A new study of the small businesses that make up the Inc. 500 shows that Blogging is in decline and other social media are on the uptick.  Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, mobile apps, Linked In etc. seem to be where the action is now.  If you aren't sure about how to get started in Social Media Marketing, the Dayton Metro Library has plenty of books to help. Here are a few examples:

To find more, search our catalog for  "social media economic aspects" or the broader terms "Internet marketing."

If you'd like a more structured introduction plan to attend one of the Social Media Networking and Marketing workshops we offer in conjunction with Dayton SCORE.  The next one is scheduled for June 11th at the Huber Heights Branch. There are two in July, July 2nd at the Northmont Branch and July 31st at East Branch.  Pre-registration is required so select your branch link above and then call to sign up.

While we're on the subject of Social Media let's consider the Facebook Timeline for a moment.  If you've been struggling with the switch for your business, you aren't alone.  Here are six must know tips and a longer discussion. Both are aimed at consumer brands, but the information is useful for any business--your company name is your brand. 

If you think of business pitches at all, you probably think of two stress filled minutes "on an elevator" trying to convince someone to fund your business. Martin Soorjoo would rather you start by thinking about the late Steve Jobs pitching the newest product or service from Apple.  Mr. Job's made it appear as if he just wandered onto the stage and started talking but the truth is he had spent a very long time preparing for each announcement.  As Martin Soorjoo notes,

 "you can only move people to take action by reaching both their hears and minds, [yet] the vast majority of unsuccessful pitches are data dumps that reach neither. Instead, more often than not, they induce "Death by PowerPoint." 

 Clearly getting your pitch right is of the utmost importance but it's also true that public speaking is one of many people's biggest fears.  How to Pitch gives you the tools to overcome that fear and become an expert at pitching, from the elevator pitch, to the twitter pitch, the sales pitch, and the crucial investor pitch, even the newly popular crowdfunding pitch.   The book is divided into four sections. In part one the fundamental pillars of pitching are discussed; how to understand power relationships and make them work to your advantage, how to be desirable instead of "needy" etc. In part two SoorJoo covers different types of pitches in detail and in part three he shows how to tailoring your pitch to specific audiences, reminding you often that the pitch is now about how great your company is, but rather about how well your product or service will solve a problem.   Finally, part four teaches you how to develop the winning mind-set essential for success.  Here's the Pitch provides a complete toolkit that will enable you to deliver a confident, engaging and successful pitch, time after time.

Are you writing a business plan? Looking for a new job? Prospecting for customers? Expanding your business or trying to find the best location for your new one? The ReferenceUSAdatabase from Infogroup offers Dayton Metro Library users free access to an amazing array of business related information that can help with any of these tasks. The key is finding just the right information for your needs.  Now, Infogroup is offering a number of free, online classes to library users.  Each class is offered several times, so check out the class descriptions below and register for any or all of them. 

Please note: You must have a computer with an Internet connection and a telephone line to access these workshops.  We are unable to reserve specific computer times at Dayton Metro Library locations and cannot provide telephone service, therefore you should not plan to view these workshops in the library.

Also note: Infogroup is in Omaha, NE and times listed are Central Time. You should add one hour for Dayton, so 11:00 a.m. becomes Noon, etc.

Title:           Search Essentials: the 4 things you need to know

Day/Date:     Fridays (13 April - 29 June)

Time:           11:00 AM Central (1 hour)

Designed for the patron new to using ReferenceUSA; this hour-long session will cover all the basics of getting started with ReferenceUSA.  The training will cover the Four Essentials anyone, particularly anyone new to ReferenceUSA, would want to know in order to be successful using the resource.  This is also a great opportunity for current users to learn some new tips, tricks and techniques.

Lots of time will be reserved at the end of the session for questions.

Attendees will need an Internet connection and a phone line to participate.  To register for any of the session dates, follow the link below:

ReferenceUSA Search Essentials

Title:         Uncovering the Hidden Job Market: Career Search using

                 ReferenceUSA

Day/Date:   Wednesdays (4 April – 27 June)

Time:         choose between 10:00 AM Central (1 Hour) or 2:30 PM

                 Central (1  Hour)

Attendees will learn how to use ReferenceUSA as part of their Career Searching Strategy.  Included will be information on the importance of having accurate information for applications and resumes, creating engaging cover letters, assembling a network of references and referrers, finding key persons at a business to act as mentors, building datasets of potential employers based on skill set, work history and preferences as well as how to prepare for interviews and interactions through thorough research.   To register for any of the session dates, follow the links below:

