10 Days Left to Enter 2011 Business Plan Competition for $10,000

One simple message – but an important one. As of today only 8 days to enter a 3 page template to compete in our annual business plan contest for $10,000 in cash prizes. JULY 1ST DEADLINE

(businessplans@cityofchicago.org for help)

Enter our contest using the official Business Plan Entry Template

Click below, for complete information and frequently asked questions

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Exhibitor Space Filling Fast – 2011 Small Business Expo

Please save the date. Friday, Oct. 7th for the 2011 Expo. Chicago’s biggest day for small business.  Only 2 sponsorships left – this will be the biggest year ever! (businessplans@cityofchicago.org for help)

Reserve your exhibitor booth

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*Information from:

Office of the City Treasurer

Stephanie Neely Treasurer Contact: Public Affairs

(312) 744-8122

**InovediaMarketing.com is proud to be anambassador for the 2010 City of Chicago Small Business Expo. Follow @inovedia on Twitter for updates and information! Please add us to your RSS reader here. >>click here for a tutorial on using RSS.

You may also be interested in these InovediaMarketing.com articles:

• 10 EASY Ways to Inject Twitter and Facebook into Everyday Business!
• 3 Ways to Laser Focus Your Business for Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.
• Create Amazing Mind Blowing Business Cards NOW!
• Cheap & Easy Web Video You Can Do Too!

Richard Bouchez is a certified Inbound Marketing professional specializing in Social Media Marketing & New Media content development. Richard’s web, audio & video work has been honored with Emmy, Promax & CBA awards.

PROMOTE YOUR TWITTER & FACEBOOK!>>>

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Business Plan Contest and Free Workshops! Small Business Expo 2011

City Treasurer Announces “Business Plan Contest”  and Free Workshops!  Expo Exhibitor and Sponsorship Reservations can be taken

FREE Business Plan Writing Workshops We are offering four FREE evening seminars to help you turn your business idea into a business plan.   REGISTRATION FILLS FAST! 5/25 – Harris Bank 6/1 – CCV 6/8 – Near West Side / Mabel Manning Library 6/15 – Chatham Business Association 2011 Business Plan Contest Launches!   Do you think you have a winning business plan? ENTRY DEADLINE JULY 1st. plan?  Enter our contest to find 2011 Small Business Expo Friday, Oct. 7th UIC Forum Paid Reservations for Expo sponsorship and booth space are being accepted. Pricing CLICK HERE

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*Information from:

Office of the City Treasurer

Stephanie Neely Treasurer Contact: Public Affairs

(312) 744-8122

**InovediaMarketing.com is proud to be anambassador for the 2010 City of Chicago Small Business Expo. Follow @inovedia on Twitter for updates and information! Please add us to your RSS reader here. >>click here for a tutorial on using RSS.

You may also be interested in these InovediaMarketing.com articles:

• 10 EASY Ways to Inject Twitter and Facebook into Everyday Business!
• 3 Ways to Laser Focus Your Business for Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.
• Create Amazing Mind Blowing Business Cards NOW!
• Cheap & Easy Web Video You Can Do Too!

Richard Bouchez is a certified Inbound Marketing professional specializing in Social Media Marketing & New Media content development. Richard’s web, audio & video work has been honored with Emmy, Promax & CBA awards.

PROMOTE YOUR TWITTER & FACEBOOK!>>>

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ANNOUNCEMENT FREE Chicago Business Expo 2011!

Spring Small Business Highlights Stephanie D. Neely Treasurer City of Chicago In This Issue One Hour Mentor Quick Links Our Website . Small Business Expo will be Held October 7th at U.I.C. Forum The City Treasurer’s Office is proud to announce Friday, October 7th as the date for the 2011 Expo. Our 130 exibitor booths will sell out fast, and you may reserve yours by emailing businessplans@cityofchicago.org Watch for updates at: www.chicagocitytreasurer.com The “One-Hour-Mentor” Program for Chicago Small Business One of our most popular programs returns! Hurry this event always fills fast. Chicago business leaders will join 80 Chicago Small Business Owners on Friday, May 13th at 10am in the loop. The one hour brainstorming and problem solving session is free but you must sign up via businessplans@cityofchicago.org For the latest please watch our website.

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*Information from:

Office of the City Treasurer

Stephanie Neely Treasurer Contact: Public Affairs

(312) 744-8122

**InovediaMarketing.com is proud to be anambassador for the 2010 City of Chicago Small Business Expo. Follow @inovedia on Twitter for updates and information! Please add us to your RSS reader here. >>click here for a tutorial on using RSS.

