Virginia Housing and Community Development Corporation (VHCDC)

Virginia Housing and Community Development Corporation (VHCDC), a U.S. Treasury Department certified Community Development Entity (CDE), announced today it has entered into a referral agreement for small business accounting, insurance, and tax services with Richmond, Virginia based Anchor Accounting Services, LLC (AAS).

Under the terms, VHCDC’s existing and new clients can take advantage of a range of financial services, including accounting, bookkeeping, business liability and workmen’s comp insurance, payroll, and tax services. These same clients will also have access to health insurance, individual life and disability insurance, retirement planning, estate preservation, key position insurance, wealth management, charitable giving strategies, individual tax preparation, and auto, home, renters, recreational vehicle, and umbrella insurance. Further, this alliance extends VHCDC’s effective coverage and range of assistance to small business owners within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

“This agreement is a win-win-win for VHCDC, AAS, and, most important, our clients. With AAS and its team of accountants, financial advisors and tax specialists, and its ability to service clients throughout the state, we now have the resources and additional expertise to serve a growing small business population in Virginia. We’re very excited about this alliance and look forward to helping even more of Virginia’s small businesses owners”, said James R Taylor, President of Virginia Housing and Community Development Corporation.

New clients can access these services and obtain a free, no obligation consultation simply by submitting the VHCDC Client Intake Form available at < www.vhcdc.org/sbas > or by contacting Ms. Dasherra Walton, Community Outreach and Programs Manager at (866) 931-5760 ext 116.

Sharing Her Experience - Network Event

Vendors Wanted!

Veterans Entrepreneurial Portal

The Veteran Entrepreneur Portal (VEP) is designed to save you time! BusinessUSA makes it easier for small businesses to access Federal services, regardless of its source. VA OSDBU quickly connects Veteran entrepreneurs to relevant ‘best-practices’ and information. Collectively, VEP offers direct access to the resources necessary to guide every step of entrepreneurship.

Click here to learn more or register for the portal.

Small Business and Entrepreneur Networking Event

The NVTC Small Business and Entrepreneur Committee is hosting a networking happy hour to unite members of the region's emerging business and entrepreneur community. This event is a great opportunity to discover your future business partners and grow your company in a relaxed atmosphere. You can't afford to miss this networking opportunity! 

Presented by the NVTC Small Business and Entrepreneur Committee
Date:
September 22, 2014 

Time:
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Registration and Networking -

Sponsors:

Platinum Sponsor: Morrison & Foerster
Gold Sponsor: Cox Business
Silver Sponsor: Loudoun Economic Development; Thompson Greenspon

The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC Business Partner:
Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® 
- See more at: http://www.nvtc.org/events/geteventinfo.php?event=ECNE-15#sthash.aqKTlpNz.dpuf


Location:
TBD

Cost:
Member: $ 10.00
Non-Member: $ 20.00

Walk-in Prices:
Member: $ 20.00 / Non-Member: $ 30.00

Walk-ins will be accepted on a space-available basis. - See more at: http://www.nvtc.org/events/geteventinfo.php?event=ECNE-15#sthash.aqKTlpNz.dpuf

Register here

Your Online Presence

I'm approached time and time again for advice about how to set up a small business for success online -- many times from those wondering if they even need an online presence in the first place. From the day I started the company that would become YVISA Designs, my passion has been helping small businesses succeed online, so I'm happy to address these questions every day.

We've captured small business owners' most frequently-asked questions about building a successful online presence from audiences at our Small Business Networking Events which take place in communities throughout Richmond, Va. To find the answers to the questions that small business owners across the country are asking, take a look below!

Keep your website updated 
Q: I have a website from the "Stone Ages," do I REALLY need to update it?

A: Absolutely -- if your website was built 10 or even just five years ago, you really need to update it. In today's web, content is king when it comes to helping your website establish credibility and relevance for search engines. If your content or code is dated, your website won't show up. It's that simple. Google continually refines the way it reads your website. You may have outdated software and you probably don't have an analytics tracking capability to influence business decisions. Website style and "look" have also changed over the years, and an old website is not mobile optimized. Today, over 30 percent of all web traffic is generated from a mobile device and it's rapidly growing. Still, there is one benefit with an older website -- reputation of the domain name. This in itself increases credibility since a domain name that has been around for a long time is considered more creditable than a newer website. And your domain names build up in monetary value. But, overall, the negatives of an old outdated, or badly designed website greatly outweigh the positives. You can't build it and forget it.

