If you have a store or office, are you taking strides to become part of your small business community? Do locals know about your business and tell others about it? Finding ways to be a known member of your community can help you grow your business.

Get Social

The easiest way to get to know the people who run businesses in your town (as well as potential customers) is to join networking groups. Your local Chamber of Commerce is a great place to start. You can also look at industry groups, although those often aren’t the best place to meet a variety of people or potential clients.

Attend regular meetings. Offer to speak at a meeting, to let people know what your company is all about. Volunteer to help out with events. The more active and involved you can be, the better you’ll get to know people in your town.

Jump Into Events

Events are a great opportunity for your company to brand itself. If there’s a community fair, sponsor a booth and hand out candy and marketing collateral. Talk to attendees. You can also hold your own event, and invite other businesses to participate. For example, if you run a marketing firm, you could host a one-day business expo and invite a graphic designer to speak, as well as a business coach.

Promote all community events — even the ones you don’t participate in — in your store or location. Send an email to your contacts letting them know that you’ll be involved.

Give Back

If you want to feel like part of your community, give back to it. Donate money to charity (you can tie donations to sales, such as “for every tie sold, we will donate $1 to the cancer fund.”) or hold a toy drive. Offer free classes or samples of your products. Donate products to charity auctions. Let nonprofits and other organizations know that you’re there to support the community. Find groups that have causes that you personally are passionate about, and support those.

Small businesses have to support one another in order to thrive. Embrace your local small business community to show your support and dedication to its success.

Photo: Stock.xchng user spekulator. Royalty free.

Susan Payton is the President of Egg Marketing & Communications, an internet marketing firm specializing in marketing communications, copywriting and blog posts. She’s written two books: 101 Entrepreneur Tips and Internet Marketing Strategies for Entrepreneurs, and has blogged for several sites, including The Marketing Eggspert Blog, as well as Mashable, Small Business Trends, FutureSimple, BizLaunch andLead411. Follow her on Twitter @eggmarketing.

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That’s the philosophy of Daniel Patricio – Founder of a new Facebook based business called Pinpoint Social. After chatting with him, I wondered how many small businesses have fallen into the trap of trying to be everything to everyone.

Focusing on a niche is something that Daniel understands. Even though he is in his twenties, Daniel has the wisdom of someone who has been in business for a long time. After founding a successful digital marketing company called Orange Rhino Media in 2009 – Daniel decided to close its doors.

When I asked him why he made that decision he said, “Even though we were quite successful with Orange Rhino, we noticed that our clients were looking for simple solutions to their everyday marketing problems.” After coming to this realization, Daniel decided to start Pinpoint Social to help businesses create and manage their Facebook promotions. More specifically, Pinpoint Social provides simple yet effective contests and promotions that help marketers get more activity on their Facebook pages. Customers can use the app for free for smaller contests, and can upgrade to a paid subscription if they want to run campaigns or customize their promotions.

“In order to compete in business you need to be the best,” he said, “and in order to be the best, you need to focus.” It’s unrealistic to expect that you’re going to be the best at everything, but sometimes small businesses try to take on too much too fast which can lead to their downfall. Daniel can definitely relate to this. “Initially we built all these features thinking they’d be great, but then we realized that more features did not necessarily make a better product. Now we’re committed to simplicity.”

Focusing your business is hard to do, but it can pay off. By making a simple and easy-to-use platform, Daniel helped a Toronto jeweller go from 300 Facebook likes to over 3000 in a short period of time.  He also has a number of large corporate clients who now use his service to increase their brand presence and run promotions through the popular social network.

To find out more about Pinpoint Social visit www.pinpointsocial.com

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Turning Waste into Business – Char Technologies

Have you ever heard of the expression ‘sleeves off the vest? ‘This term is used to describe a company who uses waste from one product to create a totally new product. A more common phrase is: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

With over 7 billion people living on the planet companies have turned to alternative sources to fill the growing demand for energy. One form is renewable-natural gas which is developed by using the methane gas commonly found in landfill waste. Though there are a number of companies who provide renewable-natural gas, progress in the industry has been slow due to a dangerous chemical called hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) that is found in methane gas. Because this chemical is highly poisonous and corrosive – the removal of this chemical has been a problem for renewable gas companies.

