Small Business Events and Contests to Check Out

Welcome to our latest curated list of events, contests and awards for small businesses, solo entrepreneurs and growing companies.

Below is a partial list.  To see a full list or to submit your own event, contest or award listing, visit the Small Business Events Calendar.



Featured Events, Contests and Awards

Bizapalooza 2014:  Planning and ProfitsBizapalooza 2014: Planning and Profits
July 09, 2014, Online

Bizapalooza gives you a unique opportunity to connect with industry pros who really want to see you do more with your small business. Come as you are to this virtual small-business festival, then walk away with a fresh perspective, loads of free resources, plus practical solutions to fix what’s holding you back. FREE – and with freebie resources. Sponsors needed, too!
Hashtag: #Bizapalooza


Who Gives a Fund Contest - Caribbean CruiseWho Gives a Fund Contest – Caribbean Cruise
August 29, 2014, Online

Create a short fun video using the phrase “Who Gives a Fund.” Share it on social. The video with the most views will win a round trip within the continental U.S. to beautiful Miami, and a 3-day cruise to the Caribbean, for two. See WhoGivesaFund.com for complete rules and details. Presented by eSmallBusinessLoan.com, to highlight that traditional bank loans are not the only source of money for your working capital needs in your business.
Hashtag: #WhoGivesaFund


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This weekly listing of small business events, contests and awards is provided as a community service by Small Business Trends and SmallBizTechnology.

The post Small Business Events and Contests to Check Out appeared first on Small Business Trends.

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Facebook Discrepencies, Innovation Ecosystems Explained

Tablet time for businessEDIT

From Facebook stat discrepancies to innovation ecosystems, our Small Business Trends community news and information roundup this week contains many lessons for entrepreneurs this week. From the blogs and communities we regularly follow, here are issues being discussed.

Don’t Believe Your Facebook Stats (Research Buzz)

Yes, in the midst of another controversy over its emotion manipulation experiments, there’s another issue to give business and other users pause. It seems Facebook’s stats are incorrect, reports Tara Calishain.

Find Partners for your Innovation (The Everyday Innovator)

It may be hard to remember it now with some of the problems Amazon is having with a certain publisher. But there was a time Amazon had book publishers on its side. It’s important not to try your innovations in a vacuum, says innovation Chad McAllister.

Small Business Inspiration on Independence Day (Bplans)

Sometimes we see more than just news and trends from the small business community online. We see some great inspiration too. Here’s a great example. Quotes from entrepreneurs and others to remember while launching your next venture from Jonathan Michael, community manager at Bplans.com.

Persistence is the Key (That Girl Shelly)

Success in your business takes persistence. Don’t worry if you meet resistance. Don’t worry if your idea doesn’t work at first. Here brand designer Shelly Worsham shares some ideas on staying the course along with a video from motivational speaker Les Brown

Your Brand Is Not a Destination (Small Business Bliss)

Branding is a journey, says consultant Martina Iring. It is not a destination. Understanding that your business may need to evolve over time is critical. Here’s more discussion in the BizSugar community.

The Most Productive Part of Your Day (Michael Horesh)

What is the most productive part of your day? Getting an idea about when you are the most alert and able to get the most done, will improve your overall productivity. This is some personal development advice you won’t want to miss.

Manage Your Content Marketing Team (RepCap)

The era of content marketing has pretty much guaranteed almost every brand needs writers capable of creating that content. This means managing freelance writers (unless your small business has the budget to hire them on full-time.

Clean Off Your Blog (Blogging Wizard)

There are some things on your business blog that may not be doing your brand much good. And they could be the very things you’ve been told are helping. Adam Connell offers this wakeup call. Keep following the discussion in the BizSugar community.

Do-It-Yourself Packaging Tips (Handmade Success)

Even in this digital age, there are problems that don’t need online solutions. Geri Jewitt shares these simple do-it-yourself tips for packaging that will maintain your branding throughout the process.

Send suggestions for coverage to sbtips@gmail.com. Or post your content on the BizSugar community where we often go for the freshest and most unique voices in small business.

Tablet time for business via Shutterstock

The post Facebook Discrepencies, Innovation Ecosystems Explained appeared first on Small Business Trends.