You may also be interested in these InovediaMarketing.com articles:

• 10 EASY Ways to Inject Twitter and Facebook into Everyday Business!
• 3 Ways to Laser Focus Your Business for Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.
• Create Amazing Mind Blowing Business Cards NOW!
• Cheap & Easy Web Video You Can Do Too!

• Richard Bouchez is a certified Inbound Marketing professional specializing in Social Media Marketing & New Media content development. Richard’s web, audio & video work has been honored with Emmy, Promax & CBA awards.
  PROMOTE YOUR TWITTER & FACEBOOK!>>> “We’re @” on front & Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin on back!” width=”325″ height=”325″ />
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ATTENTION SMALL BUSINESS! Google just told you to get on Facebook!

GOOGLE + FACEBOOK = SMB EDGE!

Google announced on its Twitter account that public status updates from Facebook are now showing up on Google searches via the company’s new real-time search feature, first announced in Dec. (Updates that aren’t tagged for public consumption will not show up.) The algorithm now pulls in real-time blog postings, tweets and MySpace updates.
~from Cynopsis.com

Remember, Google is heavily taking location into account! Combine that with this announcement and you’ve just dramatically elevated your online presence if you’re posting on Facebook AND you’ll increase your visibility exponentially if your Facebook friends share your stuff! *Just remember to tag your biz related updates as “Public.”

Good luck,

@richardbouchez

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• Who has the best Elevator Speech in Chicago? Free booth at 2010 Small Business Expo and – $500 cash to winner
• Chicago Small Business Expo Updates: $10K Biz Plan Competition, FREE One-Hour Mentor Seminars
• DIY PR: How to pitch your story idea and get news coverage!
• Time on Facebook and Twitter soars! Blogs lead the pack and FB is king!

Profile / Note Card! AnalogTwtr yelbkinfo by twitterfunny>>>>

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Richard Bouchez is a certified Inbound Marketing professional specializing in Social Media Marketing & New Media content development. Richard’s web, audio & video work has been honored with Emmy, Promax & CBA awards.

Chicago Small Business Expo Updates: $10K Biz Plan Competition, FREE One-Hour Mentor Seminars

*Original communication from Office of the City Treasurer

*Please sign up for email updates from InovediaMarketing.com (upper left)

We hope 2010 is off to a great start for you.  We are already planning our 2010 Small Business Expo – and proud to announce the Business Plan Competition is underway! $10,000 in Cash Prizes

The 10 finalists will be named in April and  the top three winners of the Business Plan contest will be announced a the City Treasurer’s Small Business Expo.  The Business Plan Competition gives entrepreneurs and start-ups the opportunity to submit a 2 page written executive summary and win money and prizes that consist of resources and mentoring sessions critical to a new business.  Competitors will have until Monday, April 5th to enter.  Full details
http://www.chicagocitytreasurer.com/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=39018

Act now by signing up for one of our series of FREE- Business Plan Writing Workshops announced in support of Business Plan Competition.

Also, FREE- One-Hour Mentor seminars have been announced allowing small business owners to brainstorm with Chicago Business Leaders.  A free forum to advise and consult Chicago Small Business Owners.  Registrations are now being accepted on our site (these fill up fast).

Soon to be officially announced- “Elevator Pitch Contest” Can you explain and sell your business in 30 seconds? A concise-convincing “Elevator Pitch” is key to networking and success.

Please save the date – Small Business Expo – Friday, July 16th at the UIC Forum.

Quick reminder: Chicago Money Smart Week – April 16-23rd (Over 500 free money management classes expected)

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*Information from:

Office of the City Treasurer

Stephanie Neely Treasurer Contact: Public Affairs

July 02, 2008 (312) 744-8122

**InovediaMarketing.com is proud to be 2009 ambassador for the City of Chicago Small Business Expo. Follow @inovedia on Twitter for updates and information and daily Social Media Marketing tips for business!

Please add us to your RSS reader here. >>click here for a tutorial on using RSS.

You may also be interested in these InovediaMarketing.com articles:

• DIY PR: How to pitch your news story idea and get news coverage!
• Creating Web Video That’ll Work for Your Business
• 10 EASY Ways to Inject Twitter and Facebook into Everyday Business!
• 3 Ways to Laser Focus Your Business for Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.
• Create Amazing Mind Blowing Business Cards NOW!
• Cheap & Easy Web Video You Can Do Too!