That’s until Andrew White came up with a solution to the problem. While obtaining his Masters in Chemical Engineering at the University of Toronto he toured a renewable energy plant. “I was astonished to see how much waste was created from producing renewable natural gas,” he said. “After seeing that, I wanted to turn the waste it into something these companies could use.”

That’s when Char Technologies was born. Andrew’s solution was to create a re-useable filter that would remove the H₂S from methane gas. Similar to a Brita water filter, the product works by removing the chemical from the waste so it can easily be converted into clean energy. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the business is that it has no waste. Once a filter is full, Char Technologies will collect the used filters and re-purpose the materials for other uses.

For this innovation, Andrew won $25,000 in the Ivey Business Plan Competition earlier this year. He is now seeking a second round of funding to develop a prototype of the product. For more information please contact Andrew White directly at Andrew.white@chartechnologies.com

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Entrepreneurs are a vital part of many countries’ economic strategy. One idea from an innovative business person could launch a multi-million dollar company or generate a smaller business that becomes a fixture in the community and creates jobs for local residents. No matter the size or the scope of their businesses, entrepreneurs make a significant contribution to the overall wellbeing of a country’s growth plan and for one week each November, the world acknowledges their role.

Global Entrepreneurship Week, launched in 2008, is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators. These are individuals and groups who launch startups, bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand the human condition.

Global Entrepreneurship Week inspires and supports people to explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. Activities range from large-scale competitions and events to intimate networking gatherings, designed to connect participants to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors—introducing them to new possibilities and exciting opportunities. Such events are hosted on a local, regional, national, and international level.

Global Entrepreneurship Week also helps to “map the entrepreneurial ecosystem in 115 countries – with nearly 24,000 partner organizations planning more than 37,000 activities that directly engage more than 7 million people. It is about unleashing ideas and doing what it takes to bring them to life—spotting opportunities, taking risks, solving problems, being creative, building connections and learning from both failure and success. It is about thinking big and making your mark on the world—doing good while doing well at the same time.” www.gew.org

As an entrepreneur who contributes to the economic growth and success of your global community, take a few minutes and look into the events that may be taking place near you and encourage your colleagues to join in the celebration.

On Wednesday, November 16, I will be the opening speaker at an event that recognizes the importance of entrepreneurs in my region. There are several speakers on the program as well as an opportunity to network with other business owners. Taking time to reflect on what it takes to be an entrepreneur is very valuable to the sustainability of our enterprises. I look forward to sharing my thoughts on The Three Cs of Business.

For more detailed information on Global Entrepreneurship, visit www.gew.org

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Mentoring has changed over the past few years. Historically, the relationship was based on what the mentor could give to the protégé, but it is understood now, that the relationship is most effective when it is reciprocal. As business owners we may seek out someone to serve as our mentor who is also an entrepreneur in our sector, or we may consider the outside perspective of someone in another sector. In either situation, there are certain attributes you should consider when making your choice.

Here are the top 10 qualities which are essential in an effective mentor:

1. A Desire to Help
Individuals who are interested in and willing to help others. They have a willingness to share their skills, knowledge and expertise. They are also respected by colleagues and employees in all levels of the organization.

2. Have Had Positive Experiences
Individuals who have had positive formal or informal experiences with a mentor tend to be good mentors themselves.

3. Good Reputation for Developing Others
Experienced people who have a good reputation for helping others develop their skills and will take a personal interest in the mentoring relationship.

4. Time & Energy
People who have the time and mental energy to devote to the relationship.

5. Up-To-Date Knowledge
Individuals who have maintained current, up-to-date technological knowledge and/or skills. They set and meet ongoing personal and professional goals.

