May 2006
Business Loans Info Session: June 15, 2006
Learn how we can help finance your business! This
phone-in, province-wide information session will cover:
What your options are for financing your business, what your credit
rating means, why a Women's Enterprise Centre empowerment loan is
different from a bank, and how you can qualify.
Small Business
Audio Tip (mp3 file)
Market YOUR business on a Budget! click here
Women's Enterprise Centre assists women entrepreneurs who live
and do business anywhere in BC. We invite you to contact us for
assistance in financing your business up to $100,000.
Head Office
201 - 1726 Dolphin Avenue
Kelowna, BC V1Y 9R9
Vancouver Office
82-601 West Cordova St
Vancouver, BC V6B 1G1
Victoria Office
Suite G-8, Sussex Building
1001 Douglas Street
Victoria, BC, V8W 2C5
BC Toll Free:
1-800-643-7014
E-mail: info@womensenterprise.ca
Visit our website at
www.womensenterprise.ca
View this newsletter online:
click
here
Archives:
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
Subscribe to our Newsletter
An initiative of:
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"Six Keys To Common Sense
Marketing"
Over a six month period, the Women’s Enterprise Centre newsletter is featuring what we have identified as Six Keys to Common Sense Marketing.
In April we focused on the first marketing key, Specialists make more than generalists. This month we will address the second marketing key:
Marketing Key #2:
Work the marketing success pyramid
 Marketing success is determined by:
10% execution – delivering the message
30% strategy – figuring out the right message to deliver
to potential customers and how to deliver it
60% research – identifying and coming to understand the
right people as potential customers
Spending Money on Marketing That Isn't Paying Off?
Learn how to design a marketing strategy
that works for YOUR business!
When someone asks about your marketing strategy, do you describe
your direct mail campaign, newspaper ads
or the positive word-of-mouth you receive?
All these are a part of marketing, but they are not STRATEGY.
They are TACTICS. Tactics are only as effective as the strategy
behind them. If you spend money and time on tactics,
you must know WHY you are doing it and how
to reach your best potential customers. Focused
marketing gets at the ‘why’ of
marketing. This full day workshop will guide you through
the process of building a sound marketing strategy and will help you:
- determine the best customers for your marketing efforts
- understand how to connect with those customers, both with a
message and the marketing tools they will find attractive
- match your marketing strategy to your own personal strengths
- and discover how to translate your learning directly into a marketing
plan and budget for your business for the next 12 months
The workshop includes: a Focused Marketing Study Guide (retail value $59.95) and materials; working lunch along with morning and afternoon nutrition breaks; and opportunity to network with other businesses.
Focused Marketing Workshops: Nanaimo and Salmon Arm
Focused Marketing Nanaimo:
A full day workshop for small business
June 9, 2006 - Best Western Dorchester Hotel, Nanaimo, click here
Focused Marketing Salmon Arm:
A full day workshop for small business
June 15, 2006 - Okanagan College, Salmon Arm, click
here
Courses from Women's Enterprise Centre are available on demand
throughout the province. Courses are often held in partnership with community organizations such as Women in Business groups, Chambers of Commerce and Community Futures. For information email info@womensenterprise.ca
Celebration of Northwest Women Entrepreneurs
BC’s Northwest - A region flourishing with women entrepreneurs!
More than 65 women from Prince Rupert to Telkwa
and from Kitimat to Terrace met to network, learn and share their
business successes, challenges and strategies at the Celebration
of Northwest BC Women Entrepreneurs Symposium held on May 18, 2006
in Terrace, BC. Five successful business women were the guest
storytellers in two workshops: Going Solo, a Workshop for Aspiring
Entrepreneurs and; Moving Up! Strategies for Growing your business,
while three others joined in to share their experiences in the
Business Unplugged session.
New Business Info Sessions by Women's Enterprise Centre
"NEW!" Thursday
June 22, 2006 from 10 to 11 a.m. (pacific time)
Do you have a great idea for a business, but don’t know how to get started? Are you confused about what to include in a business plan? Are you already in business, but need assistance to help it grow? Are you unsure about how to apply for business loan? Are you interested in finding out about training opportunities that will help you develop skills you need to ensure your business succeeds?
