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Showing posts from May, 2011

Starting a business? Here's help

June 1: SCORE helps answer entrepreneur questions Detroit SCORE Chapter 18, with Southfield Public Library, helps potential entrepreneurs answer the question; “Could I, Should I Start My Own Business?” 8:45 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, June 1 at Southfield Public Library, 26300 Evergreen Road, Southfield. The cost is $10. Call 313-226-7947 to register. Visit www.scoredetroit.org June 2: Pre-Business Research workshop Pre-Business Research Workshop/FastTrac is 6 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, June 2 at Oakland County Business Center MI-SBTDC, Executive Office Building, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Township. Are you thinking of starting your own business and want to research your business idea? Are you a new business owner who wants to understand which research sources to use for your business plan or loan proposal, and where to find the information you need? Then plan to attend this business pre-planning workshop. Attendees will also receive an orientation to the FastTrac NewVenture program. T

Action Speaks! conference slated in Farmington Hills

 Leadership Oakland’s Class of XXI and Oakland Community College will host “Action Speaks!” Community Outreach Conference, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday June 8 at Smith Theater located at Oakland Community College Farmington Hills Campus in Farmington Hills. The event will bring together community leaders and change activists to inspire, motivate, and engage individuals to make a difference in their communities. The conference will include presentations and discussions on local government issues, media influence, business and entrepreneurship, public education, and heath care services. L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive will be one of the many speakers. Tickets are $28 per person and include lunch. Visit www.ActionSpeaksConference.com to purchase tickets or call 248-952-6880.

Business start-up workshop

Pre-Business Research Workshop/FastTrac is 6 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, June 2 at Oakland County Business Center MI-SBTDC , Executive Office Building , 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Township. For those thinking of starting their own business who want to research their business idea? For new business owners who wants to understand which research sources to use for a business plan or loan proposal, and where to find the information needed. Attendees will also receive an orientation to the FastTrac NewVenture program. This makes them eligible to receive a scholarship to the next 10 week program. The scholarship reduces the cost of FastTrac NewVenture from $700 to just $140. Pre-Registration is advised. Seating is limited. Call 248-858-0783. For other workshops offered by Oakland County Business Center, visit oakgov.com/peds/calendar.

Wayne State networks at new Emagine theatre

The Wayne State University School of Business Administration Alumni Association will host its annual alumni appreciation is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today, May 25, at the new Emagine Theatre in Royal Oak. The event will celebrate the achievements of Wayne State alumnus and Emagine owner Paul Glantz and will provide an opportunity for members of the metropolitan Detroit business community to tour the new facility and make new connections with other professionals, including many Wayne State business alumni. 

Seven Leadership Mistakes

Is Your Team Failing Elegantly? Seven Leadership Mistakes That Wear Away at Your Company’s Will to Win By Dottie DeHart, DeHart & Company Public Relations For any team, the only acceptable result should be winning. But all too often, things don’t go as planned—and when first this project and then that project veer off course, teams start showing signs of a disease that can kill execution. John Hamm describes how the disease of “failing elegantly” can infect your organization and how to cure it. San Francisco, CA (May 2011)—No one wants to lose. That’s true whether you’re talking about the Super Bowl, a friendly basketball game with the neighbors, or a footrace between eight-year-olds. Yes, the desire to win is embedded in the human psyche. So why is it that in the business world the “win or (almost) die trying” principle seems to falter? Why do so many talented, well-led teams, enterprises, and organizations—many of them with clear, reasonable goals—fail to win victories that s

“Connect, engage and discover” around Green Economy

The Michigan International Professional Association hosts “connect, engage and discover” around The Green Economy, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 2, upstairs at the Franklin Grill, 32760 Franklin Road, Franklin. Speakers include Mark Cryderman, faculty at Cleary University and Scott Meloeny, co-founder of Distributed Power LLC. Tim Marsh, will present his exhibit on "eco-expressionism." A full dinner, including wine, will be served. Register at www.MIPADetroit.org. $35 per person.

