How to Promote Repeat Business |
| Too many small
business owners rely upon "word of mouth" advertising, then sit
back and wait. The result: wasted time and lost opportunities!
To build a solid and loyal customer base in which others do the
selling for you takes effort, but not necessarily in high cost
advertising. In this seminar, you will learn sure-fire tactics
for developing and building customer relationships, retaining
your customer base, gaining more dollars from your existing
customers, and inspiring them to refer you to others. It’s
easier than you think, so come prepared to take home IDEAS! Jane
Atherton has worked in the sales, marketing and advertising
arenas for over 27 years. Her company, ADditude Creative
Marketing, offers in-depth assistance in all aspects of
marketing and advertising for businesses. |
W8318 /
1 session
Th from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Atherton
$29 |
Start Date:2/7
End Date: 2/7
WCC - Kulshan 223 |
Time Management for the Self-Employed |
| Effectively
managing your time, energy, and priorities is the key to
achieving your business goals. This seminar will help you move
from being overwhelmed, distracted, scattered, and stuck to
becoming a business owner who manages priorities and projects in
ways that lead to healthy business growth. You'll discover how
your personal style impacts the way you organize your time,
explore time management techniques that fit your style and
strengths, and learn a workflow and review system that can help
you keep track of all that needs to get done. Mark Warren,
M.Ed., has trained and coached local small business owners as
well as Fortune 500 companies. |
W8783 /
1 session
Th from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Warren
$29 |
Start Date:2/14
End Date: 2/14
WCC - Kulshan 223 |
Creating
a Marketing Plan for Your Business |
| Running a
business without a marketing plan is like trying to fly a plane
without a compass! A good plan not only outlines your
advertising, but helps define the goals and direction of your
business and is essential for bank financing. Discover the ten
steps to create your own marketing plan, starting with a mission
statement and ending with a marketing calendar. You'll learn the
importance of identifying your competition, your own business
strengths and weaknesses, your target market(s) and the media
you need to effectively reach them, your marketing goals,
strategy, budget, and more. Taimi Dunn Gorman of Gorman
Publicity has created and marketed several successful and
well-known businesses in Bellingham, including The Colophon Cafe
and The Doggie Diner. |
W8126 /
1 session
Th from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Gorman
$29 |
Start Date:2/21
End Date: 2/21
WCC - Kulshan 223 |
How to Improve Your Website |
| Your website can
be one of your most effective marketing tools, as long as your
clients--and potential clients--can find it! In this class, we
will cover the basics of an effective website, including design,
layout, photography, navigation, usability, search engine
preparedness, and content. They will show examples of do's and
don'ts in website layout, as well as offer a constructive
critique for each student's website. You will leave with simple
methods to improve your website and attract more visitors. Feel
free to bring your laptop to our wireless classroom for a
hands-on experience! Mark Lee and Doug Devries, owners of Big
Fresh Media, will draw on the latest web standards and their
years of experiences in website development. |
W8314 /
1 session
Th from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Lee
$29 |
Start Date:2/28
End Date: 2/28
WCC - Kulshan 223 |
Pricing
Strategies for Service Professionals
 |
| Is it time to
take the guesswork out of setting your hourly rates? Are you
under-earning but afraid that raising your rates will scare
clients away? Instructor Maria Marsala will share insider
secrets and rate-setting strategies that will help you set your
fees so that they are just right for attracting and keeping the
ideal clients in your target market. Discover why giving away
business for free or cheap is NOT the way to get more clients!
Learn 10 things you can quickly say to anyone who just wants to
pick your brain. Find out what a marketing funnel is and how it
can help you market smarter. It's time to be paid by the value
you produce, and NOT by the hour. Maria Marsala, founder of
Elevating Your Business, is a former Fortune 300 executive now
working as a small business strategist, author, speaker, board
member, and workshop leader. |
W8519 /
1 session
Th from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Marsala
$29 |
Start Date:3/6
End Date: 3/6
WCC - Kulshan 223 |
Staying
On Top of the Red Tape
|
| Are you confused
by the array of city, state, and federal taxes, licenses and
forms that your small business is required to fill out? Would
you like to get a better handle on what and when to submit so
you can rest assured you're in compliance and eliminate penaltes?
This seminar will provide a comprehensive overview of the city,
state and federal tax forms and licenses an S Corp, Sole
Proprietor, or LLC must process during startup, ongoing
operations or changes in business. We'll cover City of
Bellingham Business Licenses, specialized city/state licenses,
other city licenses, State of Washington Registration, Federal
EIN, Washington State Excise Tax Form, City B & O Tax Form, when
sales tax is required to be paid to other cities, and Form 1040
ES (Federal Estimated Taxes). Presenter Kathy Bastow, MA, owner
of Primus Services, provides small businesses with accounting
solutions, financial analysis and QuickBooks consulting.
Employment taxes covered in next seminar. |
W8677 /
1 session
Th from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Bastow
$29 |
Start Date:3/13
End Date: 3/13
WCC - Kulshan 223 |
Hiring Employees? An Employment Tax Primer
|
| L & I, SUI, 941,
940 . . . do all of these forms make your head spin? While
hiring employees may be a fabulous growth step for your
business, the myriad of paperwork and form deadlines can be
daunting. Avoid costly penalties by familiarizing yourself with
the forms and deadlines required by Washington State Labor &
Industries, Employment Security Department and Federal Internal
Revenue Service. Whether you are hiring employees, or are the
sole employee (S Corps) of your own company, this course will
keep you in compliance with State and Federal employment tax
requirements. |
W8298 /
1 session
Th from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Bastow
$29 |
Start Date:3/20
End Date: 3/20
WCC - Kulshan 223 |
