Sunday, January 26, 2014

Awesome Contests and Events for Small Businesses

Awesome Contests and Events for Small Businesses

Link to Small Business Trends

Awesome Contests and Events for Small Businesses

Posted: 25 Jan 2014 04:00 PM PST

Welcome to our latest curated list of AWESOME contests and events for small businesses, solo entrepreneurs and growing companies. You definitely want to check these out.  Browse the list below, for more.

To see a full list or to submit your own event, contest or award listing, visit the Small Business Events Calendar.

Featured Events, Contests and Awards

Affiliate Management Days San Francisco 2014Brother “Back to Business” Contest
Jan. 27 – Mar. 19, 2014, Online

Use the Brother CreativeCenter to create marketing collateral for your business, and enter the Back to Business Contest for an opportunity to win one of three Brother product prize suites. Approximate value of each prize is $500+. Entry is FREE. Enter here.

Affiliate Management Days San Francisco 2014Affiliate Management Days San Francisco 2014
March 19, 2014, San Francisco, CA

AM Days is the must attend event for affiliate managers who are responsible for their company’s affiliate marketing strategy, management and operations. Whether you have an existing affiliate program or you are creating a new initiative, AMDays offers you valuable insight into how other online retailers are successfully implementing and managing their affiliate programs. Topics include: Affiliate program set up; Affiliate recruitment techniques; Affiliate marketing fraud; M-commerce; and much more.
Hashtag: #AMDays

ICON14 by InfusionsoftICON14 by Infusionsoft
April 23, 2014, Phoenix, AZ

#ICON14 is the eighth annual conference for small business, hosted by Infusionsoft (previously called Infusioncon). Over 3,000 attendees expected. Confirmed speakers include Seth Godin, JJ Ramberg and Peter Shankman.

Hashtag: #ICON14
Discount Code
smallbiztrends (Get an extra $100 off)

More Events

More Contests

This weekly listing of small business events, contests and awards is provided as a community service by Small Business Trends and SmallBizTechnology.

The post Awesome Contests and Events for Small Businesses appeared first on Small Business Trends.

From Our Community: How to Pick the Right Font and Shopping Cart

Posted: 25 Jan 2014 12:00 PM PST

News SourcesEDIT

It’s time for this week’s community news and information roundup with the best posts from the small business community around the Web. Read the instructions at the bottom of the page for more on how to participate  in future roundups.

Deciding on the Right Font for Your Website (Affordable Websites by Design)

The best font to use for your website is one that doesn’t draw attention. In fact, as this post suggests with its opening quote, the best fonts are the ones readers barely notice at all. Here Web designer Joyce Cerroni gives an explanation of how to pick the one that fits your business.

Choosing the Right Online Shopping Cart (Merchant Maverick)

There are many decisions to be made when creating your online store. Not least of these is the kind of cart to use. Here reviewer Sara Billups gives us a side by side comparison of at least two.

Getting Unique Signs from Etsy (Danielle Pasternak)

Danielle is a wedding coordinator who seems to know how to make an impression. Here she shares a unique idea that might work, not only when planning those big events, but also when signage for customers and clients is important. Try unique signs created by users on Etsy.

Considering Professional Video Production (Flimp Blog)

More and more, businesses are realizing the benefit of online video. The question is whether having your video professionally produced adds enough value to make it worth the expense.

Most Shopping in the Future Will be Online (Demac Media)

This may not be a surprise to anyone. But the amount of time left before all or most retail purchasing moves to the Web certainly will. Take a look at the infographic at this link and consider how your current business, whether brick and mortar or e business, may be affected.

Ecommerce Growth is Happening Even Faster Overseas (Webprosys)

Nowhere may growth of online shopping be so pronounced as in overseas markets like India, Christopher Cao reports. In these markets, concern or suspicion over buying online is disappearing. Consider the growing opportunities, even for U.S. businesses.

Using Content Marketing Correctly (Capture Commerce)

Whether we’re talking about ecommerce or selling a service online, these days content marketing is among the best ways to attract customers. But make sure you choose the right content for every part of the sales process, says Tom Shivers. Here’s  more discussion from the BizSugar community.