J.S. Clark Agency to explain Health Care Reform

The J.S. Clark Agency of Southfield is hosting a free educational seminar for businesses about health care reform developments. The seminar, led by J.S. Clark President, Joel Clark is open to local businesses and will be held noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 25 at at the San Marino Club, 1685 E. Big Beaver Road in Troy. Call 248-996-1845 or email russ@jsclarkagency.com for reservations.

Mobile Space using PhoneGap

Refresh Detroit meeting discusses an introduction to Phonegap, and how it can be used to build cross-platform native mobile apps using web tech. The meeting is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 26 at Quicken Loans (Compuware Building), One Campus Martius, Detroit. It is free and open to the public. Register at guestlistapp.com/events/56001 or visit www.refreshdetroit.org.

Trade Opportunities in South Korea

The U.S. Commercial Service and the East Michigan District Export Council present a program on doing business in South Korea and the benefits of the pending US-Korea Free Trade Agreement, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 25 at the Management Education Center, MSU, 811 West Square Lake Road, Troy. Visit www.eastmichigandec.org.

Keystrata IT Social networking event Wednesday

Keystrata, a specialized provider of Enterprise Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence consulting services, is hosting a networking event, IT Social 5:01, 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 25 at Mirchi Indian Cuisine Bar & Grille, 43317 Grand River Ave., Novi. The event is a premiere networking group comprised of IT, Data Warehousing, and Business Intelligence professionals from the high tech corridors of Ann Arbor, Automation Alley, Tech Town and Metropolitan Detroit. There is a 20 percent discount off meals, compliments of Mirchi management. Visit www.keystrata.com.

MSED Automotive Roundtable “The Supplier Revolution”

A roundtable panel discussion, themed “The Supplier Revolution,” will be hosted by the Marketing and Sales Executives of Detroit (MSED) at its monthly dinner meeting on is 5 to 8 p.m. May 24, at the Marriott Hotel, 200 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy. The panel will discuss how implementing good relationship practices between OEMs and suppliers are proving to be valuable in the new age of automobile manufacturing. Automotive News Editor Jason Stein will moderate the panel, which includes: Dan Knott, senior vice president of purchasing and supplier quality, Chrysler Group LLC; Michael Martini, president of OE division, Bridgestone Americas; Jay Phillion, chief purchasing and quality officer, TI Automotive; and Dan Vivian, director of engineering design, Hyundai Motor Group. The cost for the dinner event is $45 for members, $60 for non-members. Sponsorships are available. To register visit MSED www.msedetroit.org or call 248-643-6590.

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel celebrates new office with career fair

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel announced that it will be holding a career fair open to the public at its new location in Birmingham during its office opening celebration. The event begins with outside entertainment and light fare at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, at 294 East Brown Street, Birmingham, the site of the newly built office which was designed by noted Birmingham architect Victor Saroki. At 4 p.m., a ribbon-cutting ceremony will officially open the building and the public will be invited to tour the facility. At 5 p.m., a career fair begins with Michigan companies offering opportunities in the fields of mortgage, home warranty, home inspection, real estate education, moving and storage, marketing and real estate sales. Career fair attendees will also experience a “Taste of Michigan” from Michigan-based companies offering specialty food and beverages. The event, in conjunction with AMP 98.7FM, is sponsored by 2-10 Home Warranty. “The event is the first of its kind in our area,” said J

Sales management workshop

Gerald W. Bricker, managing principal and founder of business consultancy Aadvise Consulting, LLC of Northville will continue his series of management seminars with: “Sales Management Workshop. Difficult Times. Better Results.” Bricker will collaborate with another sales professional, Andrew Blain of Selling Solutions. The seminar will be offered 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 23, at the Crowne Plaza, 1500 N. Opdyke Road in Auburn Hills and Tuesday, May 24 at the Hampton Inn, 20600 Haggerty Road in Northville Township. The cost is $149 if paid before May 16 and $199 thereafter. To register, visit www.aadviseconsultingllc.com/seminars.html or www.bus-sys.com or call 248-974-1537.

You Got the Job – How Do You Negotiate Salary?