Women’s Enterprise Centre offers a FREE, monthly information session that will help you find the answers to these questions and more.
Prevent
Trade Show Marketing Nightmares
Learn how to avoid making critical mistakes in YOUR marketing
campaign!
The success or failure of your trade show rests heavily on how well you market your event. Marketing, when done right, can project a positive image of your event, entice exhibitors to sign on the dotted line, and attract loyal customers. However, critical mistakes in your marketing campaign can have the opposite effect. Here are five costly errors along with some sound advice on how to avoid making them.
Build Credibility, Value and Trust on a Shoestring
Discover professional marketing techniques that won't break your budget!
Setting priorities in your business? Your first job is to sell. Selling is - writing the orders; receiving the cash. If you don't sell, your business dies. The impact of selling is immediate.
Your second priority is marketing. Marketing is everything that makes it easier to sell. Marketing is about sending messages - and everything you do or don't do sends a message. You are responsible for these messages because they impact the perception of your credibility, value and trust. The impact of marketing is long term.
Use these low-budget techniques to build credibility, value and trust on a shoestring.
Recommended Reading
A guide to networking around Vancouver
Networking can be your most valuable business tool if you go to events prepared to socialize, not schmooze. No one likes the events where people are desperately shoving business cards into your hands; but in and around Vancouver there are plenty of networking options – many with a more relaxed, social approach.
Do YOU have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur?
There are specific skills that people need to have in order to be successful in running their own business. What are those skills? You need to be creative, inquisitive, hard working, easy to get along with, and always willing to learn. Take this quiz and find out if you've got what it takes!
Internet marketing (pdf file)
Understand how to use web development, search engine optimization, online advertising, e-mail marketing, blogs, and affiliate program strategies to increase your website traffic.
Courses, Events and Happenings
Women's Enterprise Centre
Be Your Own Boss - Financial Understanding Business Workshop
May 30, 2006. Okanagan College, Kelowna. For details, click here
Second Annual Shuswap Women In Business Trade Show
June 8, 2006. Holiday Inn - Salmon Arm. For details, click here
Focused Marketing Nanaimo:
A full day workshop for small business
June 9, 2006 - Best Western Dorchester Hotel, Nanaimo, click here
Focused Marketing Salmon Arm:
A full day workshop for small business
June 15, 2006 - Okanagan College, Salmon Arm, click
here
Business Loans Info Session: Learn About
Your Financing Options
June 15, 2006, anywhere in B.C. Toll Free phone-in click
here
"NEW!" Business
Information Session
June 22, 2006, anywhere in B.C. Toll Free phone in click here
Small Business BC and eBC Seminars
Small Business BC Seminars - Vancouver
All Year. Waterfront Station 82 - 601 West Cordova, click
here
eBusiness BC Lunchbox Seminars - Vancouver
All Year Tuesdays. Waterfront Station 601 W. Cordova, click
here
Tax, GST/HST and PST Seminars for Small Business - Vancouver
601 West Cordova Street, Seminar Room
on 3rd Floor, Room 390, click here
Payroll Information Seminars for Small Business
601 West Cordova Street, Seminar Room
on 3rd Floor, Room 390, click here
Around the Province
Free Online Small Business Workshops
Produced by The Network of Canada Business Service Center click
here
23rd Annual YWCA of Vancouver Women of Distinction Awards
May 30, 2006. 1601 Bayshore Drive, Vancouver, For details, click here
SOHO "Show & Tell" Breakfast Roundtable
May 30, 2006. Sandman Hotel, Vancouver, BC. For details, click here
Women in Leadership, Defying Expectations
June 8, 2006. 20393 Fraser Hwy, Langley B.C. For details, click here
The Massive Business Networking Event Sponsored by JobLine Canada
June 27, 2006. The Hilton Hotel, Burnaby, BC. For details, click here
Nominations for The RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Awards
July
17, 2006 is the deadline for nominations. For details, click here
2006 Sapphire Awards – Business Vancouver Island
September
18, 2006, Tigh-Na-Mara Resort, Parksville. Details TBA
RBC Dominion Securities 4th Annual Cruise for Female Entrepreneurs
September
30 - October 3rd, 2006. For details, click here
Events Calendar Online
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