Showcasing early entrepreneurs has a twofold purpose. One is to offer an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. The second is to provide a forum through which they can guide other aspiring business owners around avoidable obstacles and toward a path of attainable goals. Sharing insights begins with hearing their stories firsthand beginning with a conversation with
Tony Palumbo, owner
LocalTech4Hire.com
support@localtech4hire.com
www.LocalTech4Hire.com
847-331-8764
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
LocalTech4Hire.com provides economical website development for small business owners who know they need an online presence, but up until now, thought website development was cost prohibitive. Building basic websites that are affordable gives new companies the opportunity to get started with Internet sales and marketing. At the same time, it takes their goals and vision directly online. As they begin to prosper and outgrow their site, I’m then able to help them, at that point, with the development of a more advanced site to better suit their current needs.
WHY I GOT STARTED
I began LocalTech4Hire.com after realizing that I was as far as I was going in my current career. I had gone as far as possible in my position and advancement did not look promising so I needed to take control of my own future success. I knew that my true interest, talent and value lie in web development. So, I pursued the education and training necessary to become a professional website developer and, soon after, started LocalTech4Hire.com.
MY UNIQUENESS
Besides my very affordable pricing which, first and foremost, is what sets me apart from my competition, my ability to quickly understand the individual needs and requirements of my clients is also a unique capability. Finding the most cost-effective solution to what will work best has resulted in solid relationships among my customers.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
Companies that don’t have any online presence and, as a result, are not prospering would, naturally, be a good client for me. In addition to that, businesses ready to upgrade or refresh their websites would also fall into my ideal customer profile.
MY MARKETING METHODS
I’ve found that doing a lot of face-to-face networking is working well for getting my business the recognition it requires. At the same time, I’m a member of the local Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce. MeetUp group networking is another means of meeting other business owners who might need my services. Another method for generating awareness is to engage in online Q&As and leaving a link to my website.
SHARED ADVICE
What I found more encouraging than surprising was how helpful people can be with regard to my business startup. I have received so many tips, ideas and advice from other professionals that it has truly been a most positive experience. I wish I had known about the great source of information and opportunity my local chamber of commerce provided. I spent quite some time not really knowing how to get my name out into the marketplace before becoming a chamber member. I’d recommend to other aspiring entrepreneurs that they prepare and follow a detailed business plan. Having a set direction will keep you on course and help to ensure that you waste little time building your business. Also, get involved in networking to make the important contacts it takes to move your business forward. It’s a good idea, as well, to research your competitors. Find out who they are, where they’re located, who they are targeting and what they are offering. By doing so, you’ll be in a better position to provide a greater value at the fairest price which is one formula for future success.
Showing posts with label meetup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meetup. Show all posts
Monday, February 14, 2011
Monday, November 29, 2010
Entrepreneur takes life-long learning out of the classroom and into social venues
Showcasing early entrepreneurs has a twofold purpose. One is to offer an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. The second is to provide a forum through which they can guide other aspiring business owners around avoidable obstacles and toward a path of attainable goals. Sharing insights begins with hearing their stories firsthand beginning with a conversation with
Julianna Greer, founder and host
Nouveau
info@nouveau-dupage.com
www.nouveau-dupage.com
phone: 630-984-5365
cell: 630-306-6767
blog: http://nouveau-dupage.com/blog.htm
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Nouveau offers interactive life-enrichment programs that are mostly classes and workshops along with some fun events. Our popular topics include memory improvement, stress management, dream interpretation, how to sell on eBay™ which is a direct result of the economy because people are trying to get rid of their unnecessary items, live more simply and make money at the same time. Another presentation that goes over well is entitled “Welcome to the New Normal.” While I have a degree in gerontology and present several of the programs myself, Nouveau encompasses a reserve of professionals that delivers the wide-ranging topics listed on our program of events.
WHY I STARTED THE BUSINESS
Nouveau began out of a desire to develop a business that we could build and run from anywhere. My husband and I talked about the type of business that we’d want to be involved in after retirement. Meanwhile, I could see the days of my current career were numbered, so when I did lose my job, Nouveau began sooner than later.
