Small Business Trends

Often the best learning experiences come from a combination of listening to experts and interacting with your small business peers. The next few months have some great opportunities to do both.

This list of small business events, webinars and conferences is brought to you every two weeks as a community service by Small Business Trends and Smallbiztechnology.com.

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Small Business Tech Tour 2010
September 28 – Mountain View, CA
October 14 – Salt Lake City
October 25 – Boston
November 5 – Washington, DC
November 9 – Atlanta

Learn how to leverage technology as a tool to grow your business! Brought to you by Smallbiztechnology.com, this full-day event is for business owners, entrepreneurs and business professionals who want to have fun, network and learn – whether you know nothing about technology or know a lot.

Small Business Heroes Tour
Multiple cities and dates

September 28-October 1 – Austin, TX
October 5-9 – Orlando, FL
October 12-16 – Charlotte, NC

This five-city tour (remaining dates shown) features expert speakers and product demos; giveaways; marketing consultations; and presentations on social media, online marketing and more.

Web2NewYork
September 28, 2010, New York City

Network with other Web entrepreneurs and media innovators. Find business partners, developers and investors. Presenting: Sam Johnson, Soversa, Thomas Winter Aabo, Shorticus, Todd Hamilton, Bubbalon, Eliot Yaxley, GuestVessel, Peter Verkooijen and Geoweb Forum.

Meet the Lenders
September 28, 2010, Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn Meet the Lenders is a conference where existing businesses and startup businesses have an opportunity to learn about the various SBA loan programs and SBA-approved lenders in Brooklyn.

The panel will discuss the SBA loan programs and provide an overview of the various business services they offer for Brooklyn’s entrepreneurs. Pre-registration is required to meet with representatives of the following types of lenders from Brooklyn to explore funding or loan programs: commercial banks, Community Development Corporations, New York Business Development Corporation, microlenders and community federal credit unions.

On-Demand Computing: Soaring With the Cloud
September 28, 2010, online

This virtual event will feature interviews and panels with some of the smartest experts on cloud, as well as a host of top managers of hot companies that are in the trenches with on-demand technologies. Following these discussions, the participants will respond to registrants’ questions in a Q&A session. Discussion topics include understanding SaaS, choosing an on-demand vendor, unlocking collaboration and enhancing productivity, and more.

Inc. 500 | 5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony
September 30-October 2, 2010, Washington, DC

The 2010 Inc. 500|5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony celebrates Inc. magazine’s revered ranking of America’s fastest-growing privately held companies. The momentous event brings together current Inc. 5000 honorees and alumni of the list to recognize the remarkable achievements of these companies and the great contributions they have made to the global economy.

The event offers educational sessions, rousing keynotes, important networking and unforgettable special events. The conference culminates in a black-tie gala dinner and awards ceremony at which all current year honorees are recognized. The Inc. 500|5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony is open to honorees, alumni and other growth-minded entrepreneurs.

PodCamp Philly 2010
October 2-3, 2010, Philadelphia

This event is targeted to audio and video podcasters, bloggers, social media enthusiasts, professionals and hobbyists, musicians, marketers and people who generally want to understand more about the new media space.

Small Business Seminar: The Impact of Healthcare Reform on Your Business
October 5, 8:30 to 11 a.m, Brooklyn, NY

Comprehensive panel discussion about effectively preparing your business to navigate evolving health insurance reforms. Breakfast served.

Winning Strategies for Business Conference
October 5, 2010, Long Beach, CA

Create infinite possibilities for your business. Go further and achieve more. This full-day conference event will show you how, with proven tactics to impact virtually every aspect of your business. From start to finish, discover insightful ideas, straightforward solutions and fresh perspectives with over half-a-dozen business strategists and experts leading the way.

The Referral Engine: Teaching Your Business to Market Itself
October 5, 2010, Easton, MA

John Jantsch, author of Duct Tape Marketing and The Referral Engine, presents this workshop packed with information and take-action ideas on October 5th from 4 to 7 p.m. at Stonehill College in Easton, MA. Event cost is $129 thereafter.

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Series
Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship Research
Multiple Dates, Hudson, OH

Idea Selling
October 5, 2010
Greg Graham of the Kent State University School of Business talks about “idea selling” and how to put it to work for your business.

