See the following line-up for the event:

Session 1: Wednesday, June 26, 2013

• Loan Eligibility & Underwriting, Session 1.1 (morning)
  • Targeting loan officers, this session covers size standards, loan proceeds, terms, and what the SBA looks for in terms of credit.
• Standard 7(a) Application, Session 1.2 (afternoon)
  • A detailed look at all application forms and different submission methods.

Session 2: Tuesday, July 23, 2013

• Standard 7(a) Loan Closing and Funding, Session 2.0
  • Targeting Document Prep personnel, this session will explain how to correctly follow the Loan Authorization as a checklist to protect your SBA guaranty.
  • This session will also cover all closing closing documents and the 7(a) Boilerplate

Session 3: Tuesday, August 27, 2013

• Servicing and Liquidation, Session 3.1 & 3.2 (morning)
  
  • This session targets Loan Servicing and Liquidation Personnel and addresses servicing responsibilities and liquidation procedures.
• Guaranty Purchase Package, Session 3.3 (afternoon)
  • This session also targets Loan Servicing and Liquidation Personnel, offering a detailed look at the 10-Tab Guaranty Purchase Package and addressing previous session materials as they relate to this request.

For more information on the new eatery, read the following excerpt from a story by Kristin Davis of SavannahNow.com

For years, Bella’s Italian Cafe, located in the quaint Habersham Village, has been hailed by locals as Savannah’s best Italian eatery and has personally deemed itself “where Savannah eats Italian” — though, it may be due to Savannah’s limited options when it comes to Italian food.

It’s Bella’s or your standard cookie-cutter chain. Bella’s does have those deliciously greasy, fried breadsticks served with that herbed butter and marinara, which always kept me coming back for more — to the point where I have had to beg the waiter to please take the bread basket. You can imagine my excitement then when I sat down at the brand new Fioré Italian Bar and Grill in Sandfly, Bella’s new sister restaurant, and the waitress brings a basket of hot breadsticks, butter, and marinara.

Much like the whimsical area between 61st and 63rd streets that Bella’s calls home, Fioré joins a similar community in a different part of town. Off Skidaway Road, it joins the members of Norwood Plaza to serve the Sandfly area and to expand the Italian options to Savannahians. Continue reading…

We are so glad to be part of this wonderful success story. Let us know if there is anything that we can do to help you and your business, so that we can feature you in our next article!

The following is a list of all presenters for the event along with the topics they will be covering:

SPEAKER: Michael Toma, PhD, Director of the Center for Regional Analysis at Armstrong Atlantic State University
TOPIC: Small Business Snapshot

SPEAKER: Mohsen Badran, CEO of Goodwill
TOPIC: Overcoming Barriers to Employment

SPEAKER: Susan Dober
TOPIC: Results from the survey: SMALL BUSINESS CONFIDENCE INDEX IN SAVANNAH, GA 2013

SPEAKER: Jerald Mitchell, MBA, Director of Innovation, Savannah Economic Development Authority
TOPIC: Business in Savannah

SPEAKER: Marshall Tuck, Corporate Small Business Officer at Gulfstream Aerospace
TOPIC: Gulfstream Aerospace and Small Businesses

SPEAKER: Paul Schneider, Regional Coordinator, Region 12 – United States Department of Labor
TOPIC: Work force development challenges for small businesses

SPEAKER: Dr. Susanne Toney Assistant Professor of Economics at the College of Business Administration at Savannah State University
TOPIC: How Economic Indicators Affect Small Businesses in the Savannah Area

SPEAKER: Kyle Hensel, Area Director of the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center in Savannah.
TOPIC: Securing funding with Small Business Counseling

SPEAKER: Tony O’Reilly, President of the Small Business Assistance Corporation
TOPIC: Small Business Access to Capital in the Savannah Region

SPEAKER: Rhett Mouchet, commercial real estate agent
TOPIC: ON The Move since the 80ies – Commercial Real Estate Trends

SPEAKER: Brian Johnson, Garden City’s City Manager
TOPIC: Small Business in Garden City

SPEAKER: Barbara Baycum: Occupational Tax Supervisor for Chatham County.
TOPIC: New Business Trends in Chatham Co.

While some may dread having to attend such events, networking is vital to success in the business world. Laura Katz, a business consultant for the Athens Small Business Development Center, has revealed the following 10 tips for effective business networking that should make even the least outgoing person a networking pro.