OUR UNIQUENESS
What makes Nouveau unlike anything else is that we focus on humanities, psychology and personal growth. Community colleges tend to focus on computer training, foreign languages and, in some cases, culinary arts all in an academic environment. What we do is host our events in a more social setting with the right ambiance where refreshments are available. We specifically avoid holding our classes in classrooms or boardrooms for this purpose. Looking toward next year, I envision event planning services that would include content-based marketing and fund-raising events for retail businesses and non-profits.
OUR IDEAL CLIENT
We’ve found that people most interested in life-long learning tend to be adults over 35 with at least some college education. I’m reaching these people through a number of groups on LinkedIn™ and my Facebook™ page. I’m also making use of press releases to announce our various events. At the same time, I’m offering some free programs to develop name recognition. I conduct a regularly-scheduled email blast to my mailing list along with targeted direct mail campaigns. Plus, I will be starting my own MeetUp™ group. We’ve found that the most effective way to broadcast our programs is by the venue itself posting them on its own event calendar. I’m looking to partner with various restaurants or businesses who would find our life-enriching programs complementary to what they offer their customers.
SHARED ADVICE
What surprised me the most about starting my business was the amount of time and the many channels I’d have to go through to get it up and running. What I might have done differently would be to contact more social networking groups in advance to learn that they were not necessarily going to support my concept or promote my business as some so-called experts had assured me would be the case. What I am doing is connecting with some advisory groups to gain help in refining my direction. From my own experience, I would tell new entrepreneurs that starting your business most likely will take more time and money than you originally expected, but with perseverance and the help of the right advisers there is no reason you can’t succeed.
Editor's question: What other venues do you feel would be ideal for life-enrichment programs?
Julianna Greer, founder and host
Nouveau
info@nouveau-dupage.com
www.nouveau-dupage.com
phone: 630-984-5365
cell: 630-306-6767
blog: http://nouveau-dupage.com/blog.htm
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Nouveau offers interactive life-enrichment programs that are mostly classes and workshops along with some fun events. Our popular topics include memory improvement, stress management, dream interpretation, how to sell on eBay™ which is a direct result of the economy because people are trying to get rid of their unnecessary items, live more simply and make money at the same time. Another presentation that goes over well is entitled “Welcome to the New Normal.” While I have a degree in gerontology and present several of the programs myself, Nouveau encompasses a reserve of professionals that delivers the wide-ranging topics listed on our program of events.
WHY I STARTED THE BUSINESS
Nouveau began out of a desire to develop a business that we could build and run from anywhere. My husband and I talked about the type of business that we’d want to be involved in after retirement. Meanwhile, I could see the days of my current career were numbered, so when I did lose my job, Nouveau began sooner than later.
OUR UNIQUENESS
What makes Nouveau unlike anything else is that we focus on humanities, psychology and personal growth. Community colleges tend to focus on computer training, foreign languages and, in some cases, culinary arts all in an academic environment. What we do is host our events in a more social setting with the right ambiance where refreshments are available. We specifically avoid holding our classes in classrooms or boardrooms for this purpose. Looking toward next year, I envision event planning services that would include content-based marketing and fund-raising events for retail businesses and non-profits.
OUR IDEAL CLIENT
We’ve found that people most interested in life-long learning tend to be adults over 35 with at least some college education. I’m reaching these people through a number of groups on LinkedIn™ and my Facebook™ page. I’m also making use of press releases to announce our various events. At the same time, I’m offering some free programs to develop name recognition. I conduct a regularly-scheduled email blast to my mailing list along with targeted direct mail campaigns. Plus, I will be starting my own MeetUp™ group. We’ve found that the most effective way to broadcast our programs is by the venue itself posting them on its own event calendar. I’m looking to partner with various restaurants or businesses who would find our life-enriching programs complementary to what they offer their customers.
SHARED ADVICE
What surprised me the most about starting my business was the amount of time and the many channels I’d have to go through to get it up and running. What I might have done differently would be to contact more social networking groups in advance to learn that they were not necessarily going to support my concept or promote my business as some so-called experts had assured me would be the case. What I am doing is connecting with some advisory groups to gain help in refining my direction. From my own experience, I would tell new entrepreneurs that starting your business most likely will take more time and money than you originally expected, but with perseverance and the help of the right advisers there is no reason you can’t succeed.
Editor's question: What other venues do you feel would be ideal for life-enrichment programs?
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