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The 20 Most Fun Self-Employed Jobs

fun self employed jobs 7

What are the best jobs in the world? We’re not just talking here about the best paying or the most rewarding. We’re talking about the most fun as well. Fortunately, in a world where almost any information imaginable can be easily crowdsourced, there’s at least a popular consensus.

Ranker, a site that proudly proclaims itself as the place on the Web to “vote on the best (and worst) of everything” has come up with an answer. What surprised us (though maybe it shouldn’t have) was how many of these jobs could be filled by a self-employed person or solopreneurs too.

So, with that in mind, we’ve gathered some information from Small Business Trends and across the Web to get a better idea about what’s involved in starting an running one of these businesses. Think of it as a startup primer for some of the most popular and fun self-employment opportunities around.

Video Game Player

Plenty of people play video games for fun, but you can actually do it for profit too. In fact, website e-Sports Earnings has actually created a list ranking the top 100 players based on earnings. Professional gamers earn money by winning contests and streaming their games, allowing them to earn sponsorships, reports Business Insider. There are actually over 60 gamers who earn more than $100,000 in a year.

Voice-Over Artist

This isn't necessarily a career that many people link with self-employment. But as with many jobs in the entertainment industry, being a voice-over artist involves building a personal brand and finding your own work.

Companies, including big names like Apple, contract out voice work to entrepreneurs like Susan Bennett, the voice behind the iPhone's Siri.

Chocolatier

fun self employed jobs

People love chocolate. So why not make a business centered around it? But be ware, writes food expert Stephanie Zonis, a columnist for food enthusiast site Sally’s Place. Behind all the glamor is some pretty stiff competition and a lot of hard work. First, with its rising popularity, the market has become very crowded.

The work also requires, (beyond just a love of chocolate) considerable knowledge and skill in making chocolate and the ability to handle long hours and a very repetitive production cycle for the product.  You don’t necessarily need culinary training, but it can come in handy. In any case, Zonis recommends working or even volunteering for a chocolate maker of some kind of some practical  production experience. And since you’ll be handling the business too, you’ll also need to think about marketing, packaging etc. too.

Toy Maker

Toy makers can use a variety of different techniques to create their products. Small manufacturers can use wood, fabric, or even plastic molds.

But probably the technology that has most transformed the toy making industry and put it within the grasp of solopreneurs with considerable creativity is 3D printing technology. It allows creation of toys and many other products that can either be used as prototypes of be sold online or in small retail locations.

Personal Shopper

As great as getting paid to go shopping may sound at first blush, there’s much more to providing the right kind of service and creating a sustainable business than might at first be apparent. A personal shopping service may be operated in conjunction with other services, say, an image consulting business perhaps.

Here Entrepreneur.com shadows one such business to see how a solopreneur combines the talent of finding that perfect item with a potentially more important business that helps people feel better about themselves and how they look.

Brewmaster

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Craft beers are growing in popularity. And with that growth comes more and more opportunities for home brewers and microbreweries to succeed. In fact, the industry has even produced a kind of microbrewery crowdfunding all its own. Think Kickstarter for microbreweries and you’ll get the idea.

Microbrewers can start as home brewers and eventually expand into sustainable small businesses with additional employees.

Winemaker

Becoming a professional winemaker requires a love and understanding of wine but also a lot of business sense. It can, however, be done as a solo or very small venture if you have the proper space and resources, reports WineMaker in a list of tips about what it takes to go pro.

Graphic Designer

Preston D. Lee runs a site dedicated completely dedicated to freelance design. So obviously it is the go to destination for information on starting a business like this of your own.

Here blogger John Brook shares some tips you must consider when starting your own design business. An important early step is to access your personal talents to determine the services you can best and most efficiently provide.

Concert Promoter

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Working in the music biz can be an exciting venture. But how do you get into the music industry if you have no musical talent. Not to worry, concert promotion is still an option though you’ll certainly need some marketing and basic business chops here. Concert promoters work with musicians, venues, and labels to gain buzz for shows and events. It can be a lucrative career, as Billboard.com reports in this story on a concert promoter who has been at it 50+ years.

Interior Designer

Being an interior designer involves planning and designing spaces for individual and commercial clients. For a self-employed person, this means building up a client list and portfolio. But it doesn't necessarily require a physical location or large staff. In fact, services like Homepolish.com are making it even easier to connect designers and clients. So even the marketing aspect of the business is being simplified making it easier than ever to go it alone instead of working for a larger firm.