Lessons in Leadership from Barefoot Wine (Barefoot Wine Founders)

We can learn a lot from successful entrepreneurs. Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey founded Barefoot Wine with a passion but no money or industry knowledge. Alicia Dunams interviews the pair about the secrets of their success.

Goal Setting is Learned Behavior (Totally Inspired Mind)

Don’t ever think you lack what it takes to work in a disciplined way. Discipline and goal setting are learned behaviors, either from parents or another inspirational figure. This isn’t exactly a business story, though the subject, Trent Ohishi, certainly intends to start a business someday. Blogger Paulette Le Pore Motzko tells us how this young man can be an inspiration to others.

Before You Quit Facebook, Try This (Rock the Status Quo)

Could brands seriously be thinking about abandoning Facebook? Well, that’s what PR professional Carrie Morgan suggests. But before your business considers this rash course, think about options to increase traffic and engagement.

Thanks for reading the latest edition of the community news and information roundup here at Small Business Trends. If you have some content you think should be included here, please help. Send it to sbtips@gmail.com. Or post your article on BizSugar, the community we visit regularly to find the newest and most authentic small business voices.

News source photo via Shutterstock

The post From Our Community: How to Pick the Right Font and Shopping Cart appeared first on Small Business Trends.

Couple Turns VW Bus Restoration Into a Unique Business Venture

Posted: 25 Jan 2014 09:00 AM PST

photomoto

Houston couple Brittany and Austin Havican found themselves with a choice to make earlier this year. Personally, the couple had wanted to buy a Volkswagon bus to restore for many years. Professionally, they knew it would be a smart decision to add a photo booth to Brittany's wedding photography business. But instead of picking one or the other, they decided to integrate the bus restoration into their business venture.

Now, the couple owns PhotoMoto, a mobile photo booth for events that they operate right out of their newly restored VW bus.

The couple is aware of one similar photo booth in the Kansas City area, but to their knowledge they are the only VW bus photo booth in Houston.

photomoto

The unique aspect of their photo booth may have been born out of compromise. But Brittany also said that it's been a better business decision than a more traditional photo booth could have been.  In a phone interview with Small Business Trends she said:

"I think it's definitely helped our business because it's just really unique.  If someone wants a traditional photo booth there are a million places they can call, but if they want something a little adventurous or different they call us."

photos

Brittany has been taking photos for about ten years, and doing professional wedding photography for about two. Her photography business and PhotoMoto can run independently of one another. But the photo booth has helped gain clients for Brittany Havican Photography as well:

"People will see the bus on Facebook or at other events around Houston – it's really great for getting people's attention. Then when they call, I'll tell them I also do wedding photography and I offer a discount for people who book the two together."

The restoration itself wasn't without challenges. The bus was rusted and needed upgraded paint and repairs before being event-ready. But Austin's interest in being an amateur auto mechanic and the couple's interest in old cars helped them get it done. The market in their downtown Houston neighborhood, which Brittany described as "artsy," appreciates the distinct vintage experience that PhotoMoto delivers.

event

Overall, Brittany said they would do it all over again if given the opportunity, and not just because of the business growth. In fact, she left open the possibility of adding another vintage vehicle in the future, though the couple has no solid plans to do so just yet:

"We both have an interest in old cars and it has just been a really satisfying experience to see the transformation and put our hearts into it. Plus we love driving it and it's just really fun to have."

Images: PhotoMoto

The post Couple Turns VW Bus Restoration Into a Unique Business Venture appeared first on Small Business Trends.

Fall in Love with “Romancing the Brand”

Posted: 25 Jan 2014 06:00 AM PST

romancing the brandMy son loves roller coasters.  Last summer we were visiting Cedar Point for a couple of days to ride coasters.  As we waited in line for several hours to get on a coaster, I noticed something astounding.  Every person in line was wearing at least one brand on a T-shirt, on a hat, sneakers, back packs, etc.  What I realized was that brands were everywhere and they had dedicated fans.

