'Planning for Profits' Four-Part Program to Aid Area's Small Business Owners

Thursday begins a four-part seminar series, at the , offering entrepreneurial expertise to small business owners; the first seminar being held from 7-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 24.

“Planning for Profits” will commence with a presentation on beneficial marketing strategies to bolster profits for the area’s small businesses.

Management Consultant with the University of Pittsburgh’s Small Business Development Center, Lindsey Biddle, will provide guests with various marketing strategies through a PowerPoint presentation. A PNC Bank representative will accompany Biddle during the presentation.

According to Biddle, the presentation will instruct small business owners in effectively capturing their target market through various media outlets -- disproving general misconceptions of increased sales leading to increased profits, and emphasizing proper planning through keen marketing approaches.

“The presentation will focus on how business owners can identify the right market strategies and how they can use the right social media to capture their target audience,” said Biddle.

In October, Biddle co-presented a program at the library, entitled “Mechanics of Starting a Small Business,” sparking community-wide interest and ushering in plans for future business-savvy programs.

Reacting toward the library’s successful program, head reference librarian, Margaret Deitzer, alongside other library staff members, planned for a similar program to engage the community’s numerous small business owners.

“Our library is looking forward to working with Lindsey Biddle to provide programs and resources for entrepreneurs, as well as individuals who want to explore options and opportunities of starting a business,” said Deitzer.

Thursday’s seminar will focus on the following marketing aspects:

• Social media usage
• How to target the right markets
• Importance of different marketing communications
• Importance of marketing and why small business owners should market
• How to define a marketing plan -- presented in a nine-step process
• Marketing strategies for small business owners and how to properly identify competition
• The importance of website utilization
• The importance of gaining publicity
• Different forms of marketing research

Through presenting pertinent marketing strategies and advertising schemes, owners will learn how to effectively allocate funds for advertising -- a necessary component in creating a prosperous business, according to Biddle.

“People don’t have a million dollars to spend in advertising,” said Biddle. “You don’t want to waste money advertising to everyone, and this presentation will educate people on how to wisely spend their advertising money in their best interest.”

Aside from gaining new marketing perspectives, guests will have the benefit of sizing-up local competition through interacting with fellow small business owners.

“It’s good networking,” said Biddle. “It will give business owners a chance to meet with other business owners.”

A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

“They’ll be able to talk with a representative from PNC Bank,” said Biddle. “It’s a great source of professional advice.”

Aside from Thursday’s marketing seminar, the library’s four-part series will offer three more seminars in critical business aspects, such as financials, operations and strategy.

Here are the library’s upcoming seminar dates:

• March 24: Financials
• April 21: Operations
• May 26: Strategy

Each seminar costs $30, or $100 for all four, and will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings. Registration is limited to 30 individuals.

Fliers and library resources regarding Thursday’s seminar can be found in the library’s lobby area.

To register for the upcoming seminar contact Lindsey Biddle at 724-229-8078 or lbiddle@katz.pitt.edu.