Online Facilitated by Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) Small Business Center

Topic: Business Basics

This class will provide you with a legal overview of (1) considerations when purchasing franchise (2) responsibility of the franchisor (3) the key terms you will want to pay attention to when deciding whether to enter into a particular franchise business agreement.

Speaker(s): Nancy Guyton, Attorney

Co-Sponsor(s): Law Firm Carolinas

Fee: No Cost

Register Online

Online Facilitated by Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) Small Business Center

Topic: Business Basics

Let's face it, small business owners still have a difficult time raising capital. For start-ups it is almost impossible, especially from traditional lending sources. This event will bring together traditional and non-traditional lending sources for business owners to meet and discuss how they can meet their capital needs. Join us (representatives the SBA, SCORE and the SBC) to explore capital access options for small businesses. We will answer these frequently asked questions: What can I use the money for? What if I have questionable credit? What are the loan application requirements? Learn about the many capital funding options including (equity crowdfunding) that are available to small businesses in our area. The panelists will also discuss traditional, alternative, and entrepreneur forms of capital as well as options for women and minority owned businesses.

Speaker(s): Leslie Lewis

Fee: No Cost

Register Online

Online Facilitated by Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) Small Business Center

Topic: Marketing and Sales

An effective and easy step-by-step way to understand the basic concepts and principles of marketing.The phrase, "if you build, they will come," only works for a few brands. Most brands are likely to get lost in the noise of consumerism. During this session, you will gain actionable, relevant, and sustainable marketing tactics that align with consumer behavior.LEARNING OBJECTIVES:Review the concepts and frameworks of a marketing strategyIdentify how consumers think, act, and engage with brandsApply remarkable and memorable marketing tactics

Speaker(s): Dr. Mike Barbera

Fee: No Cost

Register Online

Online Facilitated by Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) Small Business Center

Topic: Customer Relations

Small businesses, non-profits and startups are in need of strong communications. Coaches tell you to focus on the money first, but after launching more than 200 companies can attest to the fact that you’re only as strong as the story you tell. Knowing and focusing on your key message helps prioritize resources and efforts. In turn, it assures consistency in what, how and to whom you communicate.Most importantly: strong messaging helps your customer know the value you add, and how to buy what you sell. This hands-on workshop will guide you to develop a clear mission, vision, elevator pitch, and 50 word description. Bonus: your billboard (it’s not what you think!).

Speaker(s): Ann Revell-Pechar, FluentPR

Fee: No Cost

Register Online

Online Facilitated by Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) Small Business Center

Topic: Marketing and Sales

The social landscape changes frequently and the amount of social platforms available seem to grow on a weekly basis. This module offers a high-level overview to help small business owners navigate social media to gain a competitive edge.Key Takeaways for the Small Business Owner:

•  What are the best social media strategies and tactics to employ? 
•  Should every company be on social media, and how do you decide?
•  What are new sources of power and influence on the social web?
•  What are the special organizational considerations for implementation and integration?

Speaker(s): Derek Schmidt, CEO DesignLoud

Fee: No Cost

Register Online

BCC Online/ At Your Home
Online

If you are thinking of starting a business in 2023 there are some fundamental items that need to be considered. In this webinar, we will cover how to test your business idea for feasibility, the different types of businesses, and launch strategies. Then we will cover the logistics of starting a company such as choosing a name, business planning, location, employees, business structures, and financing options.

Speaker(s): Renae Simon, Step by Step Business Solutions

Webinar login information and a registration reminder will be provided prior to this event via email. If you need assistance, please call 910-755-7498.

Fee: No Cost

Register Online
Already Registered? Sign in for more information.

Email: scotta@brunswickcc.edu

Online Facilitated by Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) Small Business Center

Most business owners have an idea of their long-term goals and how they foresee their business' success. However, for goals to be successful, they must first be realistic. It can be challenging to go from concept to reality when clear, realistic goals have not been established. This class explores the challenges of establishing and following through with business goals. This class will cover practical ways to prioritize and develop goals leading to business changes and success. Through the discussion about short-term goals, SMART method, prioritizing, task management, work-life balance, roadblocks, and sustainable changes, business owners should better understand the setting and executing goals.

Speaker(s): Genique Freeman

Fee: No Cost

Register Online

Online Facilitated by Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) Small Business Center

Topic: Marketing and Sales

Social media has helped to level the playing field of getting your story out in the public spotlight. However, that’s only if it goes viral. Earned media, which is coverage by local broadcast and print media, continues to be a valuable, quicker, and in some instances, a more effective way to get your news to the public. Scott Saxton, a 25-year veteran of news media, will share how to get your story told in local media. By the end of this interactive workshop, you will have a news release ready to bring your business positive ,earned, media attention and tips on how to conduct yourself during an interview.

