Sunday, February 9, 2014

Events and Awards That Can Help Your Small Business Grow

Events and Awards That Can Help Your Small Business Grow

Link to Small Business Trends

Events and Awards That Can Help Your Small Business Grow

Posted: 08 Feb 2014 03:30 PM PST

Here’s another hand-selected list of small business webinars, conferences, awards and other events.  Want to continue your education?  Want to invest in your staff by helping them improve their skills? Want to network and develop valuable connections that can lead to new opportunities?

And how about getting publicity for your business and valuable prizes, by competing in contests and awards programs?

All of the above can help you grow your business and make it more successful.  And we want to help you in any way we can. That’s why we publish these weekly curated lists.  Enjoy!

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

Brother CreativeCenter "Back to Business" Twitter ChatBrother CreativeCenter “Back to Business” Twitter Chat
February 13, 2014, Online

Join us on (@SmallBizTrends and @BrotherOffice) from 2pm – 3pm EST (New York time zone) for a chat party about creating a brand on a budget. Everyone welcome – join in. Use hashtag “BrotherBackToBiz.”

How to Sell Digital Products via Meylah MarketplaceHow to Sell Digital Products via Meylah Marketplace
February 20, 2014, Online

Tim Adam of Handmadeology.com, Anita Campbell of Small Business Trends, and Chai Dutt of Meylah.com will explain how to participate in and reap the benefits of online commerce to sell digital goods and professional services. In this upcoming webinar, we will answer questions that marketers and trainers have on how to sell their digital products and service- as we kick off the new Meylah.com Marketplace on Small Business Trends. Join in at 1 pm EST (New York time zone) for this useful webinar.

We will have demos and hands-on examples. Learn how. Lots of fun Q & A.

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 Events and Awards That Can Help Your Small Business Grow appeared first on Small Business Trends.

From the Community: Advice for Microsoft CEO and Super Bowl Lessons

Posted: 08 Feb 2014 12:00 PM PST

Mobile ReadersEDIT

Keep ahead of the conversation. Our community news and information roundup follows what’s being talked about in the small business community across the Web. Read on:

Small Business Advice for Microsoft CEO (Smallbiz Technology)

Microsoft has named Satya Nadella its new CEO. Nine small business experts have some advice for Microsoft CEO Nadella about how the company can better serve small businesses in the future. We think you’ll get a lot from the discussion.

What Super Bowl Ads Can Teach Your Small Business (SmallBizDaily)

Along with the excitement of the event itself, the Super Bowl has become known for its high profile commercials. Here Rieva Lesonsky shares lessons all small businesses can learn from these famous marketing messages.

Consider the Mindful Management Approach (Tweak Your Business)

If you’re not yet familiar with this new approach, it’s your lucky day! Elli St. George Godfrey has nine things you should consider when using this new brand of business leadership.

Where Google Needs to Improve (Exploit Online Demand)

Tim Shiver has put together this interesting questionnaire. It asks how Google, that alternately most admired and most maligned of search engines, could make tweaks to improve it services. And here’s the discussion touched off in the BizSugar community as a result.

Yes, Buy Local Networks are Effective  (Lynchburg Retail Merchants Association)

If you have any doubts, take a look  at this graph. It compares communities that have these program with those that do not. Where would you rather own and operate a small business? Yep, we thought so.

Digital Marketing for All Kinds of Businesses (The Car Wash Business Blog)

Small businesses are all different. But increasingly today, certain kinds of marketing seem to work for all of them. Take digital marketing, for example, including social media. Here are some kinds of digital marketing that seem to work best, regardless of business type.

Better Customer Relationship Management (Cooper Mann Consulting Group)

There are many ways businesses can improve customer experience using technology, says Joanie Mann. But the one that started a conversation in the BizSugar community was about collecting and integrating customer information.

Bring Them Back to Your Website (Deluxe Blog)

Attracting those visitors not just once, but bringing them back again and again, is the key to repeat business. Catherine Mandler has these five suggestions to make sure your visitors become regulars.

HTTP 2.0 is On It’s Way (Wiredtree)

The Hypertext Transfer Protocol that allows the Web to work the way it does is undergoing a change. Actually we’ve already been through two versions of HTTP so far. So what will change with the new version? Will it affect your online business?

Help make the community news and information roundup even better each week. Contact us with content you think we should be sharing at sbtips@gmail.com. Or share your content via the BizSugar community. It is our go-to site for the latest and most individual voices in small business on the Web.

Image: Shutterstock

The post From the Community: Advice for Microsoft CEO and Super Bowl Lessons appeared first on Small Business Trends.

What to Expect and Not to Expect From a Business Mentor

Posted: 08 Feb 2014 09:00 AM PST

what to expect from a business mentor

Businesses that receive mentoring are 20% more likely to grow than businesses that don't, according to research from the UPS Store. Business mentors are usually more experienced business owners or industry professionals who can provide advice and guidance.

But how exactly does mentorship work? And how do you know what to expect from a business mentor?

SCORE, a non-profit association focused on business growth and mentorship, offered some insights on the mentorship process in a recent email interview with Small Business Trends.

what to expect from a business mentor

What Does a Business Mentor Do?

A business mentor's particular duties can vary greatly based on each business's individual needs. Some businesses secure mentors at the very beginning and work with them throughout many years, and others just use mentors for short-term or specific issues.

The format of these mentorships is also based on those needs and the availability of both the mentor and the business owner. In the email interview, Ken Yancey, CEO of SCORE explained:

"Some mentor and mentees may set up a standing meeting time and place where they check in on a regular basis. Others may only get in contact when an issue arises that requires their joint effort to tackle."

How Can Businesses Find Mentors?

SCORE currently has a network of over 11,000 business mentors around the country and online. Interested businesses can visit the website to connect with a mentor, free of charge.

