakesh exudes life and enthusiasm. Exotic finds, picturesque locations and relaxing strolls here will help you find inspiration and clarity.
Marrakech, Morocco Photo via Shutterstock 10. Chiang RaiChiang Rai, Thailand with its natural beauty and solitude is just the place if you seek tranquility. You can visit the lively Night Bazaar and enjoy local crafts, food and dance while you chew on that brilliant business idea.
Chiang Rai, Thailand Photo via Shutterstock 11. DubaiContemporary, fast paced and bustling with people, Dubai is the place to visit for a short break. Among surreal shopping experiences, famous gold souk (traditional markets), and art galleries, you will find lots that is commerce-related to give you new global business ideas.
Dubai Photo via Shutterstock 12. JordanJordan, with its millennia-old civilization, the Red and Dead seas, incredible desert landscapes and the glories of Petra, a magnificent ancient city, gives you the opportunity to take a refreshing break. As you gaze at the undulating landscape your resolve to jump on the business bandwagon will only be strengthened.
Petra, Jordan Photo via Shutterstock 13. MuscatThe Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace of Sultan Qaboos accompanied by the twin forts of Jalali and Mirani, situated on a deep water harbor provides a stunning vista. Samhan Mountain, Dhofar, with its beautiful mountains, deserts and coastal areas and Wadi Darbat are also just some of the places to enjoy a short break in Muscat. As vistas and valleys open up before you, you won't be short of visionary ideas.
Sultan’s Palace, Al-Jalali Fort, Muscat, Oman Photo via Shutterstock 14. BodrumBodrum, Turkey presents the right mix of beautiful settings and a vibrant nightlife. With its white houses and narrow streets leading up to the sea, Bodrum provides a peaceful atmosphere and great climate to let you think about the nitty gritty of your startup.
Bodrum, Turkey Photo via Shutterstock 15. ShanghaiWalk your own path at Fuxing Park in the colonial-era French Concession. You can sit under shady sycamore trees amidst stuccoed villas or scour through the lineup of antique and curio shops off Xizang Road in Shanghai. Explore both sides of the Huangpu River. Shanghai is the financial power center of China. Who knows what might inspire your next business idea?
Shanghai, China Photo via Shutterstock The post 15 Beautiful Places to Contemplate Your Startup appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Does Your Business Have “Youtility?” Posted: 20 Jul 2013 06:00 AM PDT
Should I tell you about a book that details the rise of some of the most talked-about, written-about young-gun-entrepreneurs and CEOs of hot brands? Or should I tell you about a book that will help you grow your business even when you think you've got nowhere to go? As you'll see, I opted for the latter. I don't know about you (maybe this is a personal problem) but whenever I read books that give me ideas about how to grow my business or help my clients grow their business, I feel inspired and energized. So I'm hoping you feel the same way. Let me tell you about the latest review copy that landed on my doorstep: Youtility: Why Smart Marketing is About Help Not Hype. How a Pool Guy Got Me Hot and Bothered for this BookIt's not what you think – but it made you read on didn't it? Youtility did something I don't recall any other book doing. A "pool guy" wrote the introduction. For all intents and purposes this was a pool guy like any other pool guy you know. Except that when the economic crash of 2008 crashed his business, he hunkered down and repositioned his business. He made the decision to look at his business from his customers' point of view and he decided to start blogging (something he wasn't good at but did for the life of his business anyway). Ultimately, his business grew beyond just being a small Virginia pool company. His website is one of the most trafficked pool sites in the world and he calls himself the "Sales Lion." I can't believe I'm spending so many words on two pages of an introduction, but I think it is some of the most powerful content in the book (sorry Jay) because it comes from someone who is a lot like me and a lot like you. And this should make you read on – even more than the pool-guy reference. Youtility: Jay Baer Is On To SomethingAs you know, I read a ton of books and one of the cool things that happens is I get to sense trends through the eyes of the authors. One trend you've really got to take on as part of your marketing strategy is transforming your marketing message from HYPE to HELP. This can be challenging when you've been conditioned to push your product to sell it. It can be challenging when you think about being a unbiased observer of your industry and speaking openly and honestly about comparing your business with someone you perceive as a competitor. But Jay Baer will help you through this process. Jay Baer (@JayBaer) is a digital marketing expert and the president and founder of Convince and Convert, a marketing services firm. He's loaded with practical marketing experience that comes from founding five companies and consulting for more than 700 others that include Sony, Columbia Sportswear, Nike, Petco and more. He's co-authored the book The Now Revolution and has been named one of America's top social media experts by Fast Company. Now that you know how smart he is, let's get into the book. Four Concepts You Must Get Into Your Head to GrowThere are a ton of mind-bending marketing concepts in this book. Below are just four that will give you an idea of what's inside this book:
Inside this book, you'll find plenty of corporate brand examples of Youtility. But I can tell you that for my money, the small business examples are about 1000 times better. Youtility is a marketing book you're going to love because it will inspire you and motivate you to run your business better. The post Does Your Business Have “Youtility?” appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
Just before I sat down to write this book review, I had two books in my hand.| You are subscribed to email updates from Small Business Trends To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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