Small Business Sales and Marketing Magic

Despite all you may have heard, sales and marketing success is NOT magic. Instead, it’s based on a series of techniques just like any other used in running your business, techniques that must be mastered in order to find success. While larger companies can simply hire sales and marketing professionals, the small business owner must often wear this hat too along with supervising the core product or service being marketed or sold. We’ ll look at some of these techniques below to see how you can work your own magic with sales and marketing today.

New Approaches

Marketing judgement day. Only a few days have passed since a highly publicized apocalypsedidn’ttake place. Seth Godin takes a look at how doomsday prophets sell their patented brand of end-of-the-world mania. And at what the apocalypse and the iPad have in common. It’s a unique look at marketing and the best way to achieve great results. But please find something better to market than Armageddon, OK? Seth Godin’s Blog

What the late Chris Farley could teach you about sales. Before his death on Dec. 18, 1997, Chris Farley, fresh from a successful five year stint on Saturday Night Live, was a comic icon at the height of his powers. But could he have been a master salesman too? In this post, Garrett Moon looks at Farley’s filmTommy Boyabout a lovable loser struggling to find his inner salesman and what it can teach us today.todaymade

Tips& Techniques

How to stop loosing prospects. No kidding! If a lot of sales you seem to have sown up suddenly go south, it may not be your product, service or pricing. It might be simply your sales process. So what went wrong? Where did you loose them? Or is it just the way you followed up in the sales process that didn’t work? You may be surprised at this suggestion about changing your approach and increasing your conversions.copywritematters

Marketing with your Website.Your small business Website must be your number one marketing tool online. It is often the first impression anyone gets of your business so it is critical to get it right. More than just a means of boosting your brand and business, your Website should even convert visitors to customers, if you have something on your site to sell. You can see some small business Websites critiqued in the link above.You’re the Boss

Old Standbys

Techniques for better phone selling. Despite the explosion of sales over the Internet, on many occasions the phone is still the best way to chase down leads, get answers from prospects and maybe even close deals. So what techniques can you use to be more effective selling your products or services by phone?Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Using social media to keep in touch. Here’s a unique concept in social media marketing used by an employee of Nordstrom. The approach worked so well that it inspired marketing strategist David Meerman Scott to blog about it. Can you imagine your favorite store tweeting you every time they have a product they think you may like? Move over Google and e-commerce. There’s still room for the human touch.Web Ink Now

Self-development

Becoming a sales super hero. S. Anthony Iannarino shows us how to slip into a phone booth, take off our glasses and business suit and transform into our alter ego, a sales superhero. This is particularly true for small business owners who, out of necessity, must wear many hats including the head of sales and marketing (or maybe the entire sales and marketing department?) This post shows you how.The Sales Blog

Your customer is Mr. Know-it-all. There’s a subtle change that’s taken place fueled by the Internet and an increased availability of information in general. It’s in the process of changing everything about the relationship between you and your client or customer and it will change the way you market and sell to them in the future. Ian Brodie has these thoughts on a customer’s revolution.The Pipeline

Brands

What is the face of your company? Many marketing gurus have recommendations about the creation of an effective brand. But in the end, choosing a brand and a logo may be more art than science. And using a sense of humor can sometimes help too. Check out the solution the CEO of a company marketing MacBook sleeves and other accessories has chosen. You’ll think we’ve really gone to the dogs. Read on.Web Ink Now

Taxes

Changes in home office deductions. In a subject not directly related to sales or marketing but very important to small business owners here in the U.S., new legislation may make deductions for your small business home office“simpler.” According to some small business advocates, the complexity of current rules stop many small business owners from trying to claim the deduction even if they do qualify. The simplification should make this process easier, supporters say.BusinessNewsDaily

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Slow Down, Sell Faster: A Review

There must be something in the air that has created a flurry of books about how to sell by understanding how customers buy.  In  Selling to the C-Suitewe learned that to sell to the C-level executive, you have to do your homework, gathering information and understanding what it is that executives need so that they can choose you.

The next book I received for review with the same focus on how customers buy wasSlow Down, Sell Faster: Understand Your Customers’ Buying Process and Maximize Your Sales.  The author,Kevin Davis(@toplineleaderon Twitter)  has over 30 years’ experience in sales and wroteGetting Into Your Customer’s Headback in 1996, so you know that he’s been drinking this lemonade for a long time.

What’s Inside the Book

Davis combines academic research and practical experience to generate a sales system you can use to not just improve your top line, but your bottom line as well.

Part I of the book is devoted to the actual sales system. One thing I really like about this book is that it is actually written for an industrial or complex buying process.  Davis references established experts Webster and Wind, who have studied how bigger organizations make decisions to select a supplier.  And he uses decades of research and melds itwith practical, real-life ways that business-to-business purchases are made.

Part II expands on the selling system by introducing what Davis calls the eight roles that you have to play in the customer’s buying process:

1. Student:Use Knowledge to Gain the Edge
2. Doctor:Diagnose Small Problems, Define Big Needs
3. Architect:Design Customer-Focused Solutions
4. Coach:Make a Plan to Defeat the Competition
5. Therapist:Understand and Resolve a Buyer’s Fears
6. Negotiator:Reach a Mutual Commitment
7. The Teacher:Teach Customers to Achieve Maximum Value
8. The Farmer:Cultivate Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty

Part II contains one chapter on coaching to the eight roles.  It’s written for sales managers and the people who work for them.  It provides a series of cheat sheets and troubleshooting tables to help sales managers and sales reps debrief sales calls.

If you’ve had any professional sales training, you will recognize many of the principles and techniques represented in this book.  For example, I’ve had Sandler Sales Training, and I easily recognized what I call the 10-point scale technique.  Simply ask your customer to rate the solution you’ve come up with like this: “On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is‘not at all what I want’ and 10 is‘this is the perfect solution,’ how would you rate the solution we’ve discussed?” If they answer anything less than an 8, ask, “What would you need to see to bring that to a 10?”

The book is full of strategies, tips and hints at every level and at every point of the selling process.  Davis uses a layered approach where he introduces the selling system, then overlays the roles of the salesperson through the buying process and guides the reader to success.

Here are just a few examples of some of my favorite pieces of information:

The Decision-Making Hierarchy:This is perhapsthe simplest and bestdescription of what’s important to each level of the organization and how you should structure your message:

• CEOs– They are at the top of the pyramid, andprofitabilityis what you should focus on when talking to them.
• Mid-Level Managers– The middle or core of the pyramid.  These people are most concerned about solvingoperational problems.  The departments typically represented here include marketing, operations and customer service.
• Support– This is the base of the pyramid and includes accounting, purchasing, training and legal departments.

While most books tell you to aim straight for the top of the pyramid,Slow Down, Sell Fasterreveals the truth that most salespeople don’t have anything of substance to say to C-level execs until they’ve gotten their feet wet a little further down the pyramid.

Slow Down Sell FasterIs a Serious Sales Book Focused on Sales Training and Improvement

This is a fantastic book for any business-to-business, technical or industrial CEO with full-time, direct salespeople who sell high-priced, high-involvement products and services to companies where more than one person is involved in the decision.

Don’t expect to readSlow Down, Sell Fasterin one sitting and then see immediate results.  This is a comprehensive, detailed and perceptive book about complicated sales situations.  You’ll want to read this book section by section and then take the time to implement and practice specific strategies.  I’d recommend that you visit theSlow Down, Sell Fastersection of Kevin Davis’ website where you can download Chapter 1,“Why Slower is Faster,” and experience the book for yourself.