Romancing the Brand Shows You How to Build a Brand Relationship

Apparently, I wasn't the only one who saw how powerfully some brands connect with their customers.  A few months ago, I received an advanced review copy of Romancing the Brand: How Brands Create Strong, Intimate Relationships with Consumers by Tim Halloran.

Tim Halloran (@TheBrandGuyTim) is the president of Brand Illumination.  He has built, directed and consulted with some of the world's largest brands.  As part of this work, he's done incredible amounts of research around brands and the relationship that customers have with their brands.

This book is a compilation of that research as well as a number of case studies and stories that will pull back the curtain on some of your favorite ad campaigns (like "The Most Interesting Man in the World").  From each of these stories you'll get a meaningful lesson as well as some interesting insider tidbits that you can share with friends and learn from.

Personally, I was attracted to reading this book because I think it addresses a very important trend for small business owners of all sizes – building a brand that is relateable and connects with customers is a critical success factor to your business.

The 4 Lessons Every Brand Should Learn

In Romancing the Brand, Halloran shares practical tips that the big brands use to create a nurturing and authentic relationship between your brand and your customer.  The three over-arching lessons in the book are:

  1. Make your customer feel special.  You'll see how Chick-fil-A introduced their spicy chicken sandwich based on a sampling to their most loyal customers.
  2. Create a bond.  The example Halloran features for this lesson is "Smartwater, a brand that was not new in the water category, yet was able to leverage their biggest fans to spread its message powerfully enough to become the #1 premium water.”
  3. Rekindle the spark.  Perhaps the most well known brand on the planet, Coca-Cola, uses the power of storytelling to reignite the passion for its product with their "Where will happiness strike next?" message.
  4. Break Up.  Sometimes you have to abandon one market segment for another.  See how Sprite broke up with their original audience of moms to focus on teen boys and doubled their sales.

The 8 Steps to Romancing the Brand Can Work for Small Business Too

Through his research, Halloran has outlined eight specific steps to create a bonded relationship between you and your brand.  Each of these eight steps serves as a chapter and contains several examples that you can use as inspiration and apply to your business.

On the surface, you might think that all of these strategies are great for big brands with multi-million dollar budgets, but don't despair.  As you read through each chapter, you will find tips and nuggets that you can apply to your small business as well.

Let's go through the nine steps here and see how it works:

  1. Know yourself.  This is a step that is often overlooked.  So many businesses focus on the customer first.  This is important, but if you want your customer to build a relationship with you, you have to know yourself first.  If you don't know who you are as a brand, how can you expect your customer to connect with you?
  2. Know your type.  Now that you know yourself, you can start focusing on who your ideal customer is.  The trick is to so clearly identify this ideal customer profile, that they feel that this brand was literally made for them.
  3. Meet memorably.  Like in any relationship, first impressions are critical.  The first few meetings between your brand and your customer will determine if you have potential.
  4. Make it mutual.  Aim for the influencers in your industry.  Those brand evangelists will help you spread the word.
  5. Deepen the connection.  Continuously give your ideal customer what they want and need to feel that you are the brand for them.  That you were meant to be together.
  6. Keep love alive.  Keep rejuvenating the relationship.  Stay true to your value, your story and your message – but keep it fresh and new.
  7. Making up.  Like any relationship, there are bound to be bumps and disappointments.  Make sure that you handle these with grace and in a way that shows that you love and respect your customer.
  8. Breaking up.  To everything there is a season.  And not every brand relationship has to last forever.  Know when it's time to move on, recalibrate and move to a new customer or eliminate the brand, taking your lessons and moving forward toward new relationships.

How to Get the Most Out of Romancing the Brand

If you pick up a copy of this book, you will probably do one of two things. You will read the book, enjoy the case studies and think about the different ways that you can apply this to your business. Or you will dive right in, grab a notebook and when you get to a lesson that you can apply to your business. You will write that idea down, schedule it and put it in place.

My biggest concern is that this book will do nothing more than entertain you.  My biggest hope is that you'll take the road less traveled and apply the lessons to your brand and reap the rewards that come from the lessons you've learned in this book.

The post Fall in Love with “Romancing the Brand” appeared first on Small Business Trends.
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