• Dress For Success. This is one of the biggest reasons that many people feel out of place at networking functions. Be sure to be dressed appropriately for every occasion.
• Always Come Prepared. Arm yourself with plenty of business cards, flyers or pamphlets with information about your company, and a pen and paper so that you can make note of the other people with whom you come in contact.
• Be Extra Punctual. Don’t just be on time, make sure you arrive early to a networking event. Normally, the host will come greet you, and when they do, politely let them know that you don’t know anyone at the event so that they can introduce you to people. This will allow you to become more comfortable with your surroundings and become acquainted with the other guests.
• Be Gracious. Be conscious of the group of people that you are addressing. Not everyone wants to be approached and you should be aware of this. If two people are standing closely together, face to face, and talking, then they are more than likely having a private conversation and do not want to be interrupted. If a person is in a more open stance, enter the open space, make eye contact, and wait for a break in the conversation before introducing yourself.
• Not Everything is About You. People love to talk about themselves. When you meet someone, be sure to ask open ended questions about them and their business, and always show an interest in their response. If you find that you have something to add to the conversation after hearing what they have to say, be sure to contribute! This is all about building a relationship and finding a connection with others in your business community.
• Make Conversation Easy. Most people at networking events are shy and hesitant to strike up conversation with others. Take this opportunity to approach those standing by themselves and start a dialogue. By doing this, you can actually help them become more personable, while showing how outgoing you can be!
• Create Connections. Introduce those you know to others. By connecting them together, you are facilitating the networking process. This will show that you are a good networker and someone that is a great asset at these events.
• Mingle. It’s tempting to make a beeline right for potential clients. Isn’t that what business networking is all about? Not really. Be sure to talk to a variety of people, including your competition. It’s important to cultivate relationships outside of your usual circle. Keep in mind the law of six degrees of separation at networking events.
• Make a Graceful Exit. When preparing to walk away from someone, be genteel. Be sure to shake their hand and say something like, “It was wonderful spending some time to get to know you.” If you genuinely cultivated a strong relationship with the person and would like to meet again, you might say something like, “let’s get together for coffee and discuss things further.” Exchange contact information, then politely move on.
• Follow Up. And Be Intentional About It. If you made a great connection with someone or were able to offer your assistance or services, be intentional about getting back in touch with them. Always follow up promptly within two to three days with a call or email, and provide any requested information or set up a time to meet again!

There’s definitely an art to networking and cultivating relationships. However the best thing you can do is dive right in. Don’t be shy, share all of the knowledge you have, and walk away with new contacts for your business.

SBA District Director Terri Denison, who spoke at the college Tuesday, discussed the SBA’s continued commitment to provide entrepreneurial opportunities for historically black colleges and universities, like SSU, and to support minority-owned businesses as written in the Strategic Alliance Memorandum. However she pointed out that the memorandum “is really just a formality” and that it’s time for the SBA to “roll up our sleeves and find opportunities to move forward in collaboration.”

Savannah State University Provost, Reynold Verret, is excited for the new-found passion and enthusiasm that Denison showed during her talk at the college and said that SSU is more than ready to move in a positive direction. He also stated that “this agreement an example of the faith SBA has in the coastal region.”

The main goal for these two parties is to share resources and promote small business through education, community outreach and awareness of SBA resources afforded to local minority business interests. Denison talked about how they are mainly concerned with what she calls the “three C’s;” access to capital, counseling and training, and contracting assistance. She especially noted how important the counseling and training aspect of the three C’s really is. In fact, it’s just as important — if not more so — than financing. Denison went on to say that the SBA is “extremely fortunate in the Savannah area to have great partners such as SCORE and the University of Georgia’s Small Business Assistance Corporation.”

Jacob Hicks, who was on hand to hear the talk about the joint agreement, is an SSU senior majoring in business management, and was an active participant in the Black Executive Exchange Program sponsored by the National Urban League. He said that spending time with Fortune 500 minority executives was “more than enough incentive to stay in school and get my degree.” Hicks will be graduating next month and beginning a management training program with Sam’s Club two days later. With the right resources, he is well on his way to owning his own business one day.

For companies like the SBA, SBAC, and SCORE, it’s a great feeling to know what a difference they’re making for driven young people like Jacob. Through cooperation and attention to detail, the success of a new generation of small business owners is on the horizon.

Source: Mary Carr Mayle for SavannahNow.com

Savannah’s Fashion Week is right around the corner! The yearly taking place April 22-26, 2013 will include a variety of local offerings of cutting edge style at great prices. It’s a time when independent retailers come together to promote fashion in the great city of Savannah. This year, the SBAC is proud to say that two of our clients are participating in this year’s event!

