Category Archives: Small Business Week

Awesome Free Business & Marketing Webinars Courtesy of the SBA

Lots of media coverage surrounds National Small Business Week, which is being held from April 29 – May 5. This annual event is hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration to recognize the nation’s top small businesses, entrepreneurs, small business advocates and champions.

More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and we create about two out of three new jobs in the U.S. every year! Many of my readers run small businesses, or work for small businesses, so give yourselves a pat on the back.

This year, we all receive a bonus as the SBA and SCORE Association team up to host a free, 3-Day Virtual Conference during National Small Business Week. The conference will take place Tuesday, May 1 – Thursday, May 3 between 12:30 pm ET – 6:30 pm ET each day.

Registration is free to the public, which is a big deal since even virtual National Small Business Weekconferences can cost $500 – $600! You can participate in all or some of the webinars and have the opportunity to meet other business owners and chat with industry experts. The Virtual Conference offers all the best parts of an in-person conference, but without the hassle and expense of traveling!

Webinar topics include

How Changing Consumer Behavior Impacts Your Business – May 1 at 1:00 PM ET/ 10:00 AM PT
Technology allows you to understand consumer behavior better than ever. Join this webinar by Anastasia Kudrez of Google to learn how these insights Googlecan help shape your digital marketing plan, and what you can do to position your business for success.

• Addressing Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace – May 1 at 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT
In this timely and informative seminar from Paychex, experts will discuss workplace discrimination and harassment – including sexual harassment. You’ll learn about employer liability under federal law, as well as the elements required to establish an affirmative defense to harassment claims. They’ll also cover specific policies and procedures for handling complaints, investigations, and retaliation, that can help protect your employees and your business.

email marketing• Get New and Repeat Business On Autopilot with Email Marketing – May 1 at 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT
Your business thrives on bringing in sales from new and existing customers. Wouldn’t it be great if you could bring in those sales more frequently without having to spend a lot of time doing so? This webinar by Constant Contact will show you some simple ways to repeatedly reach customers with email marketing. P.S. Marketing @ Work is a Constant Contact Partner.

• Creating and Sustaining a Strong Social Presence – May 1 at 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT
You want to use social media for your business, but where should you start?social Vistaprint’s Sarah Nunes will explain why you should be on social and some easy-to-use tips and tricks for small business owners to improve or create strong social media campaigns.

• The U.S. Economic Outlook and Its Impact on Small Businesses – May 2 at 1:00 PM ET/ 10:00 AM PT
Join Visa’s Vice President of the Visa Business and Economic Insights team, Bruce Cundiff, as he shares the near-term outlook for the U.S. economy including the health of consumer spending, housing prices, and more. You’ll learn how consumer spending preferences are changing, what stock market growth and volatility mean for consumer spending, and what all of this means for small businesses.
• Managing Your Finances in the Cloud – May 2 at 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT
Did you ever wonder what advantages moving your company to the cloud could offer? Have you ever thought about making the switch but weren’t sure how or why? This session by Intuit will uncover many reasons why businesses are making the move and discuss some best practices in how to use this technology to keep your business relevant and nimble.

• Grow Your Business in 2018 – May 2 at 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT
Join this webinar by Square to learn how to use small business technology tools to streamline your work and give you back valuable time.

• Simple Steps to Choosing the Right Financing – May 2 at 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT
Choosing the right source of financing for your business’ growth is more complicated today than it used to be – and because of all the different options available, it requires a more savvy borrower than ever before. Join this webinar by OnDeck to learn which financing options are right for different types of businesses and how likely you are to get approved.

• Hug Your Haters: How to Embrace Complaints & Keep Your Customers – May 3 at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT
In this webinar sponsored by Chase, Jay Baer, founder of Convince & Convert, reveals brand-new, proprietary research into why and where your customers complain and why the rise of customer complaints is actually an enormous opportunity.

  • Sharing Your Story Through Video – May 3 at 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT
    Today’s consumers can watch video content whenever and wherever they want. This creates an opportunity for businesses to re-imagine the role of video content in their marketing strategy. Join this webinar by Google to learn best practices for connecting with consumers through online video.

pop-up shop• Pop & Play: How Opening a Pop-Up Shop Can Help Launch Your Retail Brand – May 3 at 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT
What do Amazon, Chobani, Hermes and a taco truck have in common? All four recognize the magic of the pop-up shop. In this webinar by Kimco Realty, find out how a pop-up can help you bring your brand to life, create a one-of-a-kind customer experience and tell your brand’s unique story to a built-in audience.

• Fusion Marketing: The Next Generation of Marketing – May 3 at 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT
Award-winning inventor, entrepreneur and author Lon Safko examines this new concept of “interconnecting” your traditional and digital tools. You will look at your marketing efforts in a completely new way. In this webinar, you will learn how to get exponential results without spending a dime more.

And if you’d like advice on marketing your small or medium-sized business during National Small Business Week – or any time – contact me at [email protected], 301-696-8886.

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Small Business Week is April 30th – May 6th

Use Small Business Week to thank existing customers

and invite new ones!

May is chock-full of themes and holidays that you can use to promote your business! Have a restaurant? Offer specials on Cinco de Mayo, National Nurses Day, National Teacher’s Day, Eat What You Want Day, Military Spouses Day or Armed Forces Day!

Marketing your business during Small Business Week

April 30 – May 6

Retail stores and florists could also offer specials on many of those days! National Renewal Day also offers many opportunities for renewal, whether it’s for the body or the soul (weight loss, exercise, yoga, mindfulness). It could also be a time to refresh your home’s carpets – or buy new ones. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

In addition to Small Business Week, here are some other May themes:

  • Military Appreciation Month
  • National Photograph Month
  • National BBQ Month
  • National Tourism Week (May 7th – May 13th)
  • Graduation and Proms

And here are a whole lot of other May holiday themes You can use for marketing:
May 1 – May Day and Loyalty Day
May 4 – Renewal Day and World Give Day
May 5 – Cinco de Mayo
May 6 – National Nurse’s Day
May 9 – National Teacher’s Day
May 11 – Eat What You Want Day – our personal favorite!
May 12 – Military Spouses Day
May 14 – Mother’s Day
May 20 – Armed Forces Day
May 29 – Memorial Day

*Eat What You Want Day was created by Thomas and Ruth Roy of wellcat.com to help people break away from the frustrating health and diet trends of our times, if for only one day, and just let go and enjoy life a little. Most nutritionists seem to agree that giving yourself a break every now and again can actually be good for us.

Need bright ideas to make your business soar? Count on us! We can create a Diane DeMarco, Marketing @ Workstrategic marketing program that includes: Traditional marketing Public relations E-newsletters Social media Websites Videos Eye-catching ads, brochures, direct mail and more! Contact us today!

 

 

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