Burgh Biz Saturday Showcase 11-01-14 - Duquesne Technology Conference

Positively Pittsburgh Live

Burgh Biz Saturday Showcase 11-01-14

Duquesne Technology Conference

Hosted By Joanne Quinn-Smith

Listen to the show HERE

Today's Guests:

Christine Hughes
Training Manager, Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Duquesne University
Dan Droz
President, Droz Marketing

Christine Hughes
Training Manager, Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Duquesne University

Christine Hughes has worked for the Duquesne University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the past 20 years.   She spent the first 13 years as a business consultant, assisting over 1,000 entrepreneurs in areas such as business planning, marketing and general business management.  Presentations include, “Writing a Business Plan”, “Growing Your Business”, “Low Cost Marketing Ideas” and “The First Step:  Business Start-up Essentials”.  Currently, Christine is the Training Manager and is responsible for creating, developing and marketing all of the workshops and conferences at the SBDC.  

She received her MBA from Duquesne University in 1993.  Previously, she held a Contract Administrator’s position at the Department of Energy and worked for a family-owned moving and storage business.

Talking Points:

9th Annual PA Business Technology Conference

Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014  |  8:30 AM- 4:30 PM  |  Duquesne University, 4th Floor Student Union

This year's event includes breakfast, lunch, a tradeshow and workshops on:

E-Commerce

Social Media

E-Mail

Marketing with Technology

Software

Search Engine Optimization

9th Annual PA Business Technology Conference

Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014  |  8:30 AM- 4:30 PM  |  Duquesne University, 4th Floor Student Union

8:30 AM  Registration & Breakfast

9:00 AM Welcome and Discussion Panel - Technology Think Tank

Are Your Technology Assets Delivering on the Strategies of Your Organization?

Sue McMurdy, Endeavor Management

How Close Are You to a Diaster? - Keeping Your Data Safe

 Jay Markey, Green Seven Technologies

How Bright is Your Company's Future? Tecj Tools to Ensure Sustainability

Indigo Raffel, CCI

10:00 AM  Breakout Session 1 Workshops

Promote. Engage. Sell: The Anatomy of a Powerful Digital Marketing Campaign

Online and mobile channels have given business owners more opportunities than ever to connect with customers, build a reputation as an expert and, of course, increase sales.   Get a step-by-step plan for conquering the digital frontier for more reach, impact and profits.

Speaker: Daniel Caliguire, Digital Buzz Monkeys

How to Build, Manage & Promote Your Own Do-It-Yourself Website  

Do you need or website or want to get bigger returns on your existing site, join us for a comprehensive guide to the DIY website. Topics include website development, costs, templates, hosting services, domain name registration, databases, analytics, design and images.  Learn how to build and promote a website that is strategically built to drive growth.  

Speaker: Joe Polk, Thirteen Ball

Emerging Trends in Telecommunications

Telecommunications can help small businesses connect with clients and customers, lower operating costs, improve productivity and stand out from the competition. Discover the emerging trends in telecomm, from mobile business and payment solutions, cloud services, smart phone advancements and wireless networking and learn what new technologies can make a tremendous impact on your business.

Speakers: GeorgeAnne Muchnok, Opticom Consulting

                William Stunkel, Stunkel Tax & Accounting, PC

11:25 AM  Breakout Session 2 Workshops

Lessons In LinkedIn: How to Leverage Today’s Lead Generation Powerhouse

With over 238 users around the globe, LinkedIn is holding steady as the #1 social networking site for professionals and is undisputed as serious lead generator. Learn ways you can use LinkedIn to grow your business, make important connections and leverage the site’s best new features for connecting, sharing and growing.

Speakers: Shawn Graham, Small Business Marketing Consultant

                 Scott Imblum, Pump Peelz

Compel & Sell: Content & Calls to Action That Get Results

Want to get bigger returns from your social media, SEO, advertising and email marketing? When it comes to compelling prospects to take action, whether it’s making a purchase or recommending your service, there are a few tricks of the trade. Join us for tips, techniques and best practices for attracting, converting and transforming prospects into customers, maintaining a great online reputation and encouraging word-of-mouth advertising by turning your customers into your biggest fans and best marketers.

