America’s SBDC Blog

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For the Love of Small Business

February 4, 2016
By Nancy Jeng

Google-For-The-Love-Of-Small-BusinessValentine’s Day is coming up, and for many businesses this means getting ready for the fourth-largest spending holiday of the year (National Retail Foundation). To help our fellow small business owners, we’ve prepared five tips for how you can get ahead during the season of love:

1. Capitalize on trending keywords. Google Trends shows the top terms relating to Valentine’s Day are ‘gifts for him,’ ‘valentine’s gifts,’ and ‘Valentine’s Day ideas.’ Build these and other relevant keywords into your site, content and social channels.

2. Make sure your customers can find you. Update your Google listing with your hours, location and relevant Valentine’s-themed photos. If you haven’t already, visit Google My Business to claim your business listing. (more…)

A Medical Staffing Firm Serving More Than 300 Health Care Facilities Nationwide

February 3, 2016
Missouri-Success-Pulse-Medical-StaffingSuccess Story: Missouri

“When I met Virginia, she encouraged me, saying, ‘You can do this! You can run a business by yourself!’ She helped me see this was a feasible business.” – Dan Latham, owner and founder of Pulse Medical Staffing, LLC, in Columbia, Missouri

Impact of working with the University of Missouri-Columbia SBTDC:

• 2011 – fewer than 10 employees; 2016 – close to 200 employees
• 2012 revenues – $231,000; Nov. 16, 2015 revenues – $942,870

Read the whole story, and learn more about the Missouri SBTDC and Pulse Medical Staffing, LLC .

Success Has No Limits!

February 1, 2016
Success Story: Oklahoma

Dorothy Robinson, owner of DCR Pathfinder, LLC, used the professional services of the Oklahoma SBDC to help start her small business. Ms. Robinson is a motivational speaker and advocate for the visually impaired.

DCR Pathfinder, LLC.

Success has NO LIMITS! Dorothy Robinson, owner of DCR Pathfinder, LLC., used the professional services of OKSBDC to help start her small business. Ms. Robinson is a motivational speaker and advocate for the visually impaired. For more information about the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center, call 580.745.2877.

Posted by Oklahoma Small Business Development Center on Wednesday, January 27, 2016

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America’s #SBDC Congressional Showcase – Zeigler Brothers

January 31, 2016

1 Day to the Showcase!

Zeigler Brothers
Gardners, Pennsylvania
www.zeiglerfeed.com

Zeigler-Brothers-picZeigler Brothers Wins National, State and Regional Export Awards

Zeigler Brothers Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned business specializing in the formulation and manufacture of specialty feeds. A Kutztown University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) client for more than 15 years, Zeigler has seen several years of remarkable growth and is proud to announce that the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the State of Pennsylvania have extended awards to the company for its export achievements.

The company was awarded Exporter of the Year from the SBA for both Eastern Pennsylvania and the entire Mid-Atlantic region. As one of ten regional finalists, Zeigler then was selected as SBA’s National Exporter of the Year during World Trade Day in Denver. (more…)

America’s #SBDC Congressional Showcase – EatsPlace

January 30, 2016

2 Days to the Showcase!

EatsPlace
Washington, DC
www.eatsplace.com

Eats-Place-picThe District of Columbia Small Business Development Center (DCSBDC) Network at the at Howard University School of Business has worked with Katy Chang for the past three years on her community food incubator, EatsPlace – from its inception to a thriving business. Katy is a leader in the local business community, as evidenced by her selection as one of 40 CEOs participating in the SBA Emerging Leaders Program along with her other awards and accolades.

Ms. Chang has built a business that welcomes new people with new ideas by reducing the barriers to entry into the food, beverage and hospitality industries. EatsPlace hosts events that educate and inspire, including new business start-up open houses and classes for aspiring restauranteurs.

Eats-Place-quoteMoreover, EatsPlace has contributed to local economic development of the Georgia Avenue/Petworth area in Washington, DC, thru the countless patrons arriving from all over the region to experience EatsPlace as a destination of new and diverse cuisines. This demand to experience EatsPlace has spawned numerous businesses out of EatsPlace, and created jobs (indirectly) by businesses born out of EatsPlace and (directly) by EatsPlace itself.  (more…)