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Digital Advertising Workshop

The Launch Pad, Grover Beach + Zoom 391 Front St, Suite E, Grover Beach, CA, United States

How to Test New Ideas QuicklyThis process utilizes paid ads from platforms such as Google, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and Reddit; along with simple one-page websites that only the targeted customers will see. This method is very low cost and enables small businessowners to focus on features/benefits their targeted customers really care about. Speaker: Dan Weeks teaches Entrepreneurship at Cal Poly- San Luis Obispo and is the Entrepreneur-In-Residence for the CIE Hothouse. He is a serial entrepreneur that has started and sold companies.

$20

QuickBooks 101

CIE HotHouse + Zoom 872 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States

Learn How to Set Up Your Company with QuickBooks Selling: invoices, sales receipts, payments, deposits, credit memos, and customer statements Buying: bills, bill payments, checks, bill payment stubs, and credit memos Inventory: purchase orders, receive items, adjust inventory Sales Taxes: set up, adjust, pay, and report sales taxes Damon Watkins is the Director of Finance & Operations for Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. He is a motivated, personable business professional with a 15+ year track record in multiple aspects of financial control, management and policies/procedures. He prides himself on having strong communication skills, and is accustomed to working with sensitive and confidential records, always protecting and maintaining confidentiality.

$20.00

Customer Development: Crafting Your Business Edge

CIE HotHouse + Zoom 872 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States

Register Unlock the full potential of your business in this workshop dedicated to honing the core elements of customer development. Led by Kurt Friedmann, a seasoned entrepreneur and consultant with over 30 years of experience in entrepreneurship, sales management, and customer experience management. Kurt excels in aiding entrepreneurial companies and small businesses to enhance their customer understanding and sales expansion efforts. He is deeply involved in the startup ecosystem, serving as a mentor and advisor with the SBDC, and has significantly contributed to the success of numerous high-growth startups and established companies. Workshop Highlights: Crafting a Powerful Value Proposition: Learn the art of defining and communicating the unique value your business offers, making your product or service irresistible to your target market. Forming and Testing Assumptions: Discover strategies for developing informed assumptions about your customers and how to test these hypotheses in real-world scenarios efficiently. Identifying and Engaging Potential Customers: Master techniques for finding the right customers to speak with, ensuring you're gathering insights from those who matter most to your business. The Art of Inquiry: Equip yourself with the skills to ask compelling, insightful questions that elicit valuable responses, moving beyond superficial answers to uncover deep customer needs and motivations. […]

Cómo Emprender Su Negocio (Spanish Business Start Workshop)

THE SANDBOX Paso Robles + Zoom 1345 Park St, Paso Robles, California, United States

Ser propietario de un negocio puede ser una empresa estimulante, exigente y lucrativa, pero no es para todo el mundo. Un elemento clave del éxito es la capacidad de planificar el presente y el futuro. Cuanto más planifiques, más informado estarás, lo que a su vez te ayudará a centrar tus prioridades y a tomar grandes decisiones en el proceso. José Huitrón es un pilar de la creación de capacidad empresarial en la Costa Central desde hace mucho tiempo, habiendo lanzado varias empresas que abarcan la creación de contenidos, el marketing digital y la activación del acceso al capital para fundadores subrepresentados. Opciones de asistente en persona e híbrido

SBA Loan Programs and How to Apply

CIE HotHouse + Zoom 872 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States

Register   Speaker: Kay Mardon, Lender Relations Specialist (SBA)   The U.S. Small Business Administration helps small businesses get funding by setting guidelines for loans and reducing lender risk. These SBA-backed loans make it easier for small businesses to get the funding they need. Learn how SBA loan programs can help you Start, Grow, and Expand your business. 7(a) Loans - A group of SBA loans which guarantee portions of the total amount, cap interest rates, and limit fees. 504 Loans - Long-term, fixed-rate financing to purchase or repair real estate, equipment, machinery, or other assets. Microloans -The smallest loan program, providing $50,000 or less to help businesses start up and expand.

