Here’s why e-commerce is such a great idea.  E-commerce allows a small business to compete with larger businesses in the same kind of playing ground so to speak.  Through e-commerce, costs for doing business are also lessened.  You can cater to a larger market and have a wider reach with the internet than by selling in a store which limits the accessibility factor for potential customers.  Whether people are looking for hard to find kind of items or have no time on their hands, e-commerce helps you provide for what your customers need.

There are a few e-commerce tips for the small business to remember however.  First off, you should attract customers to buy the products you have on sale online.  You can do this by lowering your prices and you don’t have to do this for all the products you sell.  Make it something like an offer special for online orders.  Customers browsing on line will get to thinking that what you’re offering is a deal or that you have a select product with a great price online.

You can also make people know about your business online by sending people a newsletter.  While this helps you strengthen the foundation of a relationship with your customer, armed with the name and address of your customer, you can then do all sorts of promotions and ads to inform them of new offers, sales and discounts.  Talk to your customers through the newsletter and make sure that you provide them with an interesting read as well.

Learn how to set up an online store at the Hispanic Business Showcase.

The Verizon Latino Small Business Program helps Put Your Business on the Map. This workshop will offer industry expert advice on the importance of mobile technology.

The panelists  will discuss mobile solutions for staying connected to consumers and provide information on managing business operations all from your mobile phone! Explore useful mobile applications that will help you organize and grow your business.

Onsite tutorials will be available during the workshop to provide you with the hands on experience. As extension of the workshop, Verizon will host mini workshops which will cover mobile business applications and provide business owners the opportunity to win prizes during the expo.

Twenty Three years later Ramon is the Operating partner of a six store Domino’s Pizza Franchise in Chicago. His career has also given him the opportunity to work in Mexico as a Business Development Consultant for Domino’s Pizza ’93-‘97. Extreme Passion and High Energy are words that best describe his love for the pizza business.

Ramon has been using Social Media for his business since before the word existed.  AOL Instant messenger was his micro-blog long before Twitter was invented. When Facebook was closed to the general public, Ramon connected with customers in photos and groups.

His Social Media strategies were recently highlighted at Gravity Summit Harvard and streamed Live on CNN.com. Domino’s Pizza Franchisees around the world seek his Social Media advice. Ramon’s creative uses of Social Media and enthusiasm have made him a sought after speaker.

Ramon De Leon will participate at the 2010 Hispanic Business Showcase as a Featured Speaker on Friday, September 10 at 4:00 p.m.

Follow Ramon De Leon on twitter:

As a general rule banks have played a very vital role in arranging access to capital for small business. Legislative policies and regulatory rules like SBA loans and other tax credits have also helped small businesses to break even and invest in diverse markets for expansion. Through the Small Business Administration (SBA) banks have been able to provide their small business customers’ intermediate as well as long term funding that is government guaranteed and cost-effective. Thanks to the SBA program, small business owners have received timely and targeted loans to help them in disaster relief especially in the current economic crisis. However considering the inherent risk involved in investing this capital in working and fixed asset requirements of small businesses, banks also need to share the risk.

Banks provide capital to small business under the SBA auspices under two sections – 7(a) and 504 loan programs. The 7(a) program is targeted at start-up or growing small business enterprises that require capital funding, but generally face a lack of it. The capital amount thus availed can be used as working capital for buying machinery, equipment, land or building, furniture and fixtures and even debt refinancing. The 504 program, which in a way complements the 7(a) program provides long term financing with fixed-rate interest and can be availed for expansion and modernization plans like acquiring real estate or modern equipment. Loans under the 504 program are acquired from private-sector lenders and require a minimum of ten percent equity from the small business borrower.

Hit by the recent economic crisis and recession, the federal government has annihilated subsidies on these programs thereby increasing the cost to the borrowers. Additionally nearly half of the banks have been merged or taken acquisition of by other banks and the range of banks lending out loans to small businesses has considerably decreased. But considering the fact that small businesses are vital for generating employment, there exist many state level programs that small business owner can avail in their respective state.