Speaker: Dan Droz, Droz & Associates

Great Google Tools to Grow, Connect, Organize & Sell

Google is so much more than a search engine, it’s a virtual treasure trove of tools that can help you connect with customers, promote your content, build a loyal fan base, grow profits &  improve efficiency. Learn what solutions are delivering big returns for businesses of every size.

Speakers: Chris Vendilli, ProFromGo Internet Marketing

                Benjamin Rosenthal, Gap Up Internet Marketing

12:45 PM  Lunch and Keynote Speaker

Novel Ways You will be Connecting to Our World in the next Five to Ten Years Through Mobile Devices, Gaming and Computers 

Speaker: Anind Dey, Director, Human Computer Interaction Institute of Carnegie Mellon University 

2:00 PM Tech Demonstrations & Tradeshow

3:15 PM Breakout Session 3 Workshops

High-Impact Email Marketing: Best Practices & Winning Strategies

Social media may get all the buzz, but email is still growing and remains one of the most powerful tools in your marketing arsenal. But email trends, user preferences and best practices are changing. Join us for a look at the latest developments and trends in newsletters and email offers, subject lines, open rates, analytics, images, social media and customer engagement practices so you can better results from your email outreach. 

Speakers: Autumn Edminston, Edminston Group

                Stephen Wayhart, Brandmill

A 15-Step Guide to Getting More Traffic to Your Website with SEO

With over 3.5 billion internet searches every day, how do you get your website ranked by search engines so the people looking for your solutions find you? The answer is SEO and when it comes to driving traffic to your website, there is no equal.  Learn some simple changes you can make to your website that will help you climb the ranks to page one--the web's most valuable real estate. Topics include optimization, blogs, images and video, meta tags, fresh content, responsive design and keyword research.

Speakers: Jasmine Davis, Community Elf

                 Mark Spatz, Community Elf

Show Me, Don't Tell Me: The Power of Images & Video to Grow Your Business

Image-centric marketing is the breakout trend for businesses with platforms like Pinterest, Vine & Instagram, as well as veteran YouTube, growing rapidly. Why? Companies that market with images beat competitors that don’t every time. Images boost engagement, enhance the impact of great copy, increase web traffic and lead generation and build brands.  Have you developed a visual marketing strategy? Learn how to find images and use them for a competitive advantage.

Speakers: Neal Rabogliatti, Catalyst Connection

                 Bob Hoolahan, All Water Systems

Registration HERE for only $119.

Entrepreneur Tip:

Register now and attend the PA Business Technology Conference.  It will equip your company with the information needed to make smart technology decisions that will enhance your profitability, productivity and market adaptability.

Contact:
Duquesne University
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
sbdc.duq.edu
108 Rockwell Hall 600 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15282-0103
(412) 396-6233  |  duqsbdc@duq.edu
Twitter: @DUSBDC  |  Facebook: Duquesne University SBDC

Dan Droz

President, Droz Marketing

Dan Droz is president of Droz Marketing, and taught marketing and planning at Carnegie Mellon University where he founded the nation’s first university program in Multidisciplinary Product Development. He is the recipient of 15 Marketer of the Year awards granted by the American Marketing Association, more than any marketer in America, including Grand Marketer of the Year in 2012. In 1996, Dan was recognized as one of 7 outstanding alumni of Harvard University at the 25th Anniversary of the Carpenter Center for Visual Arts for his contribution to design education. Dan is also an active entrepreneur, having founded or co-founded over 10 new businesses in technology, manufacturing and retail during his 35-year career. His latest book, "Click Here," available from Amazon and as a free download to listeners of Positively Pittsburgh, details the ways that businesses can attract, convert and monetize online customers.