Overall, this is an extremely powerful book that will challenge your thinking and your sales process.  And like a good workout and diet, I think you’ll find the results well worth the effort.

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The Top 100 Small Business Podcasts of 2011

“It is great to learn from in-depth interviews in a business-casual style.”– Martin Lindeskog, in a recent interview with me, regarding the Top 100 Small Business Podcasts of 2011

When I say“business casual” I’m talking about fashion,  but when our community member Martin Lindeskog says it, he is talking about the way we consume small business information.  Of course, we can read it sitting at our desk, watch it on our computer screens, experience it in a live class setting orlisten to it while we do just about anything, because the podcast travels well.

For the past four years,Small Business Trends Radiohas compiled an annual list of the top small business podcasts. And for the second year in a row Martin, who hails from Sweden, has spearheaded the effort and taken the time to get a feel for all the shows on the list. As he said in his interview with me (which was funny for me because my nighttime was his daybreak),“The podcasts {on our list} should be related to {small} business in one way or another.”So we can trust that these top 100 shows understand our needs.

Martin also told me,“It is very convenient to listen to a podcast during a long walk.”He enjoys them because“you can‘consume’ the material when you have time.”

I like podcasts too. Audio training can eliminate uneventful downtimes like long drives to meetings or the time it takes to do all kinds of tasks that I would rather not do, but need to do, whether it’s switching out my clothes for the new season or cleaning up the office at the end of the day (after the serious work is over). Podcasts allow us to consume new business information in a casual setting.

You can check out the full list of theTop 100 Small Business Podcasts of 2011.It’s divided into categories, so it’s easy to find what you need, when you need it.

The categories are:

• Leadership and Management
• Marketing and Sales
• Operating a Small Business
• Tax and Finance
• Startups and Starting a Business
• Home Based Business
• Small Business Technology
• Business Opportunities and Franchises
• “All Around” Small Business Podcasts
• Business News and the Big Picture

And this is not a category, but for 2011, the list includes two videocasts in the“All Around Small Business Podcasts” category, The Rise to the Topand Jaffe Juice TV.  Martin expects “you will find more and more videocasts in the near future.” With the rise of YouTube and video marketing, that makes sense.

Happy ironing, walking or whatever you do while you listen to your favorite small business podcasts.Enjoy!

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Small Business Ideas and Tips for Our Community

Ideas and tips abound for small business owners today, but remember there are dangers too. We’ve included a brief overview that will help you be on the lookout for fraud, a growing problem for small businesses today, according to sources. Meanwhile there are some truly inspiring tips and ideas to get your next venture rolling. Please share the resources below with a friend.

News

Neutralizing the risk of e-commerce credit card fraud. Small business owners running successful e-commerce Websites know the benefits of the business model. Customers know the pluses of shopping online too. Unfortunately, credit card fraudsters have also discovered“opportunities” in  the world of e-commerce. Make protecting your e-commerce site a part of your business model, or fraudsters may make your site a part of theirs.Virtuosi Media

More on protecting your business from fraud. The reality is that small businesses continue to be a target for such behavior. In fact, according to a recent report, small business owners suffered an estimated $8 billion in fraud related losses in 2010. Don’t let your small business become one of the statistics. Learn more about the dangers of fraud to your company today.Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Strategy

How to turn your artistic talent into a small business. Sprayground is much more than just an entrepreneurial venture. For Co-Founder and Creative Director David Ben-David, it’s a work of art…literally! Learn more about this effort to turn art into small business. Do you have an artistic talent that could translate to a business start-up?Entrepreneurship Interviews

How expert knowledge will help your small business thrive. What’s the difference between your most successful competitors and your small business? Do they have some secret that gives them the edge? Well, maybe not just one. Expert knowledge can make a huge difference in marketing your products or services or even in deciding on the right niche to fit your own particular talents. Leveraging that knowledge can be the difference between success and failure. Here’s why. Site Prebuilder

Marketing

Marketing with your mobile phone. Some experts claim that the emerging field of cell phone or mobile marketing is largely generational with younger consumers being far more likely to respond to text and similar mobile campaigns than their older counterparts. But mobile like other technology may defy these generational divides. What is your experience with mobile marketing campaigns and what, if any, success have you seen?Grow Smart Biz

Could narrower social sites lead to super niche marketing/networking? What if your Facebook account was limited to just 50 friends? While many debates rage over the best size of your social network, newer social media sites seem to be aiming at the extreme low end of the range. As with most tech trends, the question for small business owners may be, what could these narrower social media platforms mean when marketing and networking to an increasingly niche audience in the future?Yahoo! Finance

Self-development

Spam as an effective marketing technique? When choosing the best approach to deal with customers, clients and prospects, cutting corners may lead to short-term rewards. But long-term your chances of a lasting relationship really have to do with the choices you make. If the only question is whether unethical or just plain annoying or sleazy approaches“work”, well, they do. But it’s their cost in the long run not their short-term effectiveness that should raise any small business’s concern.Partners in Excellence

How the world of work and your business are changing. Planning for the future with your small business may require understanding where business and work are really headed. Inspired by a similar post by Chris Brogan, Frank Bradley gives his impressions of what the future may hold for all of us and for the future of our ventures too.Workplace Prosperity

Trends

Crowdsourcing your business design. It’s a trend that contiues to have traction but could it lend better results at a lower price too? Design is one of many services you may need as a small business owner, and getting the best results at the lowest cost is important in everything you do to keep competitive and keep overhead down. How can crowdsourcing deliver for you?Buzz

Why some outsourcing may never be the same again. Does your small business outsource services, particularly services like call centers or other activities that involve sharing of sensitive private information overseas? Well, if those services are outsourced to India or China in particular you may have a surprise coming. Changing laws in both countries may soon make such outsourcing much more challenging, but is this a problem or an opportunity for small businesses seeking to provide similar services elsewhere?Inc.com

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How Social Media Lets SMBs Work Faster

When talking to small business owners about social media, the argument I hear most often for their lack of involvement is they“don’t have time.” SMB owners are notoriously busy, known for wearing multiple hats, juggling responsibilities and working long hours. I understand that. And that’s exactly whyyou should be investing in social media. Because social media can help you perform tasks vital to the growth and success of your businessfasterandbetterthan traditional means.

What am I talking about? Below are five common stressors for SMBs that they can accomplish faster and better through social media than without it.

1. Building Awareness

Everything starts here for a small business. Bigger brands already have this. People know they exist. Sometimes their names are even synonymous with the product they sell (right, Kleenex?). But that’s not the case for a small business owner. We have to build awareness before we can cash in on it. In the past, that meant running a lot of expensive promotions, it meant giving away a lot of free products and, even worse, it meant a lot of time being ignored. With social media, the playing field gets just a bit more level. Armed with tools like Twitter Search, Twellow, We Follow, Tweepz and others, you can find your audience without waiting for them to find you. You can be proactive about your marketing, connect with the people who should know about your business, and put yourself on their radar. Now the ball is firmly in your court.