Expert Recruiter Reveals Insider’s Secrets To Getting Paid What You Want Submitted by Ginny Grimsley, National Print Campaign Manager, www.newsandexperts.com . As the job market recovers, a unique phenomenon is beginning to happen, and one expert warns it could cost you money. “As people who have been looking for work a long time start to get back into the workforce, many of them are so happy just to get a job that they sometimes accept a lower salary than they have to,” said Bill Humbert, author of RecruiterGuy’s Guide to Finding a Job. www.recruiterguy.com . “Some employers feel that they can probably get away with a lowball offer, and many job hunters will grab it just so they can have a job. The truth is there are ways to get the job and still get what you want.” Humbert isn’t a career coach, but rather his expertise comes from working the opposite side of the job stream as a recruiting consultant for corporations. He knows how companies calculate salary, and how to judge their thr

SEO vs SMO – An Overview

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Few years back no one was able to locate your business on Google if the site was not optimized properly. So the idea of choosing between a search engine optimization (SEO) process, or doing social media optimization (SMO) for a website, was very easy – that was SEO. But the introduction of social media has changed the concept of online marketing and promotion. Social media evolution is effecting SEO, and this problem is going on for many business strategists. While Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, blogging, flickr and SEO press releases give companies a huge advantage to drive website traffic as well as targeted clients or customers with increased awareness in short time span, then people are thinking twice to optimize (off-page) their websites for the search engines. Now these days, social media is enhancing SEO scope, and according to the review reports businesses can get free evaluation and derive goal immediately. Due to this advantage, now business owners, chief marketing off

Social Media Marketing class

Oakland County Business Center is offering Social Media Marketing: Establish your Footprint and Get Your Customers Talking, 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, May 17 at Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Building 41 West, Waterford Township. For pre-registration, visit oakgov.com/peds/calendar, or call 248-858-0783.The fee is $40.

New York Times President speaks in Birmingham

The Detroit Economic Club Presents: Janet L. Robinson, President & CEO, The New York Times Company, “When Traditional Companies Meet the Realities of the Digital Era” 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 11 at The Townsend Hotel, 100 Townsend St., Birmingham. The challenges facing media companies and the journalism profession go beyond web sites offering aggregated news content for free. Robinson discusses the hard choices and new strategies required to manage a trusted brand and legacy in a world that is transforming dramatically and rapidly. The cost is $45 for members, $55 for guests and $75 for non-members. Register at www.econclub.org.

Seminar on problem employees

Nemeth Burwell’s Raising the Bar Series Presents: Strategies for Dealing with the Problem Employee is 8:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 11 at the Troy Marriott, 200 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy. Continental breakfast will be served at 8 a.m. The cost is $60 per person. Registration is required, email Amanda Galletti at agalletti@nemethburwell.com or call 313-567-5921.

Google Changes New Panda Algorithm – SEO Viewpoint

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Google made an update to their algorithm late February 2011 that has greatly affected many sites and caused a decrease in traffic. The update was called the “Panda” update (aka the “Farmer” update). Google normally does major updates to their algorithm once every 1-2 years. The Panda update is a major update. This is all in an effort for Google to produce the best search results and foil black hat SEO techniques. In general Google always has the searcher in mind and they change their algorithm so as to ensure black hat SEO techniques are not effecting the relevance and high quality of the results on their search engine. So how do you know if the Panda update effected your website? Quickly check your website analytics from January 2011 until today. Check if you see a sudden decrease in traffic from the end of February until now. Also check on Google Webmaster Tools what words you are currently ranking for and compare that to the keywords you were ranking for before. Who did the Panda up

Workshops help businesses get started

SCORE helps ask, Should I start a business? Detroit SCORE Chapter 18, with Southfield Public Library, helps potential entrepreneurs answer the question; “Could I, Should I Start My Own Business?” 8:45 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, May 4 at Southfield Public Library, 26300 Evergreen Road, Southfield. The cost is $10. Call 313-226-7947 to register. Visit www.scoredetroit.org. Oakland County offers pre-business research workshop Oakland County Business Center is offering its monthly workshops, including Pre-Business Research workshop, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Thursday, May 5, at Oakland County Executive Office Building Conference Center, Building 41 West, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Township. The cost is $30 per person Pre-registration is required. Call 248-858-0783 or visit oakgov.com/peds/calendar.