Event Planner

Solo event planners can be responsible for organizing events of all kinds from meetings to corporate events. Entrepreneurs can create a niche in the market by specializing in various events, including concerts, corporate retreats, or art exhibits.

Landscape Architect

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Landscape architects plan and design outdoor spaces including parks, yards, and other open areas. Becoming a landscape architect normally requires some education and a license. But entrepreneurs can create their own brand and client list.

Fashion Designer

Fashion designers can build their own brands and sell their creations online or in small retail locations. There are plenty of different niches in the industry, so designers can find a way to stand out. Plenty of fashion design entrepreneurs have reached huge success.

Stand-up Comedian

Becoming a successful stand up comedian might seem fun, but it requires a lot of work. Most comedians work other jobs while honing their craft and trying to find gigs. But once you've built a personal brand, you can set your own schedule and choose where you'd like to perform.

Wardrobe Stylist

fun self employed jobs 5

There are quite a few jobs that fall under the description of stylist, as it turns out. But a wardrobe stylist, in particular, writes Alexandra Suzanne Greenawalt, who herself works in the field, is generally the supplier and curator of clothing and accessories for a movie or commercial. The career is closely related to a fashion  stylist who supplies or curates clothing and accessories for a fashion shoot.

Greenawalt goes on to list some of the other niche’s in the field in a post on her site AlexandraStyle.com. They include  hair stylist, personal stylists and image consultants.

Magician

Another small business option many may not think of at first is operating as a professional magician. Magician and balloon artist John Reid operates his own magic shop called Tricky Business. But this was also the sixth year Reid has been invited to perform at a special Independence Day event at the White House. How did he get the gig? The same as is the case with so many other small businesses, it came as a referral, Newsday reports.

Romance Novelist

Electronic publishing has opened a lot of doors for would-be professional novelists. Those interested in romance novels can aspire to write their own and go through channels like Amazon if traditional publishing isn't an option.

Dog Walker

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Pet sitters and dog walkers help pet owners in their area care for their furry friends. This is a business that doesn't require a lot of overhead cost. You can build a client list with local advertising or even websites like Care.com.

Personal Trainer

Personal trainers can work for health clubs and other institutions. But they can also operate on their own as small business people. Tech tools like Fitmob, available only in San Francisco at the moment but eventually expanding, connects trainers with clients seeking to be more fit, as TechCrunch reports. There are certification programs available and after that work on building a client list and personal brand.

Public Relations Specialist

Public relations is an industry that can lend itself to so many different niches and specialties. If you have an educational background in PR or a similar field, you can start by working with one or two clients to build up a portfolio.

Wine Maker Photo via Shutterstock, Chocolate Photo via Shutterstock, Beer Photo via Shutterstock, Concert Photo via Shutterstock, Garden Photo via Shutterstock, Fashion Photo via Shutterstock, Dog Walker Photo via Shutterstock

The post The 20 Most Fun Self-Employed Jobs appeared first on Small Business Trends.

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Facebook’s User Experiments Should Teach You The Value of Surveying Your Customers

Facebook is in hot water for how it’s gone about experimenting on its users. We covered this on 3TechGuys Show, syndicated to Fox Business.

However, everyone agrees that Facebook’s research has provided invaluable insight to science.

The two lessons you, small business owners should learn are:

1. Survey, with permission, your users and gain insight into what THEY want.

2. Observe your customers and better understand HOW they are using your services or products. You’ll learn insights on what makes them “tick” and find ways to deliver better products and services.

Always ensure you do the right thing when working with your customers. But do leverage your customers to improve your company’s offerings.

Here’s some tools you can use to gain better intelligence about your customers.

  • Leverage the power of CRM to gain deep insight into the metrics of how customers are interacting with your content.
  • Use surveys to survey your customers.
  • Look at your web site analytics to know how they are interacting with your web site
  • Analyze your point of sale information to know how customers are buying from you at retail stores

The post Facebook’s User Experiments Should Teach You The Value of Surveying Your Customers appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.

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See Who Won The 2014 Small Business Book Awards

Small Business Book Awards

The 2014 Small Business Book Awards are over. The results are in. And we’re pumped to tell you about the winners!