2. Customer Support

When you have your ear to the ground it allows you to react quickly, and nowhere is this more important than in customer service. Business owners spend a lot of time on the phone or in email responding to disgruntled customers and dealing with support issues— often thesameissues over and over. By engaging in social media you give yourself the opportunity to reactfaster, before a small problem becomes a big one, and to easily point people to resources designed to quickly resolve their problems. Social media also puts you into the conversation at an earlier stage and lets others see how committed you are to making things right.

3. Staying Top of Mind

Businesses are always trying to stay top of mind for customers. We want them to remember us when they’re on the hunt for services. And that’s where social media comes in.  Interacting with customers via social media helps them remember you exist. It doesn’t matter if you’re specifically talking about a deal you’re running or if you’re just sharing what you’re up to. Seeing your face, your product or your logo keeps your brand in the forefront of their brains and helps them remember it’s been too long since they visited your restaurant for dinner. The simple act of engaging, regardless of what you’re saying, can give customers a reason to come check you out.

4. Competitor Research

To stay competitive, small business owners need to always keep an eye on what their competitors are doing. Staying abreast of the competition’s movements will help you spot trends, pinpoint new opportunities and clue you in to what other people in your industry are doing or looking at. In the past, this required a lot of listening in, eavesdropping and guesswork. Now? Now it meansdoing some twit-stalking, blog-stalking and monitoring conversations about your industry and your biggest competition. By following conversations happening about your competitors, you can put down that rusty tin can on a string and listen from the comfort of your own home.

5. Networking With Colleagues

If it takes a village to raise a child, it at least takes a small town to grow a business. And social media makes that town seem just a bit more intimate by connecting you with the people who can really help your business. Through my own personal social media use, I’ve interacted with future business partners, found guest blogging opportunities, and been introduced to some really interesting people and companies. This connection is something many small business owners never had before. They’re not left feeling as fragmented and disconnected as they once were, thanks to not only places like Twitter, but also communities likeBizSugar.

If you’re a business owner who has always felt like you didn’t have time for social media, I’d ask you to turn that statement around. It’s not about finding the time to add something else into your day, it’s about using a new tool to do what you’ve always done, only faster.

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Small Business Events, News, Resources

It’s Small Business Week and we begin with news related to this celebration of the most important part of our economy. We then move on to resources with some important links we hope readers will find useful. Please bookmark and share our roundup and enjoy the benefits of an enhanced and expanding network. Enjoy!

Events

President Obama announces Small Business Week. We have the full press release and you can read it here. In it, Obama said,“Our country started as an idea, and it took hard-working, dedicated, and visionary patriots to make it a reality. A successful business starts much the same way—ideas realized by entrepreneurs who dream of a better world and work until they see it through.”Small Business Trends

An agenda of small business week events. An agenda involving some small business listening sessions has been laid out for the week by U.S. House of Representatives members. Here’s a look at the entire schedule for the week including what’s happened thus far. There is also other important information on the committee and how small business owners can get in touch.House Committee on Small Business

Policy

Politics continues to interfere. Of course, while events like National Small Business Week are intended to show Washington’s support, political wrangling continues to cause interference even with bills both sides seem to agree will benefit small businesses in the long-run. Do you feel Washington should pay more than just lip service to small business in the U.S.? Why not let your legislator know? You’re the Boss

White House releases report on small business aid. But candidly admits its efforts haven’t been sufficient. While clearly timed to coincide with the beginning of National Small Business Week, the document is another reminder of how policy has not improved the prospects of small business in the U.S. Do small business owners have a better perspective on what policy makers could really do to help?Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Read the full report here. The Small Business Administration has posted a complete copy of the report by the National Economic Council under the optimistic banner“The Small Business Agenda: Growing America’s Small Businesses to Win the Future,” but some say the document is hardly a cataloging of success in any government policy so far.SBA.gov

Resources

10 ways to build a small business that lasts.Small Business Trendsco-founder Anita Campbell will host an exciting Twitter chat in honor of National Small Business Week. The event is planned for today (May 18) from 8 -9 pm Eastern US time. You can join in or follow along using the hashtag #smallbizchat to participate.Anita Campbell on Twitter

Win an iPad and follow guests for National Small Business Week. You can do it all in one place. John Jantsch has asked a group of small business bloggers (including our own Anita Campbell) to contribute a week’s worth of content on the subject and you’ll be able to access it all as it is published. You can also check out John’s tech giveaway contest at the same link above.Duct Tape Marketing

Get a free business valuation while supplies last. In addition to a free iPad, how about a free business valuation? One business-for-sale Website is giving 250 away free on a first come first serve basis. The offer is being made to coincide with National Small Business Week and can be used to establish a fair value for your business using other similar recently sold businesses for comparison.BizBuySell.com

Tech

Small Business Week sees new innovations. New features in accounting and payment software will revolutionize the way small businesses, particularly small contractors, will operate moving into the future. Can you imagine accounting software that helps you more closely monitor profits and make smarter decisions? How about technology that allows payments to be made through a cell phone with no credit card required? If you can dream it, someone may be designing a new feature for you.Constructech

FCC launches new Website for small business security. Citing data suggesting that small businesses loose billions annually and that a high percentage have reported falling victim to cyber attacks, the federal agency announced resources Monday that will help small businesses cope. The announcement was made in conjunction with the beginning of National Small Business Week. A variety of resources are suggested to help small businesses limit their security exposure online. Read more.BusinessNewsDaily

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PowerPoint Slide Needs Work

A while back I was asked to give a presentation about cartooning and I had to learn PowerPoint.

You see I went through school before PowerPoint became commonplace, and most of my later sales jobs were in decidedly low tech fields. And now, despite earning a living selling cartoons to make boring presentations bearable, I’d never actually opened the program a single time.

So I spent a good week researching ideas, looking at techniques, and watching video. After some practice, I performed my talk for my wife who noted that I had a few slides that needed work, including one that was an incomplete continuation of several previous slides that read simply“more goes here.”

The above cartoon came pretty soon afterward.

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Small Business Startup and Sales Tips

There are plenty of tips out there for starting a business and generating sales (one of the most important keys to your small business’s survival.) When starting a new business or recommitting your efforts to growing or expanding an existing one, be sure to check out some of the tips below as a starting point, then share them with a friend:

Startup

8 tips to starting your business. Starting your business is possibly one of the most important stages of small business ownership. Mistakes made here can easily stay with you hurting your business for years to come or could never be resolved fully preventing you from ever fully realizing your business goals. Of course, no one can anticipate every problem, but this collection of tips is a great place to start.Victoria Advocate

Startup tips for community businesses. Not every small business will go global and some will stay close to home with a regional focus. But this doesn’t mean they can’t learn important lessons from the big guys. Entrepreneur Don Jones shares tips with small local business owners about how to analyze their business model and build a marketing approach that will help them flourish.HartfordBusiness.com

Sales

Why sales will never go out of style. Sales is arguably the most important part of your business operations, so it might surprise many to hear that sales as a profession may be disappearing in the wake of huge changes in the way businesses market their products and in the way customers make their choices. But at least one sales professional believes that, for small and large businesses alike, sales will never truly go out of fashion.The Pipeline

Finance

Ideas on how to cut unnecessary costs. Though sales is certainly the most critical part of your business (because without it you haven’t got a business at all!) other factors like cutting costs will always be important too. Here are some tips on how to go about reducing expenses in just about every area of your operation. Follow the link above and you’ll soon realize that, just as the article suggests, there are many you may not have thought about. WSJ