SBA Certifications: Unlocking Business Opportunities Workshop

Zoom Webinar Online, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States

Register Speaker: Victor Bribiesca (SBA) Learn how you can leverage small business certifications to diversify your revenue stream and improve your bottom line.   Government contracts can offer significant opportunities for small businesses, but selling to the government requires a very different approach than selling to the commercial sector. This presentation provides an understanding of the various certifications impacted by SBA and discusses eligibility criteria and the application process. SBA small business certifications document a special capability or status that will help you compete in the federal marketplace. 8(a) BusineSs Development HUBZONE Contracting Program Women Owned Small Business Veteran Owned

Building a Sales Funnel: How to Harness the Power of Community

CIE HotHouse + Zoom 872 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States

Register Discover the power of community marketing in transforming your overall marketing strategy with Matt Bennetti. With over 20 years of experience in enterprise software and expertise in Go To Market strategies, Matt will share practical steps and insights to help you successfully adopt CLG. This workshop will guide you through implementing a Community Led Growth (CLG) marketing approach. This strategy not only drives demand for your sales teams but also creates valuable content that engages both customers and prospects. Drawing from real-world examples and his extensive experience at Salesforce, Matt will demonstrate how to build programs that enhance the relationship between marketing and sales. Learn how to use community engagement to increase brand loyalty, encourage customer advocacy, and develop a rich content ecosystem that propels your business forward. This workshop is designed to provide you with the tools and knowledge needed to make community marketing a central element of your success.

Mastering Restaurant Customer Service

CIE HotHouse + Zoom 872 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States

Register Join us for an informative and hands-on workshop led by local restaurateur Ben Arrona, who will guide you through the essential steps to deliver exceptional customer service in your restaurant. With years of experience in the restaurant industry, Ben will share his expertise on effective communication techniques for engaging with guests, best practices for both in-house and to-go service, and strategies for responding to customer complaints with grace and professionalism. This comprehensive workshop will equip your team with the skills needed to create memorable dining experiences that keep patrons coming back for more. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your customer interactions and elevate your restaurant’s service standards.

Efficient Restaurant Operations: Time Management and Multitasking Strategies

THE SANDBOX Paso Robles + Zoom 1345 Park St, Paso Robles, California, United States

Join us for a focused workshop on time management and multitasking in the restaurant industry, led by Ben Arrona, a seasoned hospitality expert with over 25 years of experience. This session will cover key topics like prep and lead times, fire times (cook time), and practical multitasking techniques to help your restaurant run efficiently and on time. Ben, the owner of Benny’s Pizza Palace & Social Club in SLO, brings his extensive knowledge of managing successful restaurants, including his experience with a commercial kitchen supporting caterers and pop-up restaurants. With a background in teaching and ongoing studies at the University of Oxford, Ben is well-equipped to share actionable insights that can make a real difference in your day-to-day operations. Don’t miss this chance to learn from a true industry professional.

Optimize E-Commerce: SEO Techniques

CIE HotHouse + Zoom 872 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States

Register Unlock the power of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to drive organic traffic and boost your e-commerce store’s visibility without relying on costly ads. While SEO takes time and consistent effort, it offers long-lasting benefits that far surpass the temporary gains from paid advertising. This intermediate-level workshop assumes you’re already familiar with key concepts like SEO, SERP, CTAs, landing pages, and conversions. Ideally, you’ve also used tools like Yoast SEO, Google Analytics, Search Console, or Merchant Center. What you’ll learn: • How Googlebot works in SEO • Proven strategies for optimizing SEO on product pages • Advanced keyword research and list-building techniques (featuring Rob’s exclusive methods) • Crafting perfectly optimized pages—titles, meta descriptions, categories, images, H tags, and beyond • Real-world examples of successful products dominating SERPs Join us to gain actionable insights and hands-on techniques that will elevate your SEO game and give your products the visibility they deserve!