Droz Marketing is one of our region's leading marketing firms, helping businesses differentiate themselves from their competitors and attract and convert customers with strategic branding, marketing communications design, website development and social media.

Talking Points:

• We help companies differentiate themselves and better communicate their value to prospects, customers and referral sources. One of the uniqueness of our process is our focus on conversion, ie, getting prospects and customers to take some specific and measurable action so you can actually see and measure the success of our programs. 
• At the Duquesne Technology Conference I will do a presentation on how to attract and convert online customers called The Title of the Session is: Compel & Sell: Content & Calls to Action That Get Results. It's about how the "ACT" formula, Attracting, Converting and Transforming visitors into customers through your social media, SEO, advertising and email marketing. To do that, we'll cover the 5 basic "C's" of getting business online: Content, Community, Commerce, Context and CTA which stands for "Call to Action." 
• Although all of the C's...(Content, Community, Commerce, Context and CTA) are important, probably the most important ones for almost every business are the first and last "C" in this list: Content and Call to Action.

• Content is the fuel of online traffic. It's what attracts people to your site. It's what engages them. It's what's on your pages, in your blogs, on your social media posts. It's everything you say that is valuable and meaningful. We'll cover what makes content magnetic and particularly, how to structure your online content so it can get distributed to as many points on the internet as possible.

• The Last "C," is probably the most important of all: The CALL To ACTION, ie, what is it that you want someone to do...and how you frame it so you can get them take that action. An offer is a good way to get people to take an action. for Example: when I say, I'll give everyone a free book on how to attract and convert customers if you go to my website, drozmarketing.com.... I'm suggesting a specific action for them to take and an 'offer' or "prompt" to activate that action.

Entrepreneur Tip:

The most important thing in online marketing is outbound marketing, ie, when you have opt-in permission to send information to a prospects or customers email address. this is where content comes in. if it's not good content, no one will want it or read. But if the content is good, you create great awareness and converstion. Of course, you've got to the email address, which is the most important conversion in online marketing.

There are literally hundreds of great suggestions, strategies and tactics in our book, "Click Here" that
your listeners can download on our website, www.drozmarketing.com. Also, we'll be giving some great examples of how to apply these principles in our seminar at The Duquesne Technology Conference on Nov. 13. Our seminar is at 11:25 with lunch right after the seminar, so it's a great deal and a great day.  And, after you've read the book, "Click Here," I'm interested in your feedback and any tips. You can reach me at ddroz@droz.com or through our drozmarketing.com website.

Positively Pittsburgh Live Special Offer:
1 -   Use my secret discount code PBTC99 to receive a special discount on the entry fee of the 9th Annual Duquesne Technology Conference.
2 -  FREE ebook, "Click Here:" How to Attract, Convert and Transform online visitors into customers. The offer runs until Monday. Make sure you let us know you heard about it on Positively PittsburghLive.

Contact:

Droz Marketing
DrozMarketing.com
4916 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224
412-338-1818  |  ddroz@droz.com
Facebook: Droz Marketing
Twitter: @DanDroz  |  YouTube: DrozKnows
LinkedIn: Droz and Associates  |  LinkedIn: Dan Droz

Hosted By:

Joanne Quinn-Smith

Joanne Quinn-Smith is the Creative Energy Officer of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a full service marketing company specializing in Web 2.0 Gorilla Branding™. Known as the Techno Granny she offers her clients unique, creative and energetic marketing and management plans. Joanne’s expertise is in creating online platforms that create perpetual buzz. 

Joanne is an author, prolific blogger and talkcaster with over 800 shows. She has interviewed over 2000 prominent business owners, non-profit executives and celebrities. Her flagship website, PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com garners 220,000 hits per month, 62,000 unique page views per week and in 1 year had 2.25 million visitors. 