One size doesn't fit all
Q: What's the most cost-effective solution that will bring the best business return for me? As a new business, where is the best place to start?

A: Well, it depends on your business goals and your target market. If your business is consumer-focused, social media channels -- Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. -- are most likely the best places to start to drive consumers to your website. If your business is more product-focused, you need to build a good website that is optimized to sell. If you're trying to localize your business, a great website that is optimized in local arenas -- Google Places, Yelp, local area directories -- is a good place to start. But, no matter what your specific web needs are, it is always best to begin with a solid search engine optimization (SEO) effort, as SEO takes a long time to build. If you don't begin with a smart SEO plan, your website will fall behind in credibility and organic search engine rankings. The end result is that your prospects will go elsewhere.

SEO is very important
Q: What is the value of SEO? How do I know if my site is optimized? What does Google look at to rank a website?

A: Search engine optimization (SEO) is the primary tool with which Google reads your website to determine organic ranking in a user's search. To find out if your website is SEO optimized, you can simply search Google to see if your website comes up in the search listings. Now of course if you put the name of your business in Google, of course it should come up. This would assume that folks looking for you know the name of your business. Most prospects don't, they first are seeking a solution provider in the form of a product or service. Try to google words that pertain to your business and see where your business site falls on the search ranking.  If it doesn't show, your website is most likely not SEO optimized. SEO is very valuable and is comprised of the technical aspects of your website, how it is built and how you describe the content of your site in the title tag and keywords. On the other hand, it also looks at your website's reach across the Internet -- what are people saying about you on social media? Is your business active on social media? Is your website linked to your social channels? Finally, Google looks at a website to find out if it is going to be relevant to searchers. Google examines the code of your website and the words written in the code. It starts at the top and goes down -- looking at your title tag, page description -- and it also reads images on your website to determine your website's rank.

Making it worthwhile
Q: How do I make Facebook work for my business? How do I increase engagement on my Facebook page? Should I being doing Facebook, Twitter AND Pinterest? 
A: Again, it all goes back to your business' goals and target market. Facebook will work if your target customers are already there; or if they're on Twitter, focus your efforts on that platform. Social media is one of the best ways to increase engagement with prospects and existing customers. It's also a vehicle to drive consumers to your website. Your website must be the nucleus of your online strategy -- and it needs to make use of social media to help build its organic rankings. Once you do so, everything should begin to come together. You need to make sure your business and its website has a social focus, not just a business one. In regards to increasing engagement on your business' Facebook page, you need to know your target market and its behaviors. One good note to remember: 70 percent of a Facebook post's effectiveness disappears within five hours. So, for example, if your core consumer isn't engaging online at 9 a.m., you need to learn their Facebook habits and post your message when you know they are online. Also, make sure your updates always focus on a specific call-to-action -- a coupon or a link back to your website. And remember to keep your personal and business Facebook pages separate.

You need mobile 
Q: Is having a mobile website important? How is the mobile version different from my main website?
A: Yes, having a mobile website is very important. Nearly one-third of all searches are now conducted on mobile devices and 80 percent of mobile searches result in a purchase or other positive consumer action -- so, you need to give your customers a seamless mobile experience. Remember, consumers are looking for pertinent details about a business on-the-go -- address, phone number, time of operation and directions; or they may want to quickly pay a bill or look up a product. A full website that is not mobile optimized will take too long to load and use. Loading time must be quick as consumers do not have patience to wait - instead, they'll move on to your competitor.

If you have a question for me about your small business' online presence, just leave it as a comment 

RVA's Premier Networking Event!

Chamber Minority Business Council

Join us for the 2014 Chamber Minority Business Conference. The annual theme of our conference isBusiness Growth Through Connections. We believe this event serves as a catalyst in growing viable, sustainable businesses in the greater Charlottesville community.

The conference will include:

KEYNOTE ADDRESS 

MORNING MOTIVATION:
Led by Dr. Pamela Ross, founder & owner of Holistic Medical Consultants

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

SPEED NETWORKING: 
Bring lots of business cards to exchange with other conference attendees as you share your 1-minute elevator pitch at the ever-popular speed networking event.

GOING UP! ELEVATOR PITCH COMPETITION:
Bring your best business pitch and go head-to-head with fellow attendees in this exhilarating, high-stakes competition. Only 10 slots are available so you must register to participate. Prizes will be awarded.