Speaker(s): Scott Saxton

Fee: No Cost

Register Online

BCC Online/ At Your Home
Online

Your website is the face of your business online and the perfect way to inform customers of who you are, what you do, and why they should buy from you. In this course we will explore the WIX platform and review website fundamentals. Next, we will cover some do's and don'ts of website development and how website maintenance and hosting works. Finally participants will set up their WIX accounts and create a practice WIX Website using the WIX ADI Editor.

Speaker(s): Renea Simon, Step by Step Business Solutions

Webinar login information and a registration reminder will be provided prior to this event via email. If you need assistance, please call 910-755-7498.

Fee: No Cost

Register Online
Already Registered? Sign in for more information.

Email: scotta@brunswickcc.edu

Online Facilitated by Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) Small Business Center

Topic: Marketing and Sales

Content marketing is a marketing technique of creating and distributing relevant and valuable content to attract, acquire, and engage a clearly defined and understood target audience – withthe objective of driving profitable customer action. Remove relevant and valuable and that’s the informational garbage you get from companies trying to sell you “stuff.” Key Takeaways for the Small Business Owner:● What is content marketing and what makes it different from other marketing?● Why do you need a documented content strategy and someone who oversees it?● When should marketers use various social media to distribute content?● How do you create valuable content that can change hearts, minds, and actions?● Who are some of the most effective and least effective content marketers?

Speaker(s): Derek Schmidt, CEO DesignLoud

Fee: No Cost

Register Online

Online Facilitated by Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) Small Business Center

Topic: Technology

Your most important sales tool is your website. Buyers are vetting you before they talk to a salesperson.In fact, buyers go through 80% of the shopping process before contacting you. Just like your sales staff,your website has to be spot on to create trust and answer the questions they’re asking. Customers wantto control their buying experience and the website is where they have that control. In this seminar youwill learn to plan out a website to bring you more business. We’ll discuss planning a site, finding a targetcustomer, appealing to that customer, getting the client to buy, creating engagement, and tips and tricksthat we use everyday that you may not be aware of.Outline of the class:• Why do you need a website?• Where do you start when creating a site?• What is your highest return on investment?• How do you appeal to your target client?• What content needs to be created to appeal to your target?• How do you appeal to Google?• Ways to create engagement on your site.

Speaker(s): Sue Rachunok, Design Interventions

Fee: No Cost

Register Online

Where: UNCW CIE

What: NC IDEA FOUNDATION staff provided an overview of upcoming Fall 2022 NC IDEA MICRO ($10K) and NC IDEA SEED ($50K) grants, which provide funding to early-stage, high-growth companies. Pizza and beverages will be provided.

Who: Whether you have an idea or have already launched your startup, NC IDEA delivers grants to help you take that next leap or scale operations. This Information Session is most relevant to early-stage, high-growth companies.

Sponsored by: NC IDEA

Cost: Free

Register at: https://www.simpletix.com/e/nc-idea-spring-2023-grants-information-ses-tickets-121321

Online Facilitated by Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) Small Business Center

Topic: Business Basics

This class will provide you with a legal overview of (1) considerations when purchasing franchise (2) responsibility of the franchisor (3) the key terms you will want to pay attention to when deciding whether to enter into a particular franchise business agreement.

Speaker(s): Nancy Guyton, Attorney

Co-Sponsor(s): Law Firm Carolinas

Fee: No Cost

Register Online

BCC Online/ At Your Home
Online

Now it's time to get hands on! Students will practice on their practice Website to learn how to conduct several tasks and functions within WIX ADI Editor. We will walk through step by step how to add and change text, pictures, videos, headers, footers, add and delete pages and manage design elements on the template. Students will learn how to streamline content creation and how to make the site easily navigable for their customers. Upon completion, students will be ready to create their own website using WIX ADI. For this course, students will be provided with access to sample logo, sample pictures, a sample video, and sample content to add to the sample website for the exercises. They will also be provided with the WIX online resources and help desk for when they create their websites. This practice session is pivotal to the participants long term success in learning how to update and maintain their websites.

Speaker(s): Renae Simon, Step by Step Business Solutions

Webinar login information and a registration reminder will be provided prior to this event via email. If you need assistance, please call 910-755-7498.

Fee: No Cost

Register Online
Already Registered? Sign in for more information.

Email: scotta@brunswickcc.edu