This webinar will provide safe computer and network usage tips for small business owners. It concerns not only businesses, but also individuals.
Speaker: Quiana Gainey, Virginia SBDC Cyber Industry Expert
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration – you can expect it a day before before the event – please be on the lookout for it.
Updated for 2023
Join us if you’re interested in pivoting more of your efforts to ONLINE SALES
This session will cover:
- The variety of websites available, the possibilities for upgrading yours to better accommodate online sales and the estimated costs to accomplish this!
- The various e-commerce platforms available and how to select the best based on your specific business needs.
- How to setup and manage your online storefront or service portal and how to use data and marketing to maximize returns.
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration – a day before before the event – please be on the lookout for it.
Instructor: Cameron Nelson, Chief Digital Advisor, Central VA SBDC
Mr. Nelson has over 18 years experience in technology, and as a senior tech consultant in Silicon Valley helping Fortune 500 companies improve their digital marketing and eCommerce. At the same time he founded several tech companies, including a SaaS website for tree preservation and a blockchain platform for nonprofits. Cameron is accomplished in language, culture, has an MBA and MA and believes new technology products have the ability to help shape our world for the better.
This session will introduce you to the world of vishing – the latest technique bad actors are using to scam grandmothers and small businesses out of their hard-earned cash.
Learn how hackers target small business owners and compromise their bank accounts, sometimes without even knowing they have been scammed! With new developments in Artificial Intelligence, it’s getting harder and harder to separate fact from fiction.
In this interactive session, we demonstrate popular variations on this technique, so you will be more aware and able to spot the con. Don’t fall victim to a common and growing social engineering ploy.
Who should attend: Small business owners who want to prevent scams and cybersecurity attacks targeting their company.
Speakers:
- Dr. Teresa Piliouras, CEO and Founder, Technical Consulting & Research, Inc., is an IT consultant, educator, inventor, and author. She holds a BS from the University of Illinois, an MBA from Iona College, a PhD from NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
- Pui Lam (Raymond) Yu, Executive Vice President Engineering at Technical Consulting & Research, Inc., has over 20 years of industry experience in Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, and Systems Engineering. He received his BEEE and MSEE from Stevens Institute of Technology and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, respectively, and his MSCS from New York University Tandon School of Engineering.
- Santhosh Chandraboasc, Cybersecurity Analyst Intern, Technical Consulting and Research, Inc., received his MS in Cybersecurity from Fordham University, and his BS in Information Technology from Pace University.
- Curtis Rowe II, Cybersecurity Analyst Intern, Technical Consulting and Research, Inc., is currently pursuing a BS in Cognitive Science at University of California, San Diego.
Co-sponsor(s) & Partner(s): Prince William County Department of Economic Development & Prince William Chamber of Commerce
Are you considering registering your business to be a government contractor? Do you think government contracting might be a good option to help grow your business? If so, then join us for GovCon 101. This session will be help you to understand: • Whether government contracting is a good option for your business • If your business is ready to enter the government arena • The process of registering to be a government contractor • Certifications that might benefit your business as a government contractor This event is free, but you must preregister in order to receive the instructions to attend.
Speaker(s): Lisa Powell worked for the U.S. Small Business Administration at the Connecticut District Office from 1998 to 2019 as an Economic Development Specialist monitoring the HUBZone and 8(a) portfolios for the local office before joining the Virginia PTAC as a Procurement Counselor in January 2021. During her time at the SBA, Lisa worked closely with all of SBA’s resource partners to facilitate procurement workshops held at local Community Colleges, Chambers of Commerce and libraries. As a Business Opportunity Specialist, she was involved with the Government Contracting programs that the SBA provides and worked very closely with the purchasing agents for the Federal and State Agencies as well as the larger prime contractors while organizing SBA Matchmakers and assisting small business.
American craft breweries are respected around the world for their quality and innovation, yet it can be difficult for a small independent producer to know how to approach potential international sales.
In this initial episode, the hosts will discuss what it means to be an export-ready brewery and what a brewery needs to know in the key areas of compliance.
The Brewers Association will close with some insights into the contours of top foreign markets for American breweries.
Co-sponsorship Authorization# 23-22-C. The SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least 2 weeks in advance of this event; please send an email with the subject header ACCOMMODATION REQUEST to reasonableaccommodation@sba.gov.
Overview of the Live Webinar
The following will be covered during this live webinar:
- Power of SEO and social media for attracting customers, including local SEO to precisely target your market.
- Website optimization for lead generation. How personas, message maps, and content calendars help to make your website and social media footprint more attractive when integrated.
- Social selling as an amplifier of your existing sales and marketing strategy. Learn to build an omni channel presence and customer journey for faster wins.
- What your digital channel strategy needs, to be effective in terms of content, technology and investment.
- How to effectively use paid media and advertising. Cost savings of optimizing your website and SEO to maximize paid media spend and ROI.
Speaker: Hussain Shah, Subject Matter Expert – Digital Marketing, Mason SBDC & Timm Johnson – Director, Mason SBDC
Co-sponsor(s) & Partner(s): Prince William County Department of Economic Development & Prince William Chamber of Commerce
Cancellation Policy: Contact the Center regarding cancellation 24 business hours prior to the event. Kindly email – help@masonsbdc.org (preferred) or call 703-261-4105 to notify the team.
Special Instructions: This live webinar will be presented via Zoom. Webinar access details (Zoom invitation) will be provided after registration.
Grab your lunch and join us virtually for the first Thursday of each month to learn more about SBA programs and network with other small business owners.
Finding funding for your business can be challenging if your credit score is weak. Join us as we discuss strategies to improve both your personal and business credit score.
Key Takeaways:
how your personal credit affects your business
how to improve your personal credit to benefit your business
how to improve your business credit over time
Speaker(s): Joey Pocan, Richmond SBA
Once a brewery has confirmed that it’s equipped to pursue international markets, the next question is where to sell its products. It can be daunting to assess the potential of the many markets and partners looking for American craft beer, and there’s no one size fits all approach for market selection.
In this webinar, breweries will learn about available tools and strategies to help weigh different opportunities and develop an export strategy that suits their specific goals.
In this final episode, the hosts will discuss financing and logistics considerations that come into play when exporting craft beer. Attendees will learn the necessary steps to successfully execute and international order, as well as strategies for leveraging their relationships with freight forwarders, importers, and small business lenders in support of a sustained and profitable export program.
Co-sponsorship Authorization# 23-22-C. The SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least 2 weeks in advance of this event; please send an email with the subject header ACCOMMODATION REQUEST to reasonableaccommodation@sba.gov.