Welcome to this week’s roundup of events, conferences and webinars for growing companies and entrepreneurs, brought to you every other week by Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com.
Why not register for one or more of these educational conferences, webinars and events Get out of the office, learn something, and make new connections for 2013 and beyond.
If you are organizing a great event that small businesses should know about or just attending one, please let me know about it.
******
WIPP - House Small Business Committee Briefing: NDAA - Changes to Federal Contracting Policy
February 13, 2013, Teleconference
The recent passing of the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act included a number of beneficial reforms making it a prime year for women-owned businesses that are currently or interested in selling to the government.
To help small business owners understand these extensive changes to contracting policies, WIPP’s Procurement Committee and Give Me 5 will hold a special briefing for small businesses with Emily Murphy, Senior Cunsel on the House Small Business Committee. Murphy, who played a large role in the reform efforts, will discuss the changes and how they will affect small businesses in 2013.

Word of Mouth Marketing Fest 2013
February 19, 3013, Seattle, Atlanta, Chicago
WOMMfest is a coast to coast event celebrating the first ever National Word of Mouth Marketing Day. Anchor events will take place in Atlanta, Chicago and Seattle, with smaller local celebrations by Word Of Mouth Marketing Association members nationwide.

Transform Your Sales Culture
February 27, 2013, Philadelphia
Join Gene Marks and Todd Cohen for this half day seminar and learn:
How to plan for and create a sales culture - not just a sales team - to increase sales
How to make relationships work in a more profitable way
How to differentiate yourself in 5 words or less and have more profitable conversations
How to convert your customer relationship system from a “glorified Rolodex†to a productive sales and marketing system
How to determine which emerging sales and marketing technologies you should consider this year

Crowdopolis New York 2013
February 27-28, 2013, New York City
Learn how Fortune 500 Corporations are using crowdsourcing to out-innovate, out-process, & out-engage their competition. Companies like GE, Microsoft, Walmart, eBay & many others.
Produced by the leading voices in crowdsourcing, David Bratvold and Daily Crowdsource, Crowdoplis was created to show both corporate leaders and small businesses that crowdsourcing is replacing outsourcing to translate millions of words in mere minutes, invent products that sell out before any costs are incurred, and create national award winning TV commercials for $20.


SMX West
March 11-13, 2013, San Jose, CA
The landscape of search and search engine marketing changes constantly.
To keep up, stay ahead, grow your business, and get more (and better) traffic to your site, you need the right help.
Search Marketing Expo is a conference that offers more than 50 cutting-edge sessions (as well as invaluable networking opportunities) covering the search marketing strategies and tactics you’ll need to thrive in 2013 and beyond.
Whether you are a beginner or a search marketing expert, whether you work at (or with) an agency or manage search marketing in-house, SMX West has programming to fit your needs.

Digital Marketing World: B2C & Retail Marketing
March 8, 2013, Online
This free virtual conference is designed to address the specific digital marketing concerns faced by marketers in today’s consumer-based and retail sales industries. Reserve your spot now and get ready for three actionable sessions, including:
1. Give your Email Programs a Dynamic Boost with Customer Data
2. Believable Business Blogging
3. Engaging Customers Before, During, and After the Sale

Spark & Hustle 2013 Tour
Multiple cities & dates, March - July 2013
Led by Tory Johnson, the jam-packed, high-energy two-day event enables you to experience big breakthroughs in your business and yourself. This two day conference arms current and aspiring small business owners with the tools, strategies and support to make more money now.

BlogHer Entrepreneurs 2013
March 21-22, 2013, Mountain View, CA
BlogHer Entrepreneurs ’13 is BlogHer’s third annual event designed for women who want to start something, whether their goal is to strike out on their own with a brilliant idea, or to bring an entrepreneurial approach to innovation within a company.

CONFAB 2013
London - March 25-27
Minneapolis - June 3-5
Atlanta - November 11-12
As the leading conference of its kind, Confab: The Content Strategy Conference brings together professionals everywhere who realize the value of content. User experience. Marketing. IT. Business management. This is one big party for content-loving folks who value smart thinking, voracious learning, and constant improvement in the workplace and beyond.