Uncover the Hidden Job Market (Morning Session)

Uncover the Hidden Job Market (Afternoon Session)

Title:                Start, Manage, Grow!  How Businesses can use

                         ReferenceUSA

Day/Date:         Mondays (2 April – 25 June)

Time:               2:30 PM Central (1 Hour)

Entrepreneurs and business owners will learn how to use ReferenceUSA to find the mission critical information necessary to start, manage and grow a business. Topics include:

• research prospects and prospective clients
• locate hard to find vendors, both locally and nationally
• network with other businesses in your area or in your industry
• develop relationships with related business for co-branding opportunities
• understand community demographics
• survey locations for expansion
• conduct competitive analysis
• locate subject manager experts and professional services
• source new employees
• find investors, venture capitalists and angels
• plan delivery routes and service areas

To register for any of the session dates, follow the link below:

Start, Manage & Grow your Business

Title:         Lowering Your MPG*: High Octane Prospecting

Day/Date:   Alternating Mondays (starting 2 April)

Time:         10:30 AM Central (40 minutes)

Are you spending too much time speculating about clients and prospects? Come spend forty minutes with us and we’ll show you how to gain an insider’s look at your prospects business using ReferenceUSA – we’ll also share information on building high octane data sets and other strategies like email marketing.

Don’t waste your time idling in neutral with data that gets you no closer than a guess!

Attendees will need an Internet connection and a phone line to participate. To register for any of the session dates, follow the link below:

Lowering your MPG*:High Octane Prospecting

Due to scheduling conflicts, some dates and times may not be available

Please note: You must have a computer with an Internet connection and a telephone line to access these workshops.  We are unable to reserve specific computer times at Dayton Metro Library locations and cannot provide telephone service, therefore you should not plan to view these workshops in the library.

There was some good news on the small business front in the Dayton Daily News this morning.

"Growing confidence in the U.S. economy has allowed more small businesses in the Miami Valley either to expand their companies or start new ones during the past two years with the help of federal government-loan programs."

The article notes that the SBA backed more than $97 Million in loans in fiscal 2011, almost $30 Million more than in 2010.  Of course, just because SBA loans are up doesn't mean there is money for everyone. For a start-up, you'll still need to have a strong business plan and a solid loan application. Dayton Metro Library has many books on writing a business plan and some new books on financing a start-up and on SBA Loans as well.  Search our catalog or check out my January 19th post for reivews of two especially helpful new books.

I moved to Southwestern Ohio from the Pittsburgh area just over a year ago. I mention this because there was a little restaurant not too far from my home called the Spice Island Tea House. I ate there for the first time at least 15 years ago, and when we moved it was still going strong, which is no mean feat in the restaurant businesses. I hadn't really given that fact any thought though until this book crossed my desk, because the author of the book is the owner of that very restaurant.  Who better to write an "everything" book about starting and running a restaurant than someone who has started and kept a very successful restaurant running for more than a decade and half?  Ronald Lee knows whereof he writes.  From the description of a day in the life of a restaurant manager in chapter one, through exploring the market, writing a business plan, getting financing and then...well click on the image of book cover above and read the list under "Table of Contents" and you'll see Mr. Lee really does address everything involved in starting and running a restaurant.  Then get our your library card and click "Place Request" to have a copy sent to a Dayton Metro Library branch near you!

A new edition of an old favorite and some great new books about putting social media to work for your business.

Tuesday February 21st from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. the Main Library will host an Introduction to Patenting Your Idea in our 2nd floor Auditorium. 

If you think your invention might be patent worthy, this program is for you! 

You will learn why and when to seek a patent, how to determine your invention’s  uniqueness, all about the U.S. Patent & Trademark Depository Library Program and how to use it to conduct patent searches.

Speakers will include:

Ran Raider, Patent & Trademark Reference Specialist at Wright State University where he has been the local representative for the USPTO's Patent and Trademark Resource Center Program for 13 years. 

David Siefert, Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at Sinclair Community College where he also coordinates Sinclair's Entrepreneurship Program. Professor Siefert has more than four decades of private sector experience and holds several U.S. Patents himself.

Pat Newcomb, Director of the Ohio Small Business Development Center at The Entrepreneurs Center in Dayton.  Ms. Newcomb has 20 years of experience as a commercial lender, business banker and business development consultant.

Registration is suggested but not required. Please call 937-463-BOOK (2665) to sign up.