Policy

In what state would it be best to start your business? If you’re starting your small business in the U.S., or anywhere, certainly location does make a difference. But it isn’t just the location you choose in your local town or business district that could make a difference. In fact, the state in which you choose to start your small business makes a difference as well. A number of factors can be used to measure which state’s are generally friendliest and most inviting for small business owners. Here’s how your state stacks up.ChiefExecutive.net

Legal

Small business and personal liability. One important aspect of small business startup and operation includes understanding personal liability and how it applies to what you do. Many advisers may insist that avoiding personal liability for business debts and losses is simply a matter of choosing the right business structure, but, in fact, the issue may be a bit more complicated.365 Days of Startups

News

National Small Business Week. No matter where in the U.S. you live, this week marks Small Business Week intended to commemorate the importance of small businesses in job creation and in innovation. Perhaps during these last few years especially, we have seen the critical importance of small business in rebuilding both the national and world economy. Read the Presidential Proclamation above and be proud to be a small business owner today.whitehouse.gov

How is your small business organization getting involved? Is your local small business organization doing something special for National Small Business Week? How about your business Website or business newsletter? Check out this post about how some local groups plan to use this special week to promote small business development. Is your local business group planning something too? Honestly, we should show support and create resources for small businesses year round. But what is your local business group doing this week? Odessa American Online

So how are things going so far? It’s been a mixed bag for small businesses recently. With sales up and economic stress down, it’s hard to know what the future holds, but could it be good news for the economy? How will it affect your small business? Though jobless claims hit an all-time high last week, will this mean fewer customers, more entrepreneurs or both?You’re the Boss

Operations

Ten tips to get out of survival mode. Now, don’t get us wrong. There are positives and negatives in the economy today, it’s true, but when it comes to entrepreneurship,Small Business Trendswill always be an advocate, so we’d like to leave you with this link. If you haven’t grown your business and are thinking defensively instead, here is a roadmap to a better future. There are many ways your small business can succeed, even in tough times. Here’s a way to make it happen.The Globe and Mail

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6 Questions to Ask Before Signing a“Green Lease”

You might lease your facility or office, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be green.

More property managers and tenants are signing so-calledgreen leases. While the term is used loosely, these essentially are lease agreements struck between landlords and tenants in buildings that adhere to environmentally sustainable operations and management. The building may be designed in eco-friendlier ways, such as maximizing natural lighting, while building operations may be carefully controlled to minimize energy and water use and waste.

Among benefits for commercial tenants are lower energy costs, better air quality and more comfortable work environments. Some studies, such asthis one from the Rocky Mountain Institute, find that green buildings improve worker productivity and lower absenteeism. (Another study found thatgreen buildings have 3.5 percent lower vacancy ratesand fetch 13 percent higher rental rates than non-green ones.)

But while more properties are being touted as“green” and marketing themselves to businesses as eco-friendlier alternatives, business owners should do some homework to ensure they’re truly getting a good deal. Remember, the commercial real estate market is still soft, and there’s lots of room for negotiation right now.

Here are some questions to ask before signing a green lease:

1. Is the building LEED-certified or Energy Star-labeled?A common way for commercial properties to verify they are indeed“green” is by meeting the criteria for two programs.LEED– or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – is an internationally recognized building certification system created by the U.S. Green Building Council that promotes green practices in buildings, such as indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

TheEnergy Star Building and Plants program, run through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, provides ratings to buildings on a 1 to 100 scale based on energy use per square foot. Buildings that score at 75 or above– meaning they’re in the top 25^thpercentile for energy use– can get the Energy Star label. You can feel good knowing you’re renting space in a building that has at least one of these certifications.

2. Who pays the utility bills?Lower energy costs are a nice perk of parking yourself in a green building and can help offset any premium you might pay in rent. So it’s worth asking property management beforehand how utilities are handled and how much you should expect to pay for them. One benefit to paying utilities directly (rather than through your rent): You have direct control over your energy costs.

3.  How is the building’s performance measured and monitored?Make sure the landlord has procedures in place for ensuring the ongoing green operations of the building. Perhaps they do an annual audit or have other checks in place.

4.  How close is it to public transportation?It’s not just operations and design that make a facility truly green – it’s also accessibility to public transportation. Remember, employee commutes can take a big toll on the environment. The closer you are to a bus or commuter train or bike path, the more likely it is that employees will forgocars.

5.  What are the cleaning procedures?Another aspect of green building is cleaning practices. Inquire how the building is cleaned, by whom and whether they can vouch that the cleaning products used are non-toxic.

6.  What’s my obligation as tenant?It’s not unusual for green leases to put some requirements on tenants to uphold green practices, such as recycling certain types of waste or following energy-efficient practices. Make sure you can uphold your end of the bargain before signing on the dotted line.

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Social Media Small Business Plan

As important as any other part of planning for your small business today is your planning for the use of social media. If you don’t have a social media small business plan, your use of this tremendous new tool will likely be sporadic at best leading to difficulty in tracking your results or repeating your successes. Why not take advantage of this new opportunity for your small business with a plan that will let social media work for you?

Opportunities& Obstacles

Social media presents huge possibilities, challenges. Social media sites for many huge brands are generating many times the traffic of traditional Websites and the same is often true for small business social media presence. This creates a huge opportunity for your business to interact as never before with consumers and others in the social space. But the opportunity comes with new challenges about how best to listen and react to what your new following is telling you.WSJ

How are you measuring your results? Like the analytics from traffic to your traditional Website, social media activity can produce a gigantic amount of data about how others may be interacting/responding to your marketing campaigns/brand/overall message. Confronting this information and figuring out how to measure and use it can start with a few simple steps.Marketing Sherpa Blog

Policy& Trends

Could online privacy regulations affectyourmarketing? New legislation aims to control tracking of online behavior used to customize advertising based on consumer preference. Social media allows you to monitor what people are saying about your brand and respond appropriately. The difference, of course, is that in social media, eveyone is a willing part of the conversation.Online Media Daily

What you may not know about things you share. While current regulation (as stated above) may be more focused on tracking online behavior to serve up online ads and whether consumers should have a say in the matter, here’s a fascinating post about how much marketers can learn about customers just from social media.Global Copywriting

Using Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter for a free online presence. Who needs an expensive Website these days to establish a presence online. Not these entrepreneurs certainly with their use of social media to handle all the functions (and more) for which businesses once used more traditional Websites. Add a blog to the mix and your online small business presence is up andrunning. And all for a fraction of the cost for other options.WSJ

Resources& Results

Learning via Twitter from the best in the business. Twitter is not only a great tool for marketing your small business but it can also be helpful for learning and gaining inspiration from other entrepreneurs too. Here, from Tom Pick of KC Associates is a list of 50 female entrepreneurs you should be following, an investment in social media for your small business of a verydifferent kind.Blue Focus Media

Social media, like business, is about building community. Here’s how to do it the right way whether you use Facebook, your blog or more specialized tools. Scott Fox has built his share of great small business communities including the one he operates today, and in this comprehensive interview for BizSugar.com, our sister site, shows how to create one of your very own.BizSugar Blog

How to build a Foursquare brand. Of course, when it comes to social media marketing, Facebook and Twitter are certainly not the only game in town…even if they’re often the first platforms we think about. Location-based check-in social networks have already influenced the social media world in a big way. But are they right for your brand?Abnormal Marketing

Guide to Foursquare small business success. Like any other social media, there is a strategy for using Foursquare and other check-in applications that will bring your small business better customer interaction, and therefore better success in using this social media platform to improve your business. Here, from Ryan McBurney, are six tips to get you started. Get Busy Media

In Conclusion

Why Web presence for your business will never be the same. In conclusion, Web presence has never been less expensive, more expected or demanded more from small business in order to create success. The good news is that entry barriers are low. But this provides both great opportunityandgreat competition. Internet marketing has never been cheaper or easier to do and never more necessary for small business success. WSJ

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Small Business Marketing Milieu

Marketing your small business isn’t getting any easier. With so may choices, so many channels and so many tech and traditional tools, how can your company keep ahead of the competition? Perhaps great marketing cannot be taught. It is born of inspiration…and of the latest new idea!