Despite the economic upheavals, banks still receive numerous applications for intermediate or long term loans for small businesses and continuation of SBA programs and tax incentives can go a long way in helping these small enterprises obtain the requisite capital.

We invite you to attend the “Access to capital” discussion that will take place at the Hispanic Business Showcase on September 10 at 2:30 p.m. To see the full schedule please click here.

Claudia Goffan

BIO: Recognized as an expert in Latino Marketing by CNN en Español, Claudia has been named one of the Top 48 PR professionals by the American Express Open Forum and she has been featured in Adweek, Hispanic Business, Univision, Telemundo and other national and international media.

Her marketing expertise and her work for the community caused her be selected as one of the four participants on Soledad O’Brien’s VIP Panel for the launch of CNN’s Latino in America.

A native from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Claudia has been very influential in the Hispanic markets in the U.S. and Latin America – both from a business and a community standpoint – always with outstanding results. Claudia has contributed to companies such as, Grady Health Systems, The Occasions Group, The Taylor Corporation, LatinSuccess, LISTA, El Banco de Nuestra Comunidad, SunTrust Bank, XEROX, AT&T, BellSouth, Citibank, Papa John’s, Liberty Mutual, British Telecom, Gold’s Gym, Sherwin Williams, and Verizon, among others.

Claudia is a member of the Board for LatinSuccess; Director of the Argentine American Chamber of Commerce of the SouthEast (AACCSE) and winner of the CWR Publisher’s Multicultural Award for Best Multicultural Awareness Article. She is a graduate from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina and from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and she has more than 25 years specializing in Marketing, Strategic Planning and Technology both internationally and domestically.

Follow Claudia Goffan

• Visit Claudia Goffan’s Company, TargetLatino.com
• Follow Claudia Goffan on Twitter

Online Marketing Tools

Topic: How to profit from listening to your customers online

Overview

You want your brand to be loved in the market. But you do not have exclusive control over it.
People in your target audience write blogs and create social media pages and websites about your brand. Others join their conversations  — sometimes thousands of others, sometimes even more. Do you know what they are saying? How can you possibly digest all of the relevant e-talk taking place on the infinite and international web? Because if you hear it, you can respond to it and help ensure your brand is loved. With the appropriate Online Brand Monitoring Solutions to tune into those discussions, the opportunity to clinch love for your brand can again be within your control.

Key Takeaways

* Gain an advanced understanding of the difference between online monitoring tools and their applications
* Have the opportunity to see how other companies implemented and took advantage of these tools within their strategies and their results!
* Obtain ideas for improved monitoring techniques

Who should attend?

Directors, Managers, Brand Managers, Specialists, Leaders and Consultants with responsibility in the following areas: Advertising and Communications | Marketing | Customer relations | Hispanic and Multicultural Marketing Strategy | Brand Development | Public relations | Business Development | Social Media Strategists

Why attend?

Claudia Goffan, a marketing strategist recognized as an expert in Latino Marketing by CNN en Español, Claudia has been named one of the Top 48 PR professionals by the American Express Open Forum, will share the results of her eight months study of online brand monitoring tools from all over the world. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn what she did!!!

Business network marketing involves making contacts.  It may be considered a bit “old school“, but, it is one of the most useful forms of marketing.

There are going to be a great deal of opportunities to connect with entrepreneurs, professionals, business owners, potential clients and strategic partners at the 2010 Hispanic Business Showcase in September. If you like to take advantage of business networking events to grow your business, exhibiting at the expo or attending the business seminars are two great opportunities that the 2010 Hispanic Business Showcase will offer to you. The event is a two-day business and technology expo that will be held on September 10 & 11 at the San Diego Convention Center.

If you are planning to attend the Hispanic Business Showcase, consider the following business networking tips:

- Be professional and well informed: When attending the event you are there to represent your brand or service.  You are a reflection of your business.  Therefore, it is necessary to not only carry yourself in a professional manner, it is vital to be well informed with accurate and precise knowledge of your brand or service.  This is vital.  Not just to be able to communicate in a relaxed manner with those around you, but to deliver the confidence required in regards to your brand or service that gains peoples interest.