First, we’d like to thank all those whose great books and resources were nominated for this year’s 2014 Small Business Book Awards.  Feel proud — it’s an honor simply to be nominated.  After all, we know how much work it takes to write a book or create a resource that authors and book lovers rely upon.  To you, we tip our hats.

We’d also like to thank the community for your votes, and thank the panel of 24 expert judges for thoughtfully selecting the top winners based on merit. And a big thank you to our media partners who helped spread the word to prospective nominees.  Great job everybody!

Background of the Small Business Book Awards

The Small Business Book Awards program — presented by Small Business Trends — is now in its sixth year. And it started as a labor of love.

The Awards grew out of the weekend business book reviews launched right here on Small Business Trends back in 2007.

The reviews started when we realized there wasn’t enough attention being paid to books specifically targeted at a small business audience. We decided to do something about that and the weekend reviews were born.

The Small Business Book Awards, like the reviews, focus on the books that entrepreneurs, small business owners, CEOs, managers, and their staffs should have on their to-read list.  We also include a category for non-book resources, to recognize those who aid and support authors and book lovers.

Nominees receiving honors were announced at a recent Small Business Book Awards virtual ceremony, on a live Google Hangout on June 4, 2014. And now we’d like to share the results here, too.

The Awards this year had two parts to them:  the Judged Winners, which were chosen based on merit; and a Community Choice group of winners chosen by the popular vote.

2014 Judged Winners

New this year is the judged portion of the Awards.

The Judged Awards consist of an objective evaluation of recently published small business books and resources.  We wanted to interject a merit portion of the Awards, because we know that great books and resources may not always garner a lot of community votes during a voting period.  Some people are hesitant to ask their fans; others don’t have any problems with that.

We also know that great books aren’t always bestsellers.  A book may not make a bestseller list, and may not get a lot of community votes, yet still be an outstanding book.  In other words, neither public voting nor sales figures always signify the outstanding books or resources.  Hence, we added a judged element to the Awards for the first time in 2014 to address this.

The Judged Winners were selected by a panel of 24 expert judges. The judges chose based on 3 main elements:  content (quantity and quality);  usefulness (to small business owners and entrepreneurs as applied in their businesses); and freshness (of the subject matter or how the subject matter was treated).  The judges assigned point totals to each element, based on a scale of 1 to 10.  The two nominees in each category with the most points from the judges, were the winners.

The level of community support was also taken into account. For instance, in the case of tie votes (and there was at least one) the level of community support was the tie breaker.

Drum roll, please…. Presenting the Judged Winners in the 2014 Small Business Book Awards:

2014 Community Choice Winners

Community Choice Awards winners represent the top public vote getters in eight Awards categories as chosen by fans and the small business community. Also, the top vote getter for the Awards was named the overall Community Choice Winner.  In other words, the Community Choice Winners are based solely on popular appeal with the community — the community loves them!

Winners of this year’s Community Choice Awards were:

Meet the Judges, Staff and Media Partners!

Judges include three  members of the Small Business Trends editorial team and staff. They are Small Business Trends publisher Anita Campbell, Small Business Trends Book Editor Ivana Taylor and Small Business Trends Associate Book Editor Pierre DeBois.  Also included is Susan Payton, Communications Manager for the Awards.

Other judges include Susan Payton, William Bruce, Daria Steigman, Kimberly Crossland, Scott G. Wolfe, Carla Jenkins, Robert Brady, Melanie Forman, Simon Dunant, Brian Smith, Steve Sipress, Christina Bouza, Shelley Webb, Deborah Carney, Dustin Luther, Martin Lindeskog, Doc Kane, Lisa Dilg, Claire Boyles, Dale Anne Potter and Carla Holland. Read more about each on the Small Business Book Awards judges profile page.

Also, a big thank you to our partners and official supporters, including:  Author Marketing Club; Expert Marketer Magazine; Corine La Font’s HelpDeskJA; Marketing Tech Blog; and PR Newswire.

Winners get the recognition and publicity that comes with receiving the award and the right to display Winners insignias on books, websites, brochures and elsewhere.  (We also have gold stickers, too!)

Thanks again —  and congratulations to all the winners and to all those nominated.  This Slideshare presentation shows each of the winners:

The post See Who Won The 2014 Small Business Book Awards appeared first on Small Business Trends.

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NSA 'spied on German NSA enquiry'

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