Mobile& Location based

Is your marketing strategy location based? It may be the latest and hottest marketing trend. The Web in particular is going local and marketers are seizing on the opportunity to promote based on region the way they once focused only globally. Sure location-based is the flavor of the week, but is it right for you?CIK Marketing

How mobile technology enhances your printed message. You use mobile technology and printed materials in your campaigns already, but have you ever thought of integrating the two? You wouldn’t be alone. Here are some tools to help you combine mobile and printed marketing for an enhanced effect.Small Business Marketing Tools

10 mobile marketing tips. Are you finding new customers and new markets through mobile marketing? With such a steadily growing user base, the audience is obviously increasing fast and many of them may be in your niche or industry. Be sure to follow these 10 approaches for finding your customers on the Mobile Web.Entrepreneur.com

Employees& Customer Service

How do employees impact your strategy? You can think of employee motivation as largely a management or human resources issue. But you could be missing the big picture. Check Zach Hellers post to think about how to incentivize employees in a whole new way…as a form of marketing!“I” of the Consumer

Customer service the latest bricks and mortar marketing app. With online retailers making huge inroads, local bricks and mortar businesses are fighting back in a variety of ways. One is a focus on customer service, a kind of flesh  and blood app powered by your employees, and can be a powerful tool that is difficult to replicate in the digital retail world. Here are some tips to maintain the basics.Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Design& Trends

Three ways design can improve your campaigns. In an era of social media and free Website solutions, it’s easy to forget the difference design can make. There’s nothing wrong with using the latest in free and shared tools to drive your marketing message your blog/Website remains the heart and soul of your marketing efforts.Wood Street Inc.

Getting attention from new and tradional media. Actually one may lead to the other, explains John Jantch of Duct Tape Marketing as he talks about the way that new channels like social media have broken down the barriers between journalists and other traditional media types and small business owners hungry the opportunity to make a connection and gain coverage for their brand.Behind The Brand TV

How good a job are you doing? If you do a good enough job marketing you won’t have to sell at all. What’s the difference between“selling” and“inviting?” It may have to do with how well you’ve handled the marketing of your product or service. The point is to get the them towantwhat you have to offer.Seth Godin’s Blog

Conclusion

Using blogs to market your brand. Blogs are a great way to market your brand and, at the same time, a great source of helpful information about your niche market or community. But maintaining a great, helpful and informative blog is often harder than it looks and requires a special commitment.Keep Up With The Web

Sharing your small biz event atSmall Business Trends. There are all kinds of ways to share information in your niche or industry and many of these ways might be considered marketing. Some are easier or less expensive than others. We’d like to announce the opportunity to learn about and share small business events via ourSmall Business Eventsfeature.Small Business Trends

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Are You Waiting for Your Google Business Photo?

Looking for another way to enhance your Google Place Page to set yourself apart from your competition? How about a Google-sponsored photo shoot? No. Really. How about one?

During last week’s Social-Loco conference in San Francisco, Google’s Marissa Mayer formally introduced everyone to an offering known asGoogle Business Photos. Search Engine Land’s Greg Sterlingreminds usthis isn’t a new service, but a more public formalization of one that’s been available on a very limited basis since last year.

With Google Business Photos, business owners can apply to have a Google-sponsored photographer come and take some inside shots of their business. The pictures can then be added to your Google Place Page to enhance your listing and show potential customers what you have to offer once they walk through the doors. You get to pique customer’s interest in your business while they’re still sitting at home or the office debating where to go for lunch.

Google has provided a quirkyvideoto showcase exactly what the service does.

Why is Google doing this? Google says that interior photos are a great way to show customers what your business is really like, citing that people will able to peek inside your restaurant from the comfort of their own homes. The photos will also help SMBs spice up their Google Place Page and give them a leg up over competitors who haven’t been quite as proactive. Really, it’s more incentive for you to optimize your Google Place Page.

As a business owner, you if you live in one of theselect citiesyou shouldapplyto get a Google-sponsored photographer to come to your establishment and take some photos to show off your goods to customer. But if you don’t live in one of those cities, or you don’t want to wait for Google to come knocking, thentake those photos yourself.

Google is 100 percent right that showing people the look and feel of your business is a great way to build trust and make them feel more comfortable walking through your doors. And as a small business owner, you really benefit from not only building credibility where you can, but also highlighting your personality and the quirks that can help you find an audience. However, that doesn’t mean you need Google to take the photos. Break out your camera, stage some clever shots, and then upload them to your Google Place Page. Don’t want to stop there? Take some video and upload that, as well!

In case you weren’t previously aware, the ability to add photo and video to your Google Place Page is something you already have. Simply edit your listing and add it. It’s that easy, and is a smart move you can do for your business today.

I think it’s pretty neat that Google is offering this as a service to select small business owners, both to highlight its own Google Place Pages and allowing SMBs to give potential customers an additional reason to check them out. But this isyourbusiness. Why wait for Google to do it for you?

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Business Book Review: The Steve Jobs Way

Steve Jobs has been a popular figure in business books lately.  First we hadThe Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobswhich aimed to get us to think differently and gave us some insight into innovation.  And now,Jay Elliot,author and former Senior VP of Apple, has delivered an insider’s view of Steve Jobs and his leadership style in his bookThe Steve Jobs Way: iLeadership for a New Generation

Jay Elliot Writes an Intimate, Insider’s Story

Elliot (with the help of William Simon) has writtenThe Steve Jobs Wayin what I’d call an intimate and reflective style.  He delivers the leadership lessons he experienced working alongside Steve Jobs.

Don’t expect a how-to manual here.  After reading through the stories and examples that Elliot provides, you’ll have to reflect on your own experiences and then think about ways that you might want to implement Jobs’ way as part of your own.

WWSJD (What Would Steve Jobs Do?)

There is no doubt that Steve Jobs reigns supreme in the worlds of product innovation, brand building, marketing, presenting and leadership.  Here is a passage from chapter 2, “Success in the Details.”  I’ve picked an excerpt where you can see the lesson in play.  After reading this paragraph, I started thinking about the ways in which I could make my customers “successful” or help them become “master users.”

“Steve Jobs understood something that a lot of companies try to do, but are rarely successful at.  The more he advanced, the simpler his products became.  In some instances, it’s less about the product and more about the user.  Every user wants to be successful.  When you know how to operatesomething masterfully, how does it make you feel?  More people will buy if customers feel good using the product.”

Here’s another example of a leadership lesson that pulls from the popular story of Steve’s calligraphy class experience:

“What’s your most unusual talent, ability or area of knowledge that you never expect to have much use for?

