admin

Interview with Lucy Brown, Founder & CEO of Red Copper Events

This week we spoke with Lucy Brown who is the Founder & CEO of Red Copper Events. As one of the DC area’s most exciting new businesses, Red Copper plans and organizes a variety of business, cultural and entertainment events.

We were fortunately given the opportunity to sit down with Ms. Brown and discuss her ambitions.

Small Business View: So what made you want to start Red Copper Events?

Lucy Brown: Well, I’m very creative and I’ve never wanted to just sit in an office all day. I happened to meet a woman who was planning a business expo and she needed help. I figured it would be fun to try something different and it turns out that I really enjoyed working with her. I had such a great time that I decided to start out on my own and here we are.

SBV: Can you tell us about the projects you are currently working on?

LB: I’m currently working on the 2011 Small Business Expo of Washington, D.C. Taking place on May 18 at the Crowne Plaza in Rockville, MD, it will be a day long event with speakers, awards, prizes, networking and plenty of promotion for the small business owners of the DC area.

I’m also very busy working on the Caribbean Festival that will be taking place in Washington, D.C. this summer.

SBV: What have you found to be your biggest challenges so far?

LB: When putting on these events, I’ve found the biggest challenge to be finding the right venue and keeping it within the budget.

SBV: What is your ultimate goal for Red Copper Events?

LB: I want to do all types of big events all over the world. AEG is one of the leading event planning companies and is a huge inspiration of mine. I would love to eventually do events on that scale.

SBV: What advice would you have for other business owners out there?

LB: I have found that as a business owner, you are going to face a lot of challenges and the only way to get through them is stay focused on your goal.

You can learn more about Red Copper Events at http://www.RedCopperEvents.com

Also, for more information on the 2011 Small Business Expo of Washington, D.C. you can visit http://www.SmallBusinessExpoDC.com

SBA Announces New Upcoming Business Loan Programs

This spring the Small Business Administration will introduce two new SBA loan programs that will provide capital to underserved entrepreneurs directly through nonprofit microfinance organizations.

The Community Advantage and Small Loan Advantage programs are both a simpler and easier way for lenders to make smaller-dollar loans and get a full SBA guarantee of up to 85 percent.

They are open to borrowers who would regularly qualify for an SBA loan. There are no geographical restrictions, but the loan must be $250,000 or less.

The Small Loan Advantage will be available through 630 lenders including the largest banks as well as regional banks.

Interest rates vary by the size of the loan, but generally they will be around prime plus 2.75 percent.

The same process will be used for the Community Advantage program, but loans will be provided by “mission lenders,” who are primarily not-for-profits engaged in community economic development. These mission lenders will reach out to entrepreneurs lacking collateral and be able to fund them based on cash-flow.

If you are interested in learning more about loan programs and obtaining funding for your business, you can contact a professional consultant with The World Advisory Company.

5 Simple Internet Marketing Strategies for Small Business

With the internet increasingly becoming a vital part of conducting business, thousands of potential customers are just a click away. However, with so many sites on the web, it can be nearly impossible to get noticed.

The following 5 simple steps should improve your marketing on the internet and have you on your way to reaching a world of customers.

1. Website

The first step in establishing an online presence for your business is to have a website. This is the most central part of your internet marketing and everything else will revolve around it.

Once you have a site established, you have to ensure that it is effective. This means creating a user-friendly experience and clearly delivering the message of your business.

2. Search Engine Optimization

Once your website is up and running, it must become visible on the web. One of the most common ways for people to find your business is through search engines.

There are a variety of techniques to implement to improve your website’s visibility in search engines. The most important aspects relate to the content of your site and quality links to your site from around the web.

3. Social Media

One of the greatest advancements in business on the web has been the establishment of online communities. Certain websites gather thousands and even millions of people with particular interests and associations.

This brings about the ability to reach large numbers of potential customers in specific target markets. These sites can be used for attracting new customers and keeping in touch with your past and current customers.

Social media sites also provide great opportunities to provide links to your site that will increase traffic and improve visibility in search engines.

4. Email

Another powerful tool for conducting business online is through email. It can be used to reach out to new customers or to keep in touch with current and past customers.

Creating a mailing list with your contacts will help keep you involved in their lives and can be used to inform them about promotions and any other news of your business.

There are several programs that exist that make email marketing simple and allow you to reach a high volume of recipients without being considered spam.

5. Advertising

There are a variety of ways to promote your business online through paid advertising. You can use traditional banner ads, which are basic graphic images or you can use contextual ads that are displayed according to a site’s content.

There are certain advertising programs that can display your ads to a very specific target audience. Many advertising programs offer free trials so you can see if it will be effective for your business.

If these strategies are properly implemented, they can be very effective in bringing in new business. Internet marketing can become quite advanced, but this are the necessary steps needed to get started.

If you are interested in receiving personal assistance with the implementation of any of the above strategies, you can speak with a professional consultant from The World Advisory Company