Creating Web Video That’ll Work for Your Business

It’s no secret anyone can create & upload web video to their site, Youtube or other sites easily, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Here are 3 key points to consider to help keep your videos fresh, interesting and effective followed by a great discussion by some of the pros on creating videos for business.

1. Don’t ONLY create videos to increase your chances of being found. Have specific business objectives (a strategy) in addition to SEO such as:
   • Improve your customer service by posting how to videos.
   • Added value to current clients with “tips” videos.
   • Go viral – worth mentioning because, while getting millions of views on Youtube is possible, it’s really a practical goal.
2. Stay on brand. “Premiere” products will want to pay special attention to quality and serious brand will have to avoid silly or tacky subjects.
3. How many can you make? Creating videos takes time! Try to create a system where you shoot a couple at once so you can post them over time or get into the habit of shooting quick videos throughout your week. This will help you keep your content fresh and new!

Check out this podcast! Starting at 45min 15seconds begins a great discussion of how different businesses can use video. Thi is also a great  example of the discussion every business owner should be having before they start producing videos for their business!

this WEEK in MEDIA 133 : Tales from Twitter
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 1:46 AM
What if your Iphone drove your car, what to do if people hate you online, and when all else fails put pets in your video!

TWIM (This Week In Media) is a podcast that focuses on the present and future of web video from tv shows, to movies and even how businesses are using web video for self promotion.

Already posting videos for your business? Share them in the comments! Maybe they’ll make it into our next Cheap & Easy Web Video You Can Do Too!

Please subscribe to our blog via RSS or email!

*Flickr Image by SV – Sosialistisk Venstreparti

Good luck!

@richardbouchez

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More InovediaMarketing.com articles you may be interested in:

Great Video Tips for Builders & You

Video Tips: “How to” and Demonstrational Videos

Web Video: Choosing a Videographer

Web Video: Customers as Spokespeople

Web Video: More Creative than a Commercial

Richard Bouchez is a certified Inbound Marketing professional specializing in Social Media Marketing & New Media content development. Richard’s web, audio & video work has been honored with Emmy, Promax & CBA awards.

 

How can we help you?

Inovedia Marketing provides the following services, how can we help you?

Social Media Marketing

• We provide training, monitoring, blogging & copy writing services which means we can just get you started or manage and build your social networking efforts!

Multimedia Production

• Let us create your web videos! We have Emmy award winning talent and the know how to create high quality videos & podcasts on a budget. For bigger projects, our access and established relationships with full service facilities means the sky is the limit!

Web Design & New Media Development

• Put the web to work for you! From tweaks to complete redesigns, we’ll transform your website into an engaging resource your ideal customers will frequent! Ask how we can deliver highly target-able audiences to your door through new media product development! We can extend your brand, drive traffic and multiply your reach!

General Creative Services

• Copy-writing, design services, online and traditional marketing campaign development, contest creation & management. Ad creation including banner ads, print, radio, television, newspaper and direct mail.

Email: InovediaMarketing at gmail dot com

Twitter: @inovedia

 

Richard Bouchez is a certified Inbound Marketing professional specializing in Social Media Marketing & New Media content development. Richard’s web, audio & video work has been honored with Emmy, Promax & CBA awards.

FREE Chicago Biz Expo ANNOUNCED!

We are also pleased to announce the 2010 date for The City Treasurer’s Small Business Expo at the U.I.C Forum. Please mark Friday, July 16th from 8:30-3:30. Reservations for exhibitors (sold out in 2009) are now being taken. Discounts for early registration before 11/1/09. www.chicagocitytreasurer.com

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*Information from:

Office of the City Treasurer

Stephanie Neely Treasurer Contact: Public Affairs

July 02, 2008 (312) 744-8122

**InovediaMarketing.com is proud to be an ambassador for the 2009 City of Chicago Small Business Expo. Follow @inovedia on Twitter for updates and information!

Please add us to your RSS reader here. >>click here for a tutorial on using RSS.

You may also be interested in these InovediaMarketing.com articles:

• 10 EASY Ways to Inject Twitter and Facebook into Everyday Business!
• 3 Ways to Laser Focus Your Business for Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.
• Create Amazing Mind Blowing Business Cards NOW!
• Cheap & Easy Web Video You Can Do Too!

YOUR Biz is on Facebook and Twitter! So SHOW IT OFF!