- Bring plenty business cards, we are expecting hundreds of attendees: Simple tools such as business cards should be considered before attending the event.  You want to make sure you have plenty of business cards.  Not only pack your card holder full of them, include extra in your car, which you can resort to should you run out.

- Listen: When at the event, listen to those you are speaking with.  Do not control the conversation, but listen for “hot buttons” which will allow you to effectively relay your message and gain the persons interest.  Coming off as “salesy” will have the person turning the other check.  Be natural and allow the other person to control the majority of the conversation.

- Follow Up right after the expo: Lastly, always remember to follow up.  Whether you send a simple email, a note in the mail or contact the prospect through a telephone call, follow up is vital.

Business network marketing has been known to take businesses to the next level.  By attending various events, you will become a seasoned network marketer with the ability to expand your business. If you are always looking for the best events in town, the 2010 San Diego Hispanic Business Showcase event is one that you don’t want to miss.

We look forward to connecting with you!

Seminars Schedule - Friday, September 10

General Session

Time		Topic
11:00 -- 12:15	AFLAC	Brought to you by:
12:15 -- 12:30	Break
12:30 -- 1:15	Lunch Break
1:15 -- 2:15	Fernando Espuelas - Keynote Speaker	Brought to you by:
2:15 -- 2:30	Break
2:30 -- 3:45	Panel discussion - ACCESS TO CAPITAL	Brought to you by:
3:45 -- 4:00	Break
4:00 -- 5:15	Ramon De Leon - Featured Speaker	Brought to you by:

Seminars Schedule - Saturday, September 11

SATURDAY	Start-Ups Room 28C	Grow Your Business Room 28D	Professionals Room 28E	General Session
10:30-11:45	How Small Businesses can benefit from Search Engine Optimization and Social Media - Andrew Zirkin	How to use Viral Marketing and Social Media to drive a flood of Traffic to Your Website - Bill McIntosh	Online Brand Monitoring Tools - Claudia Goffan	USA Multicultual Festival - Entertainment
11:45-1:00	Lunch Break	Lunch Break	Lunch Break	USA Multicultual Festival - Entertainment
1:00-2:00	Google analytics and lead generation - Richard Barrett	Mobile Marketing Strategies - Emilio Castellanos	Reach Audiences using Dialogue not a Monologue: How public relations rather than advertising can help small businesses reach & activate key Latino markets - Lucia and Richie Matthews	USA Multicultual Festival - Entertainment
2:00-2:15	Break	Break	Break	USA Multicultual Festival - Entertainment
2:15-3:30	Steps and Tips to start your Online Business like a Pro: Become an e-Entrepreneur - Gabriel Collignon	Basic IT concepts for the Small Business to help your business grow - Antonio de la Cerda	Define a successful Blog marketing strategy - Natalie Guse	USA Multicultual Festival - Entertainment
3:30-3:45	Break	Break	Break	USA Multicultual Festival - Entertainment
3:45-5:00	TBA	Put Your Business on the Map - Mobile Application Solutions for Business	Liberty Mutual - Gabriel de la Puente	USA Multicultual Festival - Entertainment

USA Multicultural Festival at the Hispanic Business Showcase

Time	Group	Picture
10:30-10:55	Zumba
10:55-11:20	Ballet Folklorico Esperanza
11:20-11:45	Zoom
11:45-12:10	Hawaii
12:10-12:35	Ballet Folklorico Ixtlahuac
12:35-1:00	Ballet Folklorico Tapatio
1:00-1:25	Tango Alma Dance
1:25-1:50	Ballet Folklorico Rancho Buena Vista
1:50-2:15	Sohaila's Belly Dancing
2:15-2:40	Ballet Folklorico Citlali
2:40-3:05	Samba
3:05-3:30	Ballet Folklorico Solana Beach
3:30-3:55	Tango with Colette
3:55-4:20	Ballet Folklorico Tierra Caliente
4:20-4:45	Flamenco Arana
4:45-5:10	TBA
5:10-5:30	TBA

More businesses are incorporating online communities and social networks within their corporate strategy. As these domains increasingly become a fundamental component for professional success, organizations should look to experts on the forefront of this industry to understand the extent of the benefits Web 2.0 tactics have to offer.

