New York SBDC Research Network

After reading through Mary's SPD Gazette and seeing what great things the centers are up to, I'd like to reiterate an invitation to send in DVD copies of tv spots, interviews or programs created by the regional centers. We are hoping to collect these materials in the hopes of becoming a depository for materials - printed, electonic or audio-visual for the products of SBDC collective talent. At some point, hopefully sooner rather than later, our catalog will be accessible and searchable by the rest of the NY SBDC. So, if you have materials you've produced that you can share, please do so. At the very least, we can keep a record of what materials are produced around the network and who to contact for a copy.

Want to see your colleagues on TV? Check out these video segments starring David North and Gloria Glowacki from Stony Brook (this link should open one video. There are others on the right, in the "Other videos in BUSINESS Channel" section.) The videos cover how to start a small business, financing, marketing, franchising, and businesses plans, and many of the services provided by the Small Business Development Center. And Gloria mentions the Research Network, and our market research services. Thanks Gloria!

I got an article from the Brand Identity Guru about The Art of the Tagline and Positioning which says, in part: So how important is a tagline? Well, it briefly represents your brand identity and positioning. If it's off target it hurts you and if you don't have one it hurts you. A tagline can be powerful and actionable. Let's play a little game. Which taglines do you know and associate with? If you know them and the company they belong to then they've done their job. Does your tagline measure up? Then their sales pitch. But it's a bit of fun, and maybe you can think of more to suggest to your clients. Tagline Trivia What brands are associated with these taglines? 1. You deserve a break today. 2. Be all that you can be. 3. Just do it. 4. It's the real thing. 5. Where's the beef? 6. It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken. 7. We try harder. 8. Oh, what a feeling 9. You've come a long way, baby. 10. Mmm mmm good 11. It's where you want to be

"If you want to get a VC's attention, you need to make a stronger statement than that. Here's how." By Guy Kawasaki Entrepreneur Magazine July 2007 Recently I have pointed out an article by Guy Kawasaki on how not to approach a venture capitalist. In the July issue of Entrepreneur Magazine he now goes into what a business ought to do when looking for venture capital. The article is here, but these are the highlights: "An entrepreneur seeking venture capital can feel like a knight on horseback, looking longingly across the moat at the gleaming spires of the VC's "castle" beyond. How do you bridge that gap and actually get inside the castle walls, where the money is? Here, my shortlist of tips to get a venture capitalist's attention": 1. Get an introduction by a partner-level lawyer. (for connections) 2. If you're in tech, get an introduction by a professor of engineering. (for connections) 3. Get an introduction by the founder of a c

When I’m not sure what to blog about, I read blogs to get ideas. Today I went to Stephen’s Lighthouse (by super-librarian Stephen Abram), and found a link to another blog posting, about, well, blogging. This posting, “ 55 Essential Articles Every Serious Blogger Should Read ” from the Entrepreneurial Blog of Matt Huggins , highlights articles and, of course, blog postings, that provide useful information to bloggers. Topics include getting started, creating content, increasing traffic, and making money. Helpful stuff. This blogger intends to take a closer look, and maybe your clients who are bloggers or would-be bloggers could benefit too…

Here's something I got from Heather Robinette, Business Consultant at UALR Arkansas Small Business Development Center a few years back: I will receive free money or loans because I am a minority, woman, veteran, or ex-convict. I’ll get rich quick and won’t have to ‘put up’ with people. I will be my own boss, be free to do whatever I want, and no one will tell me what to do. I will work less and be able to have more free time if I am an owner versus an employee. It doesn’t matter what my family thinks about me going into business. If I know how to do the work, then I can run the business. I plan to hire someone to run my business for me. If I build it, they will come. Whenever I turn the key on the door, there will be a line of people waiting to buy my products. I know my idea will work because my friends and family thought it was a great idea. I don’t need to write a business plan because I have contracts with my customers. There is no competition in my area. The lack of a product

Even though I'm an information guy by trade, I'm sometimes the last to learn about new resources. I was flipping through a print newsletter that we get from the Georgia SBDC, and it had on the front page an article that looks useful: "The IRS has started a news service, e-News for Small Business . Distributed every Wednesday, it brings timely, useful tax information right to your computer, including, but not limited to: * Important, upcoming tax dates * What's new on the IRS web site * Reminders and tips to assist businesses with tax compliance *IRS news releases and special IRS announcements e-News' convenient format will put IRS tax information at your fingertips. "Useful Links" brings you quickly to some of the most useful information on IRS.gov for large and small businesses and the self-employed. To start your FREE subscription to e-News , just go to IRS.gov , type in your e-mail address and submit." And if you didn't hear it here first, th