One example: In his short stay at Reed College, {Steve Jobs} had stumbled on the subject of calligraphy.  This was a young man who had, at an early age, been bitten by the technology bug. Why on earth would such a rarefied field as calligraphy have appealed to him?

His fascination with shapes and forms stretches from the configuration of letters in fonts like Garamond and Myriad to the incredibly appealing design of the iPhone.”

Why Should I Read Another Book About Steve Jobs?

Steve Jobs’ management style, his entrepreneurial spirit and his unique way of being appear to be resonating with today’s marketplace.  Whether it’s his relentless focus on the customer experience or his ability to create a culture of innovation and creativity, Jobs has captured the interest of consumers and businesspeople alike.

If you’re looking for a break from checklists and worksheets that poke and prod at your brain to come up with new ideas, this book offers a gentler way of thinking about things while you read about Elliot’s experiences and Jobs’ actions and reactions to common business challenges.

If you’re a fan of educational biographies, this is a good book for you.  You get to experience Steve Jobs’ style as if you were literally walking beside Elliot from the time he meets Jobs in a restaurant through Jobs’ ouster in 1985.

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Events, Conferences& Webinars for SMBs

Looking for events to grow your business?  You’ve come to the right place.  The following  Guide to Small Business Events lists over 50 conferences, seminars and webinars:

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Small Business High Speed Growth
May 9, 2011

Are you ready to position your business for rapid growth? Join the Small Business High Speed Growth sessions to get face-to-face with leading mentors in marketing, finance and business development.

Becoming the Obvious Choice for Your Customer Regardless of Price
May 9, 2011, Online

Focus.com Roundtable teleconference at 11am PT/2pm ET with Niall Devitt, Craig Elias, Melinda Emerson, Susan Payton, Ramon Ray, Deborah Shane, and Ivana Taylor discussing today’s most successful strategies and tactics that will help you find your ideal customer and get them choose you, every time, regardless of price. Topics include:

- How to find and identify your best customer
- Best practices for building solid customer relationships
- Strategies and technical tools you can use to analyze your sales and marketing
- How consumers’ buying habits have changed
- The mindset of a successful entrepreneur
- How to use communications (blogs, articles, etc) to find customers

Leverage Virtual Workers in Your Real Business
Taste of Technology Business Series
May 11, 2011, New York City

The economy has put your traditional hiring in a tizzy. You’re nervous about hiring employees– but you need smart staff now. Hiring consultants and temporary workers can help. Hiring experts who work from home might be even better.

But how do you actually find these experts? What types of work can be outsourced effectively? How do you make it all work smoothly? This Taste of Technology will discuss the tools and strategies you can use to hire, manage and communicate with your new, virtual work force.

Workshop: Secrets of LinkedIn: Insider Tips That Work
May 11, 2011, Garden City, NY

So you’ve built a decent network of connections through LinkedIn. Now what? LinkedIn is a powerful business networking site that reaches over 100+ million users, but how can you truly utilize it to connect with new prospects, strategic partners, and first-rate employees to get meaningful results? In this workshop internet marketing guru Jerry Allocca will work with you 1:1 to show you exactly how to turn your LinkedIn profile into profits, how to connect with the right people, show you the best groups to join, and provide you with a ton of proven insider tips.

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 thesefreesmall business events across six cities in 2011, with the help of host Entrepreneur EXPO and keynote speaker Starr Hall.

May 11– Chicago
June 15– Atlanta
July 14– New York City
August 16– Los Angeles
September 13– Miami

12th Annual U.S. Department of Energy Small Business Conference& Expo
May 10-12, 2011, Kansas City, MO

This event will feature plenaries, educational workshops, an Exhibit Hall with over 200 exhibitors/sponsors, as well as business matchmaking sessions. Over 1,600 attendees will represent all levels of federal, state and local government agencies, the small business community, large/prime contractors, minority educational institutions and many more.

The largest civilian contracting agency within the federal government, DOE spent over $25 billion in contracts in FY 2010.

The Receivables Exchange Cash Flow Forum
May 11, 2011, Los Angeles
May 12, 2011, San Francisco

For one day only, a panel of experts and business owners will discuss strategies for managing working capital in the changing economy, and share tips you can use to accelerate your business growth.

The new credit reality requires new strategies for growing businesses. At this one-time event, hear from experts and business owners who have survived– and thrived – in a tight credit market, and learn how they did it.

unGeeked Elite
May 12 -14, 2011, Chicago

unGeeked Elite will cover social media, marketing and branding. This three-day Retreat’s unique format:

* No keynote speakers: unGeeked levels the playing field by presenting you with an influential list of international, national and regionally recognized consultants and authors.
* No Presenters: unGeeked is where you participate in open discussions with“discussion leaders” regarding leveraging your corporate and personal brand.
* Fewer Powerpoints or Prezi’s: Really? Don’t like them. However, if the speaker needs to use one of these tools, they are limited to only five slides.
* More speaker and attendee interaction.

Limited to 125 participants. Note: Anita Campbell, CEO ofSmall Business Trends,will be speaking at this event.

BizTech {Mobile Apps}
May 12, 2011, San Francisco

Discover the coolest and latest mobile apps. Connect with everyone who cares about the mobile industry and learn what’s going on in the mobile technology world today.

Additional upcoming event:
BizTech {Event Technology}- July 12, 2011

Looking Up in a Down Economy– Secrets of the Inc. 5000
May 12, 2011, Boston

Join Inc. magazine and Salem Five for an inspirational evening of thought-provoking discussion with Inc. 5000 CEOs from the Boston area and Jim Schleckser, CEO of the Inc. CEO Project. Network with fellow entrepreneurs and business owners, hear how these extraordinary entrepreneurs grew their businesses in the teeth of the economic downturn, and gain inspiration for growing your own company.

Panelists:
Rich Doyle, Co-Founder& CEO, Harpoon Brewery
Joe Albanese, President& CEO, Commodore Builders
Lewis Schiff, Executive Director, Inc. Business Owners Council

Ultra Light Startups– Sales for Startups
May 12, 2011, New York, Boston, Toronto

This event will help you develop and implement a sales strategy for your startup. Panelists include:
Sean Black (@SeanBlack) Founder and CEO at SalesCrunch
Kelley Boyd (@msksboyd) Principal at Think Experience
Joe Chin (@JoeJChin) Founder and CEO at SourcePad
Ben Kartzman (@benkartzman) Co-Founder and CEO at Spongecell

Monetize Your Expertise
May 12-14, Philadelphia, PA

Networking expert, business coach, and author Liz Lynch, is hosting this 3-day event in Philadelphia, PA on May 12-14 where she will take you through her 5-step system for maximizing your income by learning how to more effectively position, package and promote your expertise. If you’re a consultant, coach, entrepreneur, author, or speaker, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to work with Liz on your business growth goals and challenges.

2011 Business Growth Conference
May 16-19, Pasco County, FL

At the SBDC at USF’s second annual Growth Conference you’ll learn the strategies and gain the tools necessary to grow your business. The FREE, one-day conference series will tour the 10-county area as part of National Small Business Week. Included in the schedule are town hall meetings with legislative and congressional representatives. This open forum offers you an opportunity to discuss issues impacting your business.