6. Learning Attitude
Individuals who demonstrate a positive attitude and are still willing and able to learn. They should also be someone who sees the potential benefits of a mentoring relationship.

7. Demonstrative Effective Managing/Mentoring Skills
Individuals who have demonstrated effective coaching, counseling, facilitating and networking skills. This includes the ability to provide guidance and constructive feedback.

8. Willing to Listen
Individuals who serve as listening and sound boards for the protégé’s ideas, dreams, needs, & concerns. Being an entrepreneur can be very lonely and often the mentor serves as a listening ear.

9. Able to Protect Confidence
Individuals need to be able to establish & maintain the mutual respect & trust needed for the risk-taking necessary for learning & professional growth.

10. Enjoys Celebrating
Individuals who willingly recognize accomplishments, affirming growth, & building professional self confidence.

Not everyone can be an effective mentor. There must be a willingness, enthusiasm, and commitment by both parties for the relationship to be effective. However, when you have the benefit of a passionate mentor, you will find the results showing up in your bottom line.

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Groupon, while it was a smash hit when it launched its deal marketing site in 2008, has had mixed reviews ever since from retailers. On one side, merchants are getting an unprecedented number of visitors to their stores that they wouldn’t have otherwise gotten. On the other, many retailers are complaining that they’re losing money, and that the deal users aren’t coming back for more purchases. The truth is, Groupon can be tricky, unless you know what you’re doing.

Make a Plan
Before you venture into a deal with Groupon (or copycat sites like LivingSocial), create a plan. First, understand how much you can make from a deal. Groupon typically splits profits with you, but rumor has it that if the deal is $10 or less, Groupon takes 100%. Their reasoning is that if someone comes in with a $10 coupon, they’ll spend more than that, and you’ll pocket the rest. Either way, do the math to figure out how much you can afford to discount a deal and still cover expenses.

The next part of your plan should be in figuring out how to get people to come back after they redeem your deal. You have to make your business as sticky as possible, meaning you’re giving customers as many opportunities to want to come back, or to follow your company through social media or email. Some ideas:
- Upon checking out, ask for their email addresses in exchange for free coupons
- Pass out cards with your Twitter and Facebook URLs
- Focus on superb customer service
- Participate in FourSquare deals
- Display a Yelp sticker encouraging reviews
- Offer a coupon for next visit

The more incentive you offer people to return, the more likely they are to do so.

Your plan also should outline how you will handle the flood of traffic over the next few weeks. Do you have staff enough to accommodate it? Should you hire extra help temporarily?

And then finally, focus on the actual deal. Include any stipulations you need to, like the coupon not being valid on the weekends, when you can’t fit in more customers during your busiest time. And don’t forget to include an expiration date: not too soon, but also no longer than a year from the date of the deal.

When the Deal’s Live
Stick close to your computer, because Groupon users ask questions of the deal sponsor (you). A lack of response frustrates people, and you’ll see fewer deal takers. Answer all questions honestly.

If your deal’s amazing, you probably won’t need to promote it, but if you want to boost deal sales a bit, share the link on social media, your website, your blog and your email.

Afterwards
A few months after the deal was offered, assess the results. Did you make money or lose money? What could you have done better? Would you do the deal again?

Susan Payton is the President of Egg Marketing & Communications, an internet marketing firm specializing in marketing communications, copywriting and blog posts. She’s written two books: 101 Entrepreneur Tips and Internet Marketing Strategies for Entrepreneurs, and blogs for several sites, including The Marketing Eggspert Blog, as well as Mashable, Small Business Trends and Lead411. Follow her on Twitter @eggmarketing.

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We want the meeting to end but wait…did I learn ANYTHING?
I was sitting in the school conference room, waiting for the meeting to begin. I think, from what I could see, everyone was waiting for the meeting to start so that it could end and we could all get outside (it was a beautiful, sunny day). Well, finally the meeting did start and the meeting’s agenda was handed out to everyone. Among the top five items on the relatively short list, I saw “Juggling Activity”. That heading immediately caught my attention.