InfusionCon 2013
March 27-29, 3013, Scottsdale AZ
InfusionCon is a must-attend event for all Infusionsoft customers. There are a variety of sessions geared towards business owners, marketing and sales strategists, developers, administrators and more. Session topics cover a diverse range of topics relevant to small businesses, including Infusionsoft training, marketing strategy, social media, company culture, business management, automation, branding, copywriting, affiliate marketing and more.

Social Media Marketing World
April 7-9, 2013, San Diego, CA
Join 1,000 fellow marketers at the mega-conference designed to inspire and empower you with social media marketing ideasâ€"brought to you by Social Media Examiner.

Inc. GROWCO
April 11-12, 2013, New Orleans
Inc. created GROWCO, a three-day conference, for business leaders who want brass tacks advice to achieve the next level of growth. GROWCO speakers include founders and CEOs of fast-growing companies, icons in the business community, and authors of definitive business tomes. Learn how to develop a vision, manage a team, create a brand, get the most for your marketing dollar, connect with customers, close deals, and find capital.

America’s Small Business Summit
April 29 - May 1, 2013, Washington, DC
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s annual event will allow you to access the experience and perspective of hundreds of small business owners facing the same challenges you face and get the tools, strategies, and best practices to compete successfully in today’s rapidly changing business environment. You will boost your impact with ideas from successful entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, top caliber keynoters, and chamber executives.

SOBCon Chicago 2013
May 3-5, 2013, Chicago
SOBCon is a 2-day interactive business “think tank†that moves ideas to action. During the conference, attendees increase their business IQ in an engaging and positive learning environment. They take away an actionable and measurable business plan, along with invaluable business strategies and skills, increased confidence, and a network of connections to drive their companies forward.
This year’s Chicago theme is “The Customer Centered Business†- talking and masterminding about strategies that will engage your customers and grow your business.

Web.com Small Business Forum
Various locations and dates in 2013 including:
Lafayette, LA March 21, 2013
Midland, TX April 11, 2013
Valdosta, GA April 25, 2013 … and more
Web.com will be traveling to cities near you during 2013, in partnership with SCORE, for 2-hour sessions designed to help local small businesses learn how to successfully market their businesses online. Various dates and cities during the year. Sessions are free.

The Small Business Expo
May 16 - New York
June 20 - Dallas
October 17 - Boston
November 7 - Los Angeles
January 16, 2014 - Miami
Small Business Expo is the largest nation-wide B2B tradeshow, conference & networking event for Small Business Owners. Business Owners browse & meet in our huge exhibition hall filled with exhibitors showcasing valuable products & services to help their businesses grow, attend small business workshops, seminars & meet-ups, network with other small business owners & entrepreneurs in the cyber lounge & speed networking areas, & watch exciting product demos.

2013 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo
May 15-18, 2013, Columbus OH
The Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo attracts more than 1,200 attendees annually. Entrepreneurs from all over the country come together to take in everything the conference has to offerâ€"from informative sessions, high-powered speakers, networking opportunities, to essential tools for emerging and established entrepreneurs. As the country’s premier business conference and networking event for African American entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and professionals, The Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference is the only venue where leaders of the nation’s largest black-owned businesses gather at one place, one time, and with one purpose.

Internet Week New York
May 20-27, 2013
Since 2008, Internet Week has taken place all over the city, thanks to our many partners hosting diverse events in different locations.The result is a critical mass of web-focused events that raises the profile of NYC’s industry as a whole, as well as the partners who participate.

Creative Freelancer Conference
June 22-24, 2013, San Francisco
During this three day conference within the HOW Design Live Conference, Veteran freelancers and expert consultants will arm you with all the practical information you need to set goals for growthâ€"and give you the confidence and information you need to achieve them.
===
To find more small business events, contests and awards, visit our Small Business Events Calendar.
If you are putting on a small business contest, award or competition, and want to get the word out to the community, please submit it through our Events & Contests Submission Form. (We do not charge a fee to be included in this listing â€" it is completely free to list your event.) Only events of interest to small business people, freelancers and entrepreneurs will be considered and included.