Beginning on day one, Sara Jane Children’s Boutique will host a trunk show presenting items from The Beaufort Bonnet Company. The TBBC trunk show will offer a variety of classic upscale items for little southern belles and gents such as bonnets, bucket hats, diaper covers and much more. “It’s only fitting that Savannah is by the sea. Nautical styles are always a big trend in the children’s fashion world, and perfect for spring,” says owner, Sara Jane.

On day two, Red Clover Boutique will be presenting aspiring fashion designer, Sabrina Spanta, an emerging designer from Charleston Fashion Week 2013. She will be revealing exclusive pieces that compliment Red Clover’s spring and summer collections.

The week ends up with the Savannah Fashion Week Fashion Show on day four and a Designer Showcase on day five hosted by Savannah Independent Designers (SID). The focus is on unique custom fashion and one-of-a-kind items.

Make sure to attend this year’s event to see the latest trends in local fashion!

Google has connected the world in a unique way. In fact, it is the top online search engine on the planet and is responsible for the coined phrase, “Just Google it.” The phrase has become so popular, that it is universally understood as the mainstream method for searching for answers to any and all questions. As a small business owner, why would you not want to be a part of that? Entrepreneurs have the unique opportunity of being part of the Google community at no cost, by simply joining Google’s social media platform, Google Plus. Here are five reasons to join Google’s network:

Real-Time Topical Search Streams

When your industry-related terms are searched on the Google+ platform, the results will be far more accurate than those on Facebook. This accuracy will allow users to more effectively engage in meaningful industry-related conversations with other interested parties who may cover topics that are important to your company. What’s even better is that the network allows users to share directly from Google search results, to a topical Google+ stream.

Higher Search Engine Visibility

Any content that is published to Google+ is indexed and ranked by its search engine. Much like ‘Liking’ or ‘Sharing’ a photo or comment on Facebook, users can +1 content that they see on your Google+ profile. This type of sharing function has broader search engine optimization influence than shares on other networks. Every time users +1 content on your profile, it can cause a ripple effect that can effectively increase brand awareness and social influence.

Leverage Your AdWords Campaign

As a business, you have the opportunity to boost your Google Quality Score, or, the way Google estimates how relevant ads, keywords, and landing pages are to a person that sees your ad. Accomplish this by linking your Google+ URL to your AdWords account. This way, when users +1 your company’s ads, they are endorsing you. In turn, Google’s search engine is more likely to highlight your company ads in higher positions than those of your competitors, which additionally raises your company’s “social awareness” and increases its relevance in search queries.

Hangouts and Collaboration

Google+ Hangouts allow you and nine others to gather together to chat online via free video calling; a service that other social platforms like Skype charge for. This feature might be used for engaging your predetermined top influencers, allowing them to participate in your latest product or service before its release. Hangouts allow you to facilitate meetings with clients, network with experts, or simply create a virtual co-working space.

Authorship and Google Local

Google uses author information associated with their Google+ profiles in search results, meaning content produced by writers with personal Google+ profiles linking website/blog content to their profiles will be more widely visible. In addition to this search results with the author’s photo displayed are more eye-catching to users and have more likeability to be clicked on.

Google Local does exactly what the name suggest; it helps your business show up in local search results. This is particularly important for smaller businesses who’s client base could potentially be made up of 75% or more local business. Google Local helps these potential local clients to find your location based on their local search results.

Source: Karishma Srivastava for business2community.com

When it comes to building a business, most people tend to focus on the downside of entrepreneurship. Things such as losing personal time, giving up a reliable paycheck, neglecting the health of mind and body, and even losing their investor’s money. These are all valid concerns, however few small business owners think about the less tangible risks like neglecting their social or romantic relationships and disappointing friends and family due to a lack of availability and attention. If left unattended long enough, these relationships could be lost forever, whereas a lost profit in the financial realm can always be gained back.

Due to the challenges that are presented by being an entrepreneur, many people forgo marriage and having children while trying to maintain their business because they feel that it may be easier to absorb the risks, uncertainties, and stresses of owning a business. By not committing to relationships, they are effectively responsible for no one else but themselves.  While this may seem like a permanent fix to a lingering issue, it’s really not a healthy way to live. Don’t fret! There are some techniques to building your company while maintaining your personal relationships. Disclaimer: You may never strike a work-life “balance” but you can craft a “precarious relationship” between the two, one that will require constant adjustment.