May 16 Hillsborough and Polk
May 17 Pinellas and Highlands
May 18 Pasco and Desoto
May 19 Hernando
May 20 Hardee, Sarasota and Manatee

Constant Contact Get Down to Business
May 17-19, 2011. New York City

Join Constant Contact and Wendi Caplan-Carroll for three days of free events on May 17th, 18th, and 19th! Small Business Week: New York Goes Social. Come learn how to harness the power of digital marketing tools to grow relationships and revenue.

May 17th– 6:00pm– 8:00pm: Let’s Get Down to Business! NY Goes Social Cocktail Networking Party
May 18th– 8:00am– 5:00pm: Social Media Marketing Bootcamp. You’ll hear from the experts with multiple workshops and panels plus one on one coaching from SCORE-NYC.
May 19th– 8:00am– 12:30pm: Constant Contact Social Media Summit. Final day wraps up with three keynote speakers providing you with invaluable insight and information on how to take your Social Media Marketing to the next level.

Mobile Marketing for Small Business: Fact vs. Fiction
May 17, 2011, Online

Discover how to tap into the mobile market and create a presence for your small business on mobile phones. Panelists include Rieva Lesonsky, founder and CEO of GrowBiz Media, Ramon Ray, journalist, technology evangelist, editor of Smallbiztechnology.com, Jennifer Shaheen, President, Technology Therapist, Tim Gorin, Yelp’s Small Business Advisory Council and Navin Ganeshan, Principal Product Strategist, Network Solutions.

How to Use Media to Effectively Connect with Business Owners
May 17, 2011, Online

Getting leads of business owners is no easy task with the constant bombardment of day-to-day advertising clutter. Connecting with business owners now requires a mix of communication channels that surround and engage them through action-inducing media and content. In this webinar, attendees will learn:
• How to combine a mix of communication channels to connect with the business owner• The strategic approach to building awareness for effective lead generation• Specific examples of marketing programs and creative that get results

Birmingham Business Alliance Small Business Summit and Expo
May 17, 2011, Birmingham, AL

The event will kick off with a breakfast and keynote speech from Kevin Schmeigel, vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, followed by the announcement of three Recognition Award winners. Then attendees will enjoy morning breakout sessions, a roundtable boxed lunch and afternoon breakout sessions. The day’s events will wrap up with a “Wine’d Down” reception.

Using Segmentation to Grow Your Business& Keep Customers Happy
May 18, 2011, Online

Are you marketing to your customers as individuals? Or do you treat your email list as one big lump of addresses? You could be missing huge opportunities to grow your business AND to create lifetime loyalty with your customers. This webinar will explore the importance of segmenting customers. Guest expert  Pamela O’Hara, President of Batchblue Software, will discuss:

Why you must segment your customers
How to get started with segmentation
What are some best practices
Examples of what has worked for other companies
How to segment in an online world
Where social media fits in

Mahoning Valley Small Business Conference& Expo 2011
May 18, 2011, Youngstown, OH

Created for both the novice and the experienced small business owner, the Mahoning Valley Small Business Conference& Expo 2011 will cover the latest trends in small business assistance and minority and women business owners. Any small business owner and entrepreneur, whether just starting to write his or her business plan or very experienced, would benefit from the instructional workshops. Certified small business, MBE, DBE and EDGE businesses will have the opportunity to meet buyers from companies committed to increasing their supplier diversity.

Prepping to Pitch
May 18, June 22, June 30, 2011, New York City

NYC Business Solutions Lower Manhattan Center is proud to announce an upcoming workshop series titled“Prepping to Pitch.” This free series is designed to help business owners prepare to obtain equity financing and will feature workshops teaching entrepreneurs how to pitch investors, understand and negotiate private equity agreements, and find potential investors.

Session 1: Advice for Pitching Investors- Taught by Yao Huang of The Hatchery
Session 2: Understanding Angel Funding- Taught by David Lifson of Postling
Session 3: Negotiating Private Equity Agreements- Taught by Shahmoon& Ellisen LLP

Expect the Unexpected: The Importance of Being Nimble
May 18, 2011, Los Angeles

Disasters can strike at any moment. In business today, it goes unsaid that you should be prepared for anything so that your company can outlast the unexpected. Join Inc. and CDW for an interactive, invitation-only gathering where you’ll hear from Inc. Editor-at-Large, Bo Burlingham and a panel of leaders from some of the fastest growing companies in America. They’ll share their experiences on rebounding after a disaster: what worked, what they wish they’d done differently, and how technology helped.

Empowered Woman Success Summit
May 19-20, 2011, Miami, FL

The Empowered Woman Success Summit“is not your typical‘women’s’ conference… no rah-rah useless mumbo jumbo. This is about getting practical tools and strategies for building your brand, raising your profile and generating profitable opportunities for the long haul,” says founder Michelle Villalobos. This year’s theme is“Elevate Yourself,” designed to help all professional, ambitious women (entrepreneurs, freelancers, corporate execs, solopreneurs, career-switchers& more) elevate themselves beyond where they are today. The last summit drew over 700 smart, savvy women.

Small Business TrendsCEO Anita Campbell will be speaking, on audience-attracting secrets.

Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference& Expo
May 22-25, Atlanta

Rethink your business today at the 2011 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo. Hundreds of deal makers are expected to attend all looking to build networks and explore new growth opportunities. Expect innovative sessions, high-powered speakers, and an early peek at the products, trends, and services you’ll need to know about to stay ahead of the curve. You can’t afford to miss this one-of-a-kind power conference.

How I Built It

Monday, May 23– Washington, DC/America’s Small Business Summit
Thursday, June 9– Austin, TX
Thursday, September 15– Chicago
Wednesday October 5– New York City/World Business Forum

JoinWall Street JournalSmall Business Editor Colleen DeBaise as she moderates an esteemed panel of top entrepreneurs for dynamic discussions in your area. Gain firsthand wisdom from these entrepreneurial gurus as they delve into their journeys of launching successful businesses.

America’s Small Business Summit 2011
May 23-25, 2011, Washington, DC

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. 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. Register before April 1st for early bird pricing.

Keeping the Promise– California Disabled Veterans Alliance Business Matchmaking
May 23-24, 2011, Los Angeles

The 19th Annual“Keeping the Promise” (KTP2011) Conference, Exposition and Matchmaking Event provides a unique opportunity to meet with disabled and veteran entrepreneurs, May 23-24, 2011 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott in Los Angeles, CA. Business Matchmaking will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

BlogWorld Expo
May 24-26, 2011, New York City

BlogWorld is the world’s largest blogging and social media conference, and it’s known worldwide for presenting internet luminaries and entrepreneurs, the most popular and knowledgeable bloggers, podcasters and social media marketing thought leaders. This year’s event will feature great educational content, so new media content creators and businesses of all kinds will learn the best tips, technologies and methods for growing their brands, audiences and businesses online.

In addition to learning new ways to hone your content skills and promote your content and brand. Get 20% off registration with discount codeSBTVIP20.

Faster, Better, Smarter: How Great Small Businesses are Using Technology to Drive Growth
May 24, 2011, Atlanta

At this roundtable discussion, a panel of leaders from some of the fastest growing companies in ATL will discuss how they’ve embraced the latest technologies to get closer to their customers, make the most of their time and scarce resources, differentiate themselves from the competition, and develop innovative strategies that set the stage for growth.

