SBA is gearing up for National Small Business Week, May 12-16. They are taking the show on the road to celebrate small businesses across the United States. This year’s activity will include forums and panels about trends in small business, innovation, financing, business growth – and more. There will also be matchmaking events and networking opportunities.
The week will kick off in San Francisco on May 12, followed by events in Kansas City, Boston and Washington, DC. They’ll wrap up in their nation’s capital by honoring small businesses from across the country, culminating in the announcement of 2014’s National Small Business Person of the Year.
Check out the full conference schedule here.
Throughout the week, you can also participate in SBA webinars and online events:
Monday, May 12
- Smart Small Business Travel: Strategic Ways to Increase Your Return on Travel | 4-5pm ET | with Marriott and Visa Rhonda Abrams
Despite the clear upside, many small business owners limit travel because of cost or a reluctance to be away from their business. Travel is an investment in your business. And like any investment, you want to maximize your return. Get advice and tips on how to do just that from small business expert Rhonda Abrams.
- Growing Your Business with Direct Mail | 6-7pm ET | with the United States Postal Service
Learn about the value direct mail offers as part of an overall marketing strategy. Gain insight on how mail can be used to acquire new customers, and establish relationships that keep them coming back.
Tuesday, May 13
- Small Business: Big Benefits | 4-5pm ET | with Colonial Life
Choosing between offering a robust benefits package or cutting back on total offerings is a challenge for many small businesses. Learn about “voluntary benefits” that can allow you to strengthen your existing benefits packages at little or no additional cost.
Wednesday, May 14
- Achieving Big Customer Loyalty in a Small Business World: 10 Tips to Create A Killer Customer Loyalty Program | 3-4pm ET | with Manta
Learn about the best approaches to jump-start your small business’ customer loyalty program, including how to make sure that your program fits your business’ needs and how to get positive ROI from a digital customer loyalty program.
Thursday, May 15
- Practical Marketing – A Five-Step Marketing Program for Small Biz | 3-4pm ET | with YP
Gain insight about how to get the most from your marketing time with a 5-step practical marketing plan focused on “doing” – not marketing theory.
——– Source: www.sba.gov