Joanne Quinn-Smith has been designated nationally, 2009 Small Business Journalist of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration for her advocacy and reporting on small business using New Media. Her good news reporting at PositivelyPittsburghLive was a finalist for best website or blog in Media for the American Business Stevie Award in 2010.  

Listen to the show HERE

Thank you for your viewing and listening support. If you would like your business featured on the Small Biz Saturday Showcase please contact us HERE.

Posted By: Stephanie Curtice
This was reported as a reproduction of PositivelyPittsburghLive news done by Joanne Quinn-Smith.
(c) Joanne Quinn-Smith and PositivelyPittsburghLive(TM) 2014 All rights reserved.

15th Annual EGC Conference Preview 4-30-13

15th Annual EGC Conference Preview

4-30-13

Listen to the show online here. 

Duquesne University Small Business Development Center is celebrating its 15th Annual Entrepreneur’s Growth Conference on May 10, 2013. 

This action-packed event has something for every business, just starting or growing fast , with workshops, a business building tradeshow, and a keynote speaker at lunch. Businesses looking to learn the hottest trends in social media, the latest strategies for finding and keeping customers and tips for increasing profits are invited. Guests:
Mary McKinney, Duquesne SBDC Director
John Tubridy, Principal and Franchise Specialist, Franchise Network of Pittsburgh/FranNet

***

Mary McKinney

Workshops include: 
Starting a Business: A Roadmap to Success
Build a Better Blueprint: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing a Great Business Plan
Before You Buy: Is a Franchise the Right Business for You?
Relationship Management: Tips to Find, Connect & Keep More Clients & Customers
Come On Big Money: How To Sell Your Business & Get Top Dollar
Re-Invent, Re-Invigorate, Re-Think: A Five-Year Strategic Action Plan for Faster Growth & Bigger Profits
Resources, Opportunities, and Ideas for Women & Minority Business Owners
Money, Money, Money: Who Has It & How To Get It
Deduct It! 15 Money-Saving Secrets of Tax Savvy Entrepreneurs
Next Generation Networking: How to Meet More Customers, Vendors, Partners & Friends Online & Offline
The Competitive Edge: How to be a Marketing Rock Star
The Social Savvy Entrepreneur: 15 Time-Saving Ideas to Build Business on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn
Watch This: The Marketing Power of Online Videos
Clicks & Cash: What It Takes to Drive Website Traffic, Convert Visitors to Customers & Keep Them Coming Back

A special networking opportunity will be provided at lunch – many of the events speakers have volunteered to stay for lunch and host a table. This is a chance for attendees to sit with the expert and pick their brain; get a few new ideas and network with others at the table as well. There will be speakers who are discussing topics such as branding, finding money and social media. 

The Entrepreneur’s Growth Conference begins at 8:00 a.m. with registration and networking and continues through 4:30 p.m. at Duquesne University. Register at www.sbdc.duq.edu. Use code Pitt13 and receive a $20 discount. If your customer is small business, consider exhibiting.

John Turbridy

FranNet 
Our Vision: Our clients and team members share the same dreams. We all want the best for our families and for ourselves:Time freedom and flexibility; Enjoying a balanced lifestyle; The pride of self-reliancel Financial abundance and peace of mind; Fulfilling work; Control of destiny; and Helping others. 

FranNet provides the opportunity and road map for us all to live our dreams today.

Our clients are successful corporate professionals who are reassessing their lives and careers and are now ready for something better. They wish to enjoy greater financial and psychological benefit from their talents and hard work. They want to be in control of their financial future and design their lifestyles according to their own needs and wants. They want to spend more time with their families, be an example of self reliance to their children, and have a positive affect on their communities. They have the skills, desire, and resources to be successful business owners but require assistance in getting started and making it happen.