Akron Archangels Investment Network: Small Business Funding Options
October 18, 2010
John Myers of the Akron Archangels Investment Network will explain how “angels” and venture capitalists work as small business funding options.

Entrepreneurship and the Green Economy
November 8, 2010
Dr. Robert J. Hannemann, director of the Tufts Gordon Institute at Tufts University School of Engineering in Massachusetts, discusses entrepreneurship and the green economy.

Numbers Demystified
November 17, 2010
Jim Griggy, Certified Business Advisor at the Ohio Small Business Development Center (OSBDC) at Summit Medina Business Alliance Inc., will explain how to read financial statements using meaningful comparisons and financial ratios.

The Perfect Business Summit 2010 Entrepreneur & Investor Conference
October 7-8, 2010, Las Vegas

Experience powerful keynote speakers, as well as intimate breakout sessions that target your specific needs. For two full days, you will gain insider knowledge and life-changing business connections. Find out what it takes to build an empire from people who have done it.

The New York Enterprise Report 2010 Small Business Awards
October 6, 2010, New York City

The New York Enterprise Report Small Business Awards is the annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of the 500,000+ small businesses throughout the tri-state area. Awards will be presented to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages, revenue profits and/or long-term value. The Small Business Awards will recognize 5 small businesses for their best practices; a new category of awards that fall under the “Best of the Year Awards” will recognize 4 small businesses.

Conquer & Grow
October 7-8, 2010, Las Vegas

Held at the Bellagio Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas strip, this event brings hundreds of small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs together with a panel of world-recognized experts and bestselling business book authors for a two-day event that is part of the nationwide movement to help propel the success and growth of small businesses everywhere. John Jantsch, Michael Gerber, Bill Glazer, Rich Sloan and other small business marketers will join the cofounders of Infusionsoft and best-selling authors Clate Mask and Scott Martineau in a quest to conquer small business chaos.

Fastest Growing Companies 2010
October 7, 2010

The Washington Business Journal is honored to recognize the 50 Fastest Growing Companies in the Washington region. These companies have grown consecutively over the past three years, and it is time to celebrate their success!

At this annual awards presentation and cocktail reception The Washington Business Journal will announce the ranking of each company that has made the list and present them with a signature award. There is no better time to hobnob with the region’s other exceptional companies!

City Girl Business Club Workshop
October 9, 2010, Chicago

Fun four-hour interactive workshop for young women who want to start their own businesses. The workshop will be packed with information and resources to help you on your journey to business ownership. Refreshments are served, and each attendee will receive a tote bag full of goodies.

The Internet Marketing Conference – Mobile
October 12-13, 2010, New York City

The InternetMarketingConference (IMC) is bringing this unique Mobile CrossMedia event called IMCM in order to debate and discuss how to efficiently enter a strategy of mobile and online marketing convergence.
The format for the two-day event will be a series of keynotes and panels. Each panel will feature a mix of experts from both vantage points: the Mobile Platform Experts vs. The Online platform Experts debating mobile.

2010 Annual Membership Meeting and Business Trade Show
October 13, 2010, Brooklyn, NY

Featuring a keynote address by New York City Deputy Mayor of Operations Stephen Goldsmith. Cocktails and light dinner served. Trade table and corporate sponsorship opportunities available.

BlogWorld & New Media Expo
October 14 – 16, 2010, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

This is the world’s largest New Media event, where you can learn about content creation, distribution and monetization strategies, step-by-step techniques and bleeding-edge tools.

Monetization Superpanel- while there, be sure to check out this extended two-hour session. Moderated by Jim Kukral, this panel features Jeremy “Shoemoney” Schoemaker, John Chow, Darren Rowse and Anita Campbell (of Small Business Trends), who will be sharing their secrets for monetizing a blog. Come with your questions and apply to get your blog and monetization ideas critiqued.

Use discount code SBTVIP for 20 percent off any pass.

Maximize Your Success – SCORE, HP & Intel: Small Business Workshops
Multiple Dates and Cities

SCORE, HP and Intel provide real insights and simple solutions to help you increase efficiencies, boost your productivity and grow your business.