The growing impact of the Hispanic community online is another area requiring enhanced corporate attention. This consumer segment’s purchasing power is expecting to reach $1 trillion this year in the U.S. alone. That is a number worth targeting. The considerably young, up-and-coming Hispanic population has been dubbed media mavens for their avid technology and internet usage and thus can be successfully reached through online strategies.

Entrepreneurs such as Fernando Espuelas have been aware of the vitality of communicating with Latinos through technology for years. Espuelas has built his career around empowering people through media, technology, and information particularly among Hispanics. Recognized as one of the Internet’s pioneers by the New York Times, Harvard University and media across the world, Espuelas has been at the forefront of online communities and social networks.

With a professional portfolio that boasts a number of lucrative tech savvy ventures, Espuelas offers a lot of insight to the intricacies of this developing field. His endeavors include serving as the host and managing editor of Café Espuelas, the number 1 rated Spanish language AM station in Los Angeles, part of the Univision Radio Network.

Espuelas also founded StarMedia, the first multi-platform digital media company for Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking people worldwide. StarMedia transcended national barriers, becoming the most recognized pan-Latin new media brand, eventually serving 25 million people per month.

The rise of the company was chronicled in the Harvard University Business School case called “StarMedia: Launching a Latin American Revolution.” StarMedia’s market capitalization reached $3.8 billion dollars and is today France Telecom’s market leading Internet operation in the Spanish-speaking world.

Espuelas’ pioneering development of the Latin Internet earned him worldwide recognition. Time magazine honored him as one of the “Leaders of the Millennium,” and he was named a “2000 All-Star” business leader by Crain’s New York Business magazine. The World Economic Forum includes him among its “Global Leaders of Tomorrow,” and he was also a recipient of Latin Trade Magazine’s Bravo award for CEO of the Year. In 2007, he was named a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute.

Espuelas will be the keynote speaker for the upcoming Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce’s 2010 Hispanic Business Showcase to be held at the San Diego Convention Center Sept. 10-11. The Hispanic Business Showcase will provide a venue for businesses to enhance their relationships, research the market for leading products and services and learn about the latest best business practices. Espuelas’ expertise will provide attendees with increased competencies for the tapping into the vast potential that exists in communicating with Hispanics through technological innovation.

Hispanics will continue to be an important part of the economic system. Their affinity for technologies that ease communicating across geographic boundaries, allow interaction, build communities for like-minded individuals and provide entertainment will affect the way organizations approach business. Experts with established working models for communicating with Hispanics through technologies can guide the corporate world over the threshold into the new age of technological advancements.

Richie Matthews is Co-Director at DIÁLOGO, a public relations firm with operations in Mexico City and La Jolla, Calif. DIÁLOGO provides public relations services for the Latin American and U.S. Hispanic markets.

Alice Gomez is a public relations counselor at DiálogoPR and a published writer who has contributed numerous feature, news and technical articles.

Business strategists and online marketing experts will show you how to create infinite possibilities for your business.

Seminar sessions on:

- Social media marketing
- Search engine optimization
- Web analytics
- Marketing with Blogs
- E-Commerce
- Mobile marketing
- Viral marketing
- Essential information on cutting-edge technology
- Online brand monitoring tools
- E-Entrepreneurship
- Hispanic marketing
- Multicultural women’s marketing
- Access to capital
- And more…

Space is limited ~ Register now!

One ticket grants you access to all seminars…exceptional value for your money!

Please take a moment and register for our Forum. You’ll have an opportunity to meet and ask questions of panelists that include national business leaders, SBA officials and management experts, as well as network with other business owners and corporate representatives that can help your business grow.

CONFIRMED PANELISTS FROM:

• State Farm Insurance
• Small Business Administration

Topics to be discussed include financing a business, marketing a business, technology, construction trends and protecting your business assets.

Forum:

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
San Diego Convention Center, Room 28C

REGISTER HERE!

SPONSORS

EVENT PARTNER: NATIONAL PARTNER: