SCL Biz: Everything Business in Sonoma County

There are many businesses that don’t publicize their 800 phone numbers, but DreamLaunch Media, Ltd. has built a website to help you get in touch with everyone from ABC News to Yahoo! They welcome users adding numbers or tricks to get through labyrinthian phone trees. And don’t forget gethuman.com that SCL Biz blogged – tricks to reach a human at 1,000 companies.

Hard to Find 800 Numbers

GetHuman.com

This workshop, presented by SCORE, is a four-hour seminar to help prospective and current owners of small businesses to succeed. Subjects include guide for seeking financial aid, writing a business plan, marketing, advertising, and sales promotion. Other topics: record keeping, taxes, insurance and legal needs.

September 13, 2008 • 8:30am – 12:30pm
SRJC, 1596 Emeritus Hall on Elliott Avenue, Room 1520

Information and online reservations

See the SCL Biz Guide to Starting a Business for more help.

So you finally got your business online – now, how do you make sure that local online searchers find you? Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Don’t let the phrase overwhelm you. This is not a 1-2-3, click operation, but Danny Dover has a great “Beginner’s Checklist for Small Business SEO.” While helping a local preschool he developed this list, which is intended for someone selling SEO services to businesses, but can be used by any business person to boost your website’s visibility. You may not get everything on the checklist done, but each step you do will bring more customers to your door.

One of Dover’s suggestions is to sign up for Google AdWords and the Library can help with books about Google advertising, Internet Advertising and Internet Marketing.

Dale Dougherty and Tim O’Reilly, founders of O’Reilly Media in Sebastopol, got a nice write-up in the September 1, 2008 issue of Forbes, “Hacking a Trend,” but not for their $76 million dollar a year computer manuals business – they started a new magazine in 2005: Make.  According to the article, Make ties “together a bunch of seemingly separate trends: the profusion of powerful, cheap electronics; a deft software-hacking community; the rage for recycling.” Kudos to O’Reilly & Dougherty!

“The success stories of over 25 creative women who have built thriving businesses out of their artisan skills. Each profile includes a biography, addressing the woman’s motivations and her tips for others, and is accompanied by photographs of the woman, her business enterprise, and some of her products.

But that’s not all. The book then offers a Business Crafting Workshop: a step-by-step guide for prospective entrepreneurs, including drawing up a business plan, product development, marketing and sales, and financial management. A list of names and addresses of helpful trade associations, books, journals, and mentors (the names and addresses of those profiled) are included.” Library Journal, May 2008.

Crafting a Business: Make Money Doing What You Love, by Kathie Fitzgerald [Hearst Books, 2008]

Congratulations to Sebastopol – they are the subject of a nice spread in the September/October 2008 issue of VIA – Triple A’s member magazine. The article starts with: “There has never been a better time to visit the Sonoma County town of Sebastopol, California,” and goes on to mention many local businesses:

The Sebastopol Area Chamber of Commerce has more information and suggestions for places to visit, shop, or enjoy good food.

(Co-sponsored by the Redwood Empire Small Business Development Center.)
If you can type, you can make money at home using your typewriter, word processor, or computer. Discover the secrets to making profits in the typing/word processing business, including how and where to find clients; 50+ ways to advertise/market your services; effective home office equipment choices; and FREE national networking information. There really is a need for your services, so why not have the freedom to be your own boss, set your own hours, and have the opportunity to make more money than you ever did before by attending this workshop? Additional reference material will be offered in class.” Presented by LeeAnn Krusemark.

September 11, 2008 • 7-9:30pm
1518 Emeritus Hall, Santa Rosa Campus

Information & Reservations