EXHIBITORS:
Attendees will have an opportunity to visit with businesses/organizations showcasing their products and services.

A continental breakfast and lunch is included in your registration.

To view photos from our 2013 conference, click here.

CVMSDC Pre Certification Briefing

The Last Thursday of Every Month @ 10:00 am-11:00 am

Richmond office 707 E Main Street, 2nd Floor Conference Room, Richmond, VA  23219

To participate in the pre-certification briefing, a company must be a legally recognized entity of the CVMSDC region and the ethnic minority owner(s) must possess at least 51% of ownership. The company must be ethnic-minority managed and controlled. The orientation will cover information about the Council, How to Get Certified, Who can be Certified, Certification Criteria and How long the Process will take.

ONLY ONE ATTENDEE per company and that attendee must be the ethnic-minority owner.

SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER EARLY.

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/cvmsdc-pre-certification-briefing-richmond-va-tickets-11782412513?aff=es2&rank=61  

Virginia Business & Community Expo

Fab Friday Event

This Is Small Business Week: Don’t Neglect Your Online Presence

If you own a small business, you know that online visibility is one of the keys to success. And these days, harnessing the Web is crucial to any marketing plan.

“While most small business owners know they need a strong Web presence, many of them are not taking enough action to build and maintain it,” says Tim Carroll, Vice President of Small Business Engagement at Deluxe Corp., a provider of marketing services and products for small businesses.

In fact, of those small business owners who put a high level of importance on Web presence, 70 percent spend less than one hour a week maintaining it, according to a new Deluxe study. In contrast, only 1.2 percent spend 10 or more hours each week on their Web maintenance.

National Small Business Week, May 12-16, is the perfect time to learn how to use the Internet to keep your business top of mind with prospective customers.  And Carroll offers some top tips for maximizing your company’s presence online.

• Interact: Since current and prospective consumers use social media, you can’t neglect this marketing approach. Social media marketing isn’t just about gaining followers. It becomes a vehicle for sharing your company’s message, as well as driving traffic to your website. This will ultimately help generate new customers and referrals.

Don’t be afraid to use Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites to ask customers for feedback and show your personality. Use calls to action to acquire new followers, engage them further and encourage reviews of your services.

Many small businesses turn to consultants or social marketing services for help with developing and executing a social media strategy. When effective, these efforts will place a brand in front of its target audience. Small business owners should look for a service that also tracks results in order to gain insight into how its customers engage online.

• Website: “Today, a business without a website is a business without a face,” says Carroll. “A clean, easy-to-navigate, and mobile-friendly online presence is one your customers will remember.”

Unfortunately, less than a third of small business owners think they are proficient or extremely proficient at maintaining their individual company websites, which is why many seek outside help developing a site and building content.

• Search engines: With 91 percent of Internet users utilizing search engines, according to the Deluxe-commissioned study, search engine optimization can be your key to better visibility online. After all, a website is hardly useful if no one can find it.

Additionally, consider search engine marketing services to help your online advertising and to make use of local searches by more effectively targeting your customer audience.

• Email marketing: Small business email marketing is the centerpiece of any effort to stay in touch with existing customers, while reaching out and finding new ones. Use it to promote new items and offer special discounts to loyal customers or to simply keep in touch.

Small business owners know they need to be online. It just takes commitment and the right tools to capitalize on the potential.

Small Business Financial Conference

Where Connections Are Made & Opportunities Realized

The Richmond Women’s Business Consortium (RWBC)

Presents

SMARTCONNECT

Tuesday, April 8, 2014 5:30 to 7:30 PM Crossroads Art Center 

2016 Staples Mill Road, Richmond (FREE Parking)

Join us for a wonderful FREE networking event. Visit exhibitor booths and wine bar and enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres catered by HOMEMADES BY Suzanne. There will be special networking opportunities and door prizes, including a monetary contribution to the Philanthropic Entity of the RWBC Organization that has the most attendees.

Be sure to tell your friends and associates and bring lots of business cards!