As the first presenter started and people were doing their best to be polite and nod along, we finally got to the “Juggling” activity. A colleague got up with about 15 colored balloons in her hands and told us that here are some of the responsibilities a typical teacher faces in a given school year. These include: 1st day and week of school preparation, PT (Parent-Teacher) interviews, Planning for everyday lessons, Report Cards, Extra-help, Planning, Curriculum Sharing and Peer Support, Duty time, Special Ed. planning and Filing of OSR Documents (to name just a few.) We were also told that the colored balloons would be thrown in the air and that we were not allowed to let any of them fall to the floor!

Well, the first couple of balloons were thrown up and people easily and somewhat playfully started bouncing them around, then more balloons were
thrown up and people started chasing the balloons faster. Then the rest were thrown up and people started to scramble around to hit them, with
many getting help from their friends and colleagues to hit them and not let them fall to the floor.

What Does This Mean?
When we have a couple of balloons in the air (responsibilities that we need to juggle), we do so with enough ease and even maybe having fun with it.
The more balloons that are thrown into the mix, it becomes more and more challenging (and less playing around) to make sure we catch all the balloons (and metaphorically, not fall short of our responsibilities.)

The Biggest Thing I Noticed
Well, the biggest thing by far that I noticed was that when the balloons started coming harder and faster, people immediately took care of the balloons that were headed their way, and the ones headed to their friends. I even noticed one guy (these two guys are so similar and really love hanging out together) who reached a good few feet to catch his balloon and make sure he caught his friend’s balloon (even though it was considerably
further away).

So What Was Your Point, Christine?
The point is that good friends who influence you positively are so important to have, but good friends will not always be able to guide you to the accomplishment of a goal the way a coach can (and does)! A good coach is essential because we ALL have things we want to accomplish in our lives, a good coach will discover where you are AND WILL GUIDE YOU IN TAKING STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION! How awesome would it be if you could figure out EXACTLY what steps you need to take in order to get to exactly where you wanted to be?

An Opportunity
Here is the opportunity I pose to you:

Please send in a 2-3 minute video blurb about whom you are and one thing in your life that you would really want to change. The top 3 videos from people (as chosen by myself and my staff) will receive 5 FREE hour-long coaching sessions that helps you get exactly WHAT YOU WANT! After the 5 sessions, we will outline all the awesome changes you made, challenges you overcame and how you grew as a person!
Deadline to submit initial video will be Friday May 6, 2011.(Timing of Coaching Sessions will be made upon mutually convenient times)

For more information, check out learntoday.ca or send us an email at Christine@Learntoday.ca

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Source: www.Alexa.com

1. Entrepreneur.com
2. Allbusiness.com
3. Inc.com
4. Sba.gov
5. Openforum.com
6. Startupnation.com
7. Bplans.com
8. Small business Canada
9. Businessknowhow.com
10. Smallbusinessbrief.com

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We’d like to feature interesting small business owners on our blog. If you believe you have an interesting story to tell please answer the following questions and send me an email: andrew@bizLaunch.ca.

Here are some guidelines:

• Ensure your story is interesting
• No longer than 300 words
• Write it like a newspaper article
• Check the spelling and grammar as I wont
• Send a photograph attached to the email

Blog Questionnaire

Name:

Business Name:

Website:

Location:

• What do you do?
• Who is your ideal customer?
• What makes your business different? What benefits do you offer your customers?
• How did you come up with your business idea?
• What do you love about being a small business owner?
• What do you dislike about being a small business owner?
• How long have you been in business?
• How did you raise money to start your business?
• What lessons have you learned being a small business owner?
• What advice would you give to somebody that wants to start their own business?
• What are your business goals for the future?

Please attach a picture to the email – ideally one with you in your business or showcasing your products or services

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