The Art of Angel Investing: What Investors Look for, and Look Out for, When Investing in Startups
May 24, 2011, New York City

This event is a must-attend for anyone interested in learning more about pitching business ideas, venture capital/angel investing and starting their own business. And for those who are Fordham students or alumni, come cheer on your peers in the final round of the Fordham Business Plan Competition!

Brand Camp NYC
May 24, 2011

Brand Camp: Personal Branding 2.0 Conference is an experiential gathering of business thought leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and professionals from around the world. Brand Camp University mixes together new media, genius and passion to explore the ideas behind personal branding and how it affects students, entrepreneurs, professionals, organizations and corporations. The Brand Camp conference is a hand-picked roster of change agents and innovative thought leaders who share their stories and strategies. Brand camp is more than a conference it is an experience that will change the way you think about your profession, your life and challenge you to passionately pursue your dreams.

How small business can benefit from collaboration, Openness and Sharing
May 25, 2011, Online

How small business can benefit and learn from the principles of Wikinomics—collaboration, openness, sharing, interdependence and integrity.

New England XPO for Business
May 25, 2011, Boston

Connect, collaborate and communicate with over 10,000 business owners and professionals from across New England at the 3rd Annual New England XPO for Business. This event is the largest and most profitable B2B networking conference in the Northeast, featuring 36+ educational seminars and over 300 exhibits packed with hundreds of business products and services.

The Art of Angel Investing: What Investors Look For, and Look Out for, When Investing in Startups
May 26, 2011, New York City

Featuring:
Top NYC Angel Investors Are Pitched By Several Startups& Award up to $40,000* in Prizes including $10,000 cash prizes and $30,000 of in-kind services. This event is a must attend for anyone interested in learning more about pitching business ideas, venture capital/angel investing, and starting their own business.

Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers Procurement Conference
June 2, 2011, Warrensburg, MO

More than 1,200 government agencies and prime contractors have been invited to discuss their contracting opportunities with interested businesses.

The conference is sponsored by Missouri’s senior Sen. McCaskill, Missouri PTAC, the Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Centers, and the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies and Development at the University of Central Missouri.

12th Annual Enterprise Council on Small Business Summit
June 6-8, 2011, New Orleans

This year’s ECSB Summit will examine the“silent majority” of satisfied small business customers whose positive experiences don’t translate into vocal endorsements. By identifying these potential advocates, studying what motivates them to communicate to others, and mapping the networks where referrals occur, participants will uncover the best practices needed to drive active advocacy among small business customers.

Marketing Boot Camp: Getting the Right Message to the Right People at the Right Time
June 7, 2011, Itasca, IL

Tough times call for tough tactics, and an intelligent, targeted marketing program– plus the commitment to implement it– is necessary for any business to survive. Fortunately, good marketing doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to work. So where do you begin?

Lee Zoldan, president of The Simons Group, a marketing and communications firm that provides full-spectrum marketing communications, will give a crash course in marketing fundamentals and share smart, real-world strategies that you will be able to use immediately.

Internet Retailer Conference& Exhibition
June 14-17, San Diego

This year’s event theme is“E-Commerce Shifts Into Overdrive—the Race Is On,” and the event is specifically designed to give e-retailers practical information they need to compete in today’s faster-paced e-commerce market. The speaker roster for the 2011 Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition represents the largest group of expert speakers ever assembled in online retailing, including: Christopher Payne, VP& GM, North American Marketplaces, eBay; Arianna Huffington; Sona Chawla, President, E-Commerce, Walgreen Co. and more.

Inc. Leadership Conference
June 15-17, 2011, Dallas

The event begins June 15 with a pre-conference reception. The next morning opens on the main stage with a presentation revealing the tangible tools for creating competitive cultures. The day culminates with an awards dinner recognizing this year’s Winning Workplaces honorees— leaders recognized for having created exceptional companies. The final day of the conference will offer additional main stage presentations and more intimate sessions with opportunities for greater networking and education.

140 Characters Conference
June 15-16, 2011, New York City

This event is expected to be the largest worldwide gathering of people interested in the effects of the real-time Internet on both business and“we” the people. It seems like everyone is talking about Facebook and Twitter, but so what? Why do they really matter?

#140conf exposes you to the power the Internet has to disrupt businesses, change lives and create serendipity. You will leave with a fresh outlook on how the real-time Web can be used in your business or personal life to actually do something meaningful.

The New York Venture Summit
July 20-21, 2011, New York City

The New York Venture Summit, presented by youngStartup Ventures is the premier industry gathering where cutting-edge startups meet top venture capitalists, angel investors, Corporate VCs and investment bankers.

Whether you are an investor seeking new deals, or an emerging company seeking capital and exposure, the The New York Venture Summit, is one event you won’t want to miss.

Vertical Response 2011 Take Action User Seminar Series
Multiple Cities& Dates

June 23, 2011– Chicago
September 30, 2011– Denver

The Vertical Response 2011 Take Action User Seminar is designed to educate you about email marketing in the age of social media. Complement your attendance with a one-on-one email consultation and get the chance to take what you learn and immediately put it into action. Join Smallbiztechnology’s Ramon Ray in New York City and get $10 off early bird registration at thislink.

2011 Creative Freelancer Conference
June 23-24, 2011, Chicago

The Creative Freelancer Conference, presented byHOWmagazine and Marketing Mentor, is the only business conference for creative solopreneurs, from designers and writers to illustrators and photographers. Whether you’re a veteran or just starting out, you’ll get the specific tools you need to launch, build and grow a successful freelance business. You’ll also get plenty of time to connect with, learn from and share solutions with your fellow freelancers.
Register by the early bird deadline of April 1 and save $30.

Veteran Entrepreneur Training Symposium
June 27-30, Reno, NV

Do you run a veteran-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned small business (VOSB/SDVOSB) and want to work with the government? Or do you want to team with a veteran-owned company but aren’t sure how? The National Veterans Small Business Coalition has created the Veteran Entrepreneur Training Symposium (VETS) to help you accomplish your small business goals.

Unlike other small business conferences, VETS connects thriving veteran business owners with emerging veteran entrepreneurs to expose the knowledge needed to acquire government contracts and teaming opportunities. While attending, also expect to network with government agencies, large companies, and potential clients and customers.

FAA Small Business Opportunities Training Conference and Trade Show
June 28-July 1, 2011, Oklahoma City, OK

The FAA will host its Annual National Small Business Procurement Opportunities Training Conference and Trade Show on June 28– July 1, 2010. The conference provides a forum for small businesses (including service-disabled and veteran-owned small businesses and 8{a} certified firms) to participate in technical and procurement opportunities workshops. Sessions will link small businesses with program managers, address business issues and concerns, and provide information that will benefit small businesses seeking to do business with the agency.

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.

Biz 2 Beach
August 19, 2011, Santa Monica, CA

Biz2Beach is an inaugural networking conference of thought leaders, innovators, and trendsetters for an exciting day of exchanging ideas. The“unconference” format of Biz2Beach is unlike most events. Our featured speakers who range in business expertise, will lead four intimate breakout discussions. B2B is presented by CallFire, who will unveil the latest iteration of its suite of telecom services.

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.

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, and multiple tracks of educational sessions covering the latest trends and information from affiliate marketing experts.

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.

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+ 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.

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.

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 Massachusettsbelieves 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.

To find more small business events, contests and awards, visit theSmall 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 ourEvents& Contests Submission Form(it’s free).Only events of interest to small business people, freelancers and entrepreneurs will be included.

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