We invite you to participate as a sponsor or exhibitor.  For sponsorship information, contact Carolyn Boone. RWBC represents a working alliance between local women's  organizations that explicitly encourage and cultivate women's success in business  and/or the community.  RWBC member organizations:
American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants National Association of Women business Owners American Business women's Association (Cavalier Chapter & River City Express Network) American Society of Women Accountants Executive Women's Golf Association Richmond Women's Network Network of Enterprising Women Metropolitan Richmond Women's Association Metropolitan Richmond Women's Bar Association
For More Information CLICK HERE

Business Networking Breakfast

Vendor Exposition with Atlanta's Procurement

Purchasing Month  - Vendor Expo
Thursday, March 13, 2014

The Department of Procurement (the “DOP”) will host a vendor exposition to provide an opportunity for suppliers to: (1) learn about the City of Atlanta’s (the “City”) procurement process and procurement opportunities and (2) display their latest products and services available to the City.  It is also an opportunity for networking with others in public procurement and the supplier community.

This is a must-attend event.  The DOP is working diligently to streamline the process of doing business with the City.  The most effective way of securing a contract is understanding and following the procurement process.  As Atlanta continues to grow, the City is providing the foundation for those who want to do business with Atlanta, while demonstrating our commitment to open and efficient government.  Exhibitors and Attendees can register online. For registration details, please visit the Department of Procurement’s page on the City of Atlanta’s website @ www.atlantaga.gov/vendorexpo. The cost for Exhibitors is $100 and early registration for Attendees is $25.00.  Onsite registration for Attendees is $35.00.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Parking is Free for this event.

The event date is March 13, 2014

Time: 9am-4pm

Place: The Boisfeuillet Jones
          Atlanta Civic Center
          395 Piedmont Avenue
          Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Georgia International Convention Center Networking Conference

Click Here To View This Image Online

Blacks Network Inc, focuses on uplifting and enabling black professionals and entrepreneurs seek out new business ideas, professional recognition, and investment opportunities, has today announced its 2014 Inspirational, Empowerment, Professional Networking Conference will take place May 3 at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta.

As a network that seeks to showcase and promote the economic growth of emerging and black professionals around the world, this year Blacks Network Conference is anticipating attendees from Europe, Africa, Canada, and over 2000 business owners and professionals from across the nation and Atlanta, Georgia area.

“If anyone is looking to make Business-to-Business connections, learn about products and services that will help business growth, or grab cutting-edge professionals ideals and connections, and speed networking, this is it,” says event organizer, Godwin E. Enogieru.

For further information, please contact: Organizer Godwin E. Enogieru (Blacks Network, Inc) at (877) 773-1002 -TICKETS Available at: www.BlacksNetwork.com

The Network of Enterprising Women (N.E.W)

The Network of Enterprising Women (N.E.W.) hosts a monthly, evening social event titled, N.E.W. Nite Out, at various member businesses around town. February''s get together is hosted by Nina Whittleton of Classic Party Rentals. It's a great time to meet a wonderful group of motivated women who believe in keeping things local. Light hor dourves/drinks are typically provided so please RSVP to Angela@classicpartyrentalsva.com if you plan on attending.

When:     2/26/14
Time:      6:00pm - 8:00pm
Where:   9313 Burge Avenue, Richmond VA 23237

Plenty of Free Parking

Chesterfield Business Council Networking Breakfast: Virginia State University

Dr. Keith Miller

Space is filling quickly for the Chesterfield Business Council Networking Breakfast with Dr. Keith Miller, President of Virginia State University (VSU). Dr. Miller will present on exciting new projects at VSU, including local economic development and revitalization initiatives in partnership with Chesterfield County.  Register today!    Tuesday, February 18, 2014, 7:15 - 9:00 a.m. Johnston-Willis Hospital Cafeteria 1401 Johnston-Willis Drive Chesterfield, VA 23225

Yes We Code

ESSENCE and Prince partner to empower young mind and transform our future at the Festival as we champion awareness and foster education.  #YesWeCode, a special community initiative led by the Rebuild the Dream Innovation Fund is recruiting hundreds of grassroots training programs - plus major technology partners, celebrities and political leaders - to help 100,000 low-opportunity youth learn the language of coding and programming.  With the power to code, the next generation can design a future that works for them - and for all of us.

We'll introduce some of the country's greatest talents in the field here and you can meet them at the 2014 Festival to find out how you can make a difference to the young computer programmer in your life.  

On February 7-9, 2014, the Rebuild the Dream Innovation Fund partners with Qeyno Labs to launch the first hackathon for black male achievement with a focus on young black men.  The theme for this Oakland-based startup weekend mega-event is "Could an App Have Saved Trayvon Martin? Building a Silicon Valley that Lives up to Dr. King's Dream".

Learn more here.

Click here to learn more about the Start up Weekend.