3 Ways to Laser Focus Your Business for Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.

 

Lose focus and customers get the wrong message from your new media marketing!

 

FOCUS is the number one obstacle you will face in any “new media,” web or social networking project be it company wide tweeting or starting a Facebook fan page. Without focus businesses “forget” to update websites, they post links  customers don’t care about and generally send mixed messages. It’s no coincidence focus is also the number one obstacle in any marketing project! Everything your company does involving new media – even the content – is marketing and the possibilities are endless so it’s very easy slip off track.

1. Find out WHERE and WHAT your customers are doing online.
   A quick survey can tell you a lot! You can ask your customers as they walk in the door, hand out a short questionnaire, cold call them or whatever is appropriate for your business! Ask about websites they visit like Facebook or Youtube. Ask them how you could serve them better by being there too!CUSTOMIZE it for your biz! @ourbiz tweets u right white tee for Men or Women. Also available various colors and in long sleeves.
   
   
2. Set guidelines “What Would My Brand do?”
   Is your brand loud and fun, like the t-shirt above? Use your brand’s “personality” as a guide for what you should post on Twitter or Facebook. A comedy club might post jokes when a Lexus dealership would not. While B2B might connect with customers via Linkedin.com, everyone should consider starting a “brand” account on Twitter in which you only post business related updates, successes, discussion and events. Facebook is an exceptional place for small business owners to connect with customers as “friends” to exercise your personal brand. Everyone wants to know the owner!
3. Make a plan. Check it, tweak and repeat.
   You never really know what any given moment will bring, so executing a plan might be just be your biggest challenge! Whatever you decide to do, make sure you sit down with the calendar you really rely on and schedule it! Schedule daily or weekly updates for Facebook, plan out the next 3 months worth of recipes for your blog. Keeping the plan simple and making it a priority will improve your chances for success tenfold. Create ways to measure your success so you cannot fail! If you were to create a goal to get your regular customers to be your friends on Facebook by sending them email invites you should check your progress in a month or so. If your efforts are stalled tweak your approach. Consider handing out social media business cards, direct mail or contesting. The point is, keep on eye on your progress and tweak it if it isn’t working.

Need help with your online product, projects or marketing? There are many free programs available for scheduling tweets and Facebook statuses and there are ways to have your social media sites monitored (for free) as well. If you cannot be active on the sites, please seek out other solutions because at the minimum you should be reasonably “accessible.” If you are asked questions or worse, taken to task, you need to be aware and you need to respond!

If you need help, there are a lot of resources “out there”  that are very cost effective and you’re welcome to shoot me an email or begin a discussion right here in the comments.

Good luck!

@richardbouchez

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• Blogs to Facebook, Where Your Biz Should Be and How to Start
• 7 Ways Linkedin.com will Improve Your Small Business
• 10 EASY Ways to Inject Twitter and Facebook into Everyday Business!
• Create your own edge! Build your own community!

 

GET KILLER CUSTOM TWITTER BACKGROUNDS!

 

 

 

Richard Bouchez is a certified Inbound Marketing professional specializing in Social Media Marketing & New Media content development. Richard’s web, audio & video work has been honored with Emmy, Promax & CBA awards.

Amazing Cheat Sheets for Anyone with a Biz Website

Your Website Tips & Tricks: Whether you’re a newbie or seasoned web guru you’ll find these cheat sheets extremely useful. Anyone with a business website should pay particular attention to Website Usability Checklist and the SEO Cheat Sheet.

30 Handy Cheat Sheets and Reference Guides for Web Professionals.

Now, truth be told told, I found this tidbit on Twistimage.com’s blog by Mitch Joel and if you’re a fan of well designed sites like I am you should definitely check it out. What about great information? Yep, it’s got that too!  Six Pixels of Separation – The Blog

Got more reference guides, cheat sheets or blogs that are key to your web marketing arsenal? Please share in the comments!

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Good luck!

@richardbouchez

INJECT Twitter into you business! GET CUSTOMIZABLE stuff>>

More articles from @inovedia >>

• Make Your Small Biz Homepage Engage!
• Blogs to Facebook, Where Your Biz Should Be and How to Start
• 7 Ways Linkedin.com will Improve Your Small Business

 

GET KILLER CUSTOM TWITTER BACKGROUNDS!

 

Richard Bouchez is a certified Inbound Marketing professional specializing in Social Media Marketing & New Media content development. Richard’s web, audio & video work has been honored with Emmy, Promax & CBA awards.