Our purpose is to connect the dots; we make the transition from corporate employment to the

freedom of business ownership manageable and safe. FranNet is a team of highly regarded experts in the franchise and business opportunity market space. We are committed to our time-tested, proven process of assisting individuals in  considering business ownership as a viable career and lifestyle path. We guarantee our process of business opportunity research will serve our clients’ best interests. Our educational seminars, materials, and personal consultations educate our clients about the challenging and rewarding realities of owning a business, enabling them to make a well informed decision (yes or no) to business ownership within sixty days. We are here to create success stories. We schedule personal consultations only with people we assess to be in a good financial and personal position to start or buy a business. If we cannot help someone immediately, we advise them as to what they can do to prepare to consider business ownership in the future. For more information, visit www.frannet.com.

Franchise Selection DO’s and DON’Ts

Here are a few practical hints to help you select a franchise:

DO

Talk to and visit as many franchisees as possible.

Talk to and visit the franchiser and get to know the history and experience of the Officers and Managers.

Consult any and all advisers that you feel can be helpful to you, including a franchise attorney.

Ask any and all questions you can. Nothing is too trivial to ask.

Take your time, and be very thorough in your investigation.

Do comparative analysis of other franchises in the same, and other, businesses.

Evaluate yourself as compared to other franchisees that you meet and talk to. You make a difference! Make sure you’re comfortable with what you have to do.

Read and understand the sales literature, Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), etc. Know all the terms of your agreement.

Give yourself plenty of room to maneuver financially. Plan for more expense and slower profitability than you think you need.

Be thorough; be conservative; be informed. Avoid surprises.

The more RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH, you know, the better your decision is likely to be.

DON’T

Hurry. Short-cutting your research can increase your likelihood of failure.

Over-extend, or be optimistic about your personal finances. Be realistic, and if anything, conservative.

Skip consulting professionals. Saving on fees may deprive you of information critical to making a good decision.

Settle. Get the business that you want, not the first one that comes along.

Take anyone’s word. Find out for yourself. It’s your money, your risk and your opportunity. You know best what you need, so investigate first hand. 

***

This was reported as a reproduction of PositvelyPittsburghLive news done by Joanne Quinn-Smith. (c) Joanne Quinn-Smith and PositivelyPittsburghLive(TM) 2013 All rights reserved. 


Listen to the show online here. 

Tara Darazio is a Positively Pittsburgh Live reporter, an independent copywriter, blogger, article writer, and social media strategist. If you are in need of writing assistance, or need help with your social media efforts connect with Tara on LinkedIn here.

3rd Annual Pennsylvania Technology Conference at Duquesne University

3rd Annual Pennsylvania
Business Technology Conference
November 13th, 2008


Breakout Session I: 10:05 AM to 11:20 AM

Boosting Your Business With a Blog: How To Get Started & Get Noticed

A Behind the Scenes Look at Site Optimization: What You Need to Do for Higher Search Engine Rankings (SEM Part I)

When You Need It, When You Don’t: Evaluating the Value, Cost & Usability of New Business Technologies

Websites That Work: Tips for Turning Your Site Into a Lead Generating Machine
________________________________________
Breakout Session II: 11:30 AM to 12:40 PM

Search Engine Marketing: How to Use Pay-Per-Click SEM to Outrank Your Competitors (SEM Part II)

Making e-Connections: How To Engage Your Prospects, Employees & Customers with Real-Time Voice and Web Conferencing

E-Commerce Websites for Small Business: Pitfalls, Possibilities & Profitability

Using Social Media and Viral Marketing To Increase Brand Awareness & Sales
________________________________________
Breakout Session III: 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM

Master of Multitasking: Killer Tools For Organizing Your Business, Boosting Your Productivity & Saving Time

Your Employees and The Internet: Is Your Company and Bottom Line At Risk?

Never Lose A Lead: Top Sales & Lead Management Solutions For Optimizing Opportunities

The ABCs of e-Mail Marketing: The Latest Trends, Best Practices & Fundamentals to Maximize Your Online Opportunities
________________________________________
Full-day registration includes:
Tradeshow, Lunch, Roundtable Discussions
www.conference.duq.edu