First, the only way for an entrepreneur to maintain (or salvage) his or her romantic and social relationships while pursuing their business dreams is through effective communication and establishing ground rules that cannot be broken. Next, they should consider establishing a “relationship-business plan.” This plan outlines how they will maintain and grow their personal relationships while simultaneously developing their company. The plan could consist of scheduled and recurring phone calls, priority responses to personal emails, or planned social activities with their spouse, family, and friends. Most importantly, this plan should incorporate “technology-free time” — no iPhone, no computers, and no way to be reached (if only for a few minutes).

This plan is only successful if one is truly committed to abiding by their established rules and boundaries. A “work-life balance” may not be possible for entrepreneurs in the traditional sense, but with hard work, they can make a big difference in the quality of their life and in the kinds of personal relationships they allow themselves to have.

 
Source: Kevin Colleran for Wall Street Journal Online.

Pinterest has been developing a plan for attracting more businesses to their social network. With new tools specifically designed to increase engagement with content, business owners can now analyze their presence on the Pinterest network. The company has even unveiled a separate site for business owners, providing a certain exclusivity for businesses that was not previously available.

Pinterest remains the fourth most popular social network on the web today and with a recent $200 million in additional funding, is moving forward with a new interface design and their shift to give businesses more analytical tools. They’ve known that businesses have been largely contributing to their site and want to be sure that they are nurturing the relationships that they have built with said companies. Having said this, the question still remains, how exactly does a social media platform that relies almost exclusively on posting pictures help your business?

This really calls for some creativity. Take for example, the Whole Foods corporation. Whole Foods has one of the most active Pinterest profiles to date with more than 100,000 followers and 1,700 “pins.” This is because they have taken something that seems rather mundane, and turned it into cyber art. From favorite books to cookie recipes, their topic boards display images to which multitudes of people can relate. Want to know how to grow an herb garden? How about information on what foods to eat to increase your strength and boost your metabolism? These are just a couple of ways that Whole Foods is appealing to the masses in fun and engaging ways. However it’s not only large corporations that are finding ways to utilize Pinterest, but small businesses as well. An online search for health care displays the Pinterest profile of Residential Treatment Center. With boards ranging from fitness to anxiety, several topics get covered all in one convenient place.

Pinterest will only continue to grow and are inviting businesses to grow with them as they provide more options to track engagement and show businesses greater impact through pinning their own content. With the new user interface and integrated analytics, Pinterest is clearly becoming a more attractive option for businesses every day.

 
Source: Lana Bandoim for technorati.com

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

Developing a mobile strategy means knowing your audience’s preference for accessing content through mobile devices. There are several ways of using mobile for business, including: mobile websites, apps, loyalty programs and contests, mobile coupons, text messaging campaigns, location-based marketing (e.g. Foursquare), and QR codes. However not all of these methods work for every business. It’s about understanding your customers and facilitating their needs with what works best for them. It’s important to know who you’re targeting, and know their demographics and how they receive information.

Another important part of deciding what type of mobile features to provide to your consumers is cost. Mark Simmons, co-founder of consulting group Mixed Digital, explains how a custom mobile app could range in price from $5,000 to $50,000-plus to develop and implement, versus $500 to $2,000 to build a mobile website. For many small businesses, creating a mobile app simply isn’t in the budget. However at the very least, consumers today expect to be able to easily and readily access a company website with a simplified navigation, using their mobile device.

While mobile websites are gaining popularity for their convenience of delivering information on-the-go, many shoppers are reluctant to make purchases using them. Some may feel that buying products through a mobile site is too simplified or too easy to actually work properly. Others might think that shopping on a mobile website is somehow different from making purchases through a standard website, leaving them with a feeling that their order never processed and that they may have paid for something that they will never receive. Having said this, it’s still very important to develop a mobile site, because it can “act as a springboard for capturing additional information,” explains Simmons of Mixed Digital. For example, customers may sign up for a newsletter, contest, or giveaway, directly resulting from using your businesses mobile site.

FIND YOUR TARGET

Developing mobile apps and websites is not the only way to appeal to your target audience. Geo-targeting using the GPS function in mobile devices has become a popular way for businesses to deliver incentives and offers to consumers based on their location. For example, if a customer downloads a company’s app and comes within a certain range of their the business, they may receive a notification of on their mobile device with a coupon or offer attached.

Mobile strategies are changing the way that companies market their products and services. No longer do businesses have to market to the masses in hopes that interested patrons will find them. Instead, they can now cater to and target those who are specifically looking for their products, services, and offers.

 
Source: Jamie Herzlich for Newsday.com