You will get essential advice on technology-based solutions and marketing strategies that can help your small business, including how to better understand your customers and target them more effectively, how to rethink your marketing in the digital age, and how to manage your marketing to reduce costs and increase sales.

October 14: San Antonio
October 20: Minneapolis
October 27: Washington, DC, area
November 16: Tampa

COSE 2010 Small Business Conference
October 20-21, 2010

The fifth annual COSE Small Business Conference is a two-day experience packed with educational workshops, national keynote speakers, a business-to-business tradeshow and effective networking opportunities. Keynote speakers include famous “apprentice” Bill Rancic, national advertising expert Sally Hogshead and government attorney turned incredibly successful baked goods entrepreneur Warren Brown of CakeLove.

BizTechDay
October 23, 2010 – San Francisco

BizTechDay is one of the fastest growing business and technology conferences, where inspiring entrepreneurs share practical business and technology strategies. Their goal is to inspire, educate and connect entrepreneurs through the power of real-time interaction. Their purpose is to bring innovative and practical ideas and help grow a new generation of entrepreneurs. If you’re in one of these cities, or nearby, this is a must-attend event.

Get 20 percent off with discount code: SmallBizTrendsEarly.

Inc. Leadership Conference
October 27-29, 2010

Together, Inc. Magazine and Winning Workplaces will identify and honor those benchmark small and midsized businesses that offer truly innovative, supportive environments, thus achieving significant, sustainable business results. In the June 2011 issue of Inc., Winning Workplaces will name the top private companies that foster a productive work environment and satisfied employees. Join Inc. and Winning Workplaces for three days of exchanging new leadership strategies at the Denver Marriott City Center from October 27 through October 29, 2010.

PR+MKTG Camp East
October 28, 2010, New York City

PR+MKTG Camp™ East is a highly interactive one-day conference. Its goal is to help PR and marketing professionals maximize their impact in reaching new influencers in today’s increasingly socially driven media landscape. Sessions will focus on integrated strategic engagement — ways that organizations and companies can benefit from internal collaboration and aligning communication, customer support, sales, and community management and moderation.

Pubcon 2010:  Social Media, Search and Affiliates
November 8-11, 2010, Las Vegas, NV

PubCon Las Vegas 2010 conference is an important gathering of search and social media innovators, offering an unrivaled highly-productive conference experience at cost-effective rates, and with the leading technology and online marketing visionaries.  Every attendee will come away with valuable new ideas and solutions for their businesses.

This year’s Kickoff Keynote speaker is New York Times technology columnist, David Pogue.  It will be held at the Wynn Las Vegas, and features 28 in-depth sessions, plus fresh keynote speakers every hour.  Register.

Nassau Trade Show 2010
November 9, 2010, Woodbury, NY

The Nassau Trade Show 2010 is creating countless opportunities by bringing together premier businesses from Long Island, New York City and the greater metropolitan area with national corporations, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, government agencies, business advocacy groups and the media.

BYOB 2011 – Build Your Own Business – Become Your Own Boss
November 13, 2010, Philadelphia

Come and spend a day with Melinda Emerson, Smallbizlady, in Philadelphia on November 13th. You’ll plan a strategy to leave your J.O.B. to start your own business; those of you already in your own business will learn new skill sets to take your business to the next level. Whether you’re thinking about starting a business or in your first five years in business, this workshop will give you new perspective on how and what you do!

SM@RT Conference
December 8-10, 2010, Reno-Tahoe, NV

The SM@RT conference features keynotes by David Nour and Scott Klososky, plus more than two dozen presenters speaking on a wide range of social media topics. The conference is designed for business professionals, small businesses, nonprofits and those working in marketing/advertising who want to take their promotions and business strategies to the next level using social media

To find more small business events, contests and awards, visit our Small Business Events Calendar.

If you are putting on a small business contest, award or competition, and want to get the word out to the community, please submit it through our Events & Contests Submission Form (We do not charge a fee to be included in this listing — it is completely free to list your event.) Only events of interest to small business people, freelancers and entrepreneurs will be considered and included.

About the Author

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Laura Leites is managing editor of SmallBizTechnology. In addition to writing about technology tools for SMBs, Laura manages the day-to-day operations of Smallbiztechnology.com. She also produces their live and virtual events, including the Taste of Technology Small Business Series.