Alternatively, business owners can ask for assistance from personal connections or on social media or professional networking sites. Mentors themselves can even be resources for finding more people who can provide experience and guidance.

Yancey said:

"One great thing to keep in mind is that you also don’t need to have just one mentor. Try to take advantage of each mentor’s different expertise and ask them to recommend others who may be able to fill in with complementary fields of expertise."

what to expect from a business mentor

How Do You Know What to Expect From a Good Business Mentor?

Discussing SCORE’s volunteer mentors, Yancey explained:

"Some key traits we look for in our volunteers is that they are open-minded, encouraging, good listeners and have a wealth of experience to bring to the table."

But aside from those basic traits, a good mentor can be different for each individual business. Some businesses can benefit from a more involved mentor they can constantly bounce ideas off of. Others might want someone who they can seek out when they have specific questions. A good mentor will listen to the business owner's wants and respond accordingly.

How Should Businesses Interact With Mentors?

DO Set Goals

Because mentorship really depends on what the business owner hopes to gain from the experience, it's important to decide what that is before starting out.

In the email interview, Yancey wrote:

"Some of us may want someone to hold our hand through each step of the process of starting a business and others may just want a spark of inspiration or a key piece of information that will start them down the right path."

Figure out what type of mentor relationship you're looking for and what you'd like to accomplish in your business so that your mentor has clear instructions on how to guide you.

DON'T Do All the Talking

While it's important for you to let a mentor know what you're looking for, it's equally important for you to hear what they have to say.

Yancey explained:

"A mentor may view your business from a completely different perspective than you. Be fully open to their ideas and try to understand their view. This doesn’t always mean taking their advice verbatim but it’s important to be able to see your business from multiple viewpoints."

DO Stay Organized

Aside from your initial goals, you should constantly update what you hope to accomplish in the short term and track your progress:

"Make sure you organize your thoughts and materials in advance of each meeting and set a goal for what you want to accomplish in that session. Take notes and report back to your mentor to let them know your progress and show them the results of your collaboration on a regular basis."

DON'T Expect Them to Do Your Work

Yancey explained:

"Think of a mentor as your own personal business guru – someone to inspire and push you in the right direction, but the work is up to you.”

DO Explore All Your Options

Not every business can use just one mentor. And not every mentor can necessarily benefit your business. Assess your goals and your progress, and if you're not happy with the results, it may be time to move on.

Yancey said:

"The only way to know is to try them out. Try as many mentors as you like until you find one that is a perfect fit."

Images: SCORE

The post What to Expect and Not to Expect From a Business Mentor appeared first on Small Business Trends.

Are You Ready for the Big Bang Disruption?

Posted: 08 Feb 2014 06:00 AM PST

big bang disruption3

Am I Supposed to Feel Sorry for the Giants?

It's when I pick up books like my review copy of Big Bang Disruption: Strategy in the Age of Devastating Innovation, that I realize just how extreme of a corporate renegade I am.

So, before I begin this review, you need to know that I'm utterly and unapologetically biased toward the entrepreneurial small business.  I relish the creativity and disruption an upstart inflicts on the giant brands and I equally relish the brand battle that takes place as the market leader returns the favor.

As I read through the book, it seemed to me (and I could be totally wrong here) that the book was written more for the big brands – so that they can protect themselves from the disruptors.  Personally, this is not a book I would choose to read – because of my small business bias, BUT (and this is a big BUT) there is an important message here that I feel needs to get out to ALL businesses – at least if they want to be around for more than a few years.

Don't Ignore the Disruption Evolution – It Can Bite You Back

My bias for the underdog small business aside, there is a tremendous amount of important reading inside of Big Bang Disruption.   This is a book NOT to be taken lightly by ANY small business owner.  In fact, if you've been a fan of the classic business thinkers and writers such as Michael Porter or books like The Innovator's Dilemma and Blue Ocean Strategy (which I am) you need to read this book.

There is a significant amount of research that went into this book by Accenture Institute for High Performance that included extensive in-depth-interviews with entrepreneurs, investors and executives from more than thirty industries.

The New Era of Disruption in Four Stages

The authors have taken all this research and created a new model for disruption. One that goes beyond the research done in past years to include the impact of new technologies.

  • Stage One: Competitive Advantage.  This is the work done by Michael porter that advises companies to find their competitive advantage and differentiate themselves with features that justify a premium price, to optimize their efficiencies to sell at a lower price and to focus on one market.
  • Stage Two: Bottom Up Disruption.  This is the stage discussed by Clayton Christensen in The Innovator's Dilemma.  In this stage disruptors are using a bottom up strategy where they start at a lower price with fewer features.
  • Stage Three: Re-Define the Market.   Blue Ocean Strategy  introduced this concept where disruptors completely redefined the market by redefining features and coming at mature businesses sideways.
  • Stage Four: All Around Disruption.  This is the stage that Big Bang Disruption is defining in detail.  In this stage disruptors come at you on all fronts, top down, sideways and all around.

Why Nunes and Downes See the Big Picture

Paul Nunes (@BBDisruption) is the Global Managing Director of Research at the Accenture Institute for High Performance and the senior contributing editor at Outlook, Accenture's journal of thought leadership.  His experience and work put him at the center of both big companies as well as smaller organizations and how they deal with industry and market conditions.

Larry Downes (@LarryDownes) is an Internet industry analyst and author on the impact of disruptive technologies on business and policy. His first book Unleashing the Killer App, was one of the biggest business bestsellers of the early 2000's.

Together, they've combined their skills, experiences and backgrounds to create a book no business owner, marketer or manager should ignore.

The post Are You Ready for the Big Bang Disruption? appeared first on Small Business Trends.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)