Social media has become one of the hottest topics these days. Learning how to best use this kind of communication for your business is key. In Asheville in the month of March there are a wide variety of opportunities for small business owners, professionals, and entrepreneurs to learn about social media and what it means for your business.

Roadmap to Online Success – 3 Day Workshop

The most complete social marketing workshop in Asheville.

Dates: Tuesday March 9th, Thursday March 11 and Tuesday March 16th from 7 – 9 pm
Location: WriteMind Institute in Downtown Asheville on Lexington Ave.

This workshop’s primary objective is to train local artists and entrepreneurs on how use online social networks to make their passion economically sustainable. Participants will experience hands-on demonstrations, learn repeatable strategies, and create or grow an online presence. This isn’t a “how to get rich” or “secrets of the internet” class. It’s about the here and now.

This class is appropriate for all skill levels, but is designed for individuals in the early stages of promoting a product or service on the internet or at a point where additional skills in the areas of online marketing, social media, and search engine optimization are necessary for online success.

For information on the curriculum visit the instructor’s website HERE.

Mountain Xpress’ Social Media Jam INTERMEDIATE workshop on Twitter and Facebook.

March 9, 2010
LOCATION TBA
6:30-8 p.m.
$15 per person; bring a laptop or web-enabled device
Facebook: search Social Media Jams
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SocialMediaJams

The March 9 Social Media Jam is second in an ongoing series full of down-to-earth intermediate training on using Facebook and Twitter. This workshop builds on the intro workshop, teaching users about third-party tools like Twitpic and TweetDeck. They’ll also talk more about hashtags, keyword searches and advanced Twitter techniques, like how to find people on Twitter you don’t yet follow, but who are trying to interact with you. You are invited to bring a laptop or web-enabled device to the workshop. Bring a notebook and take notes if you like.

Payment isn’t due until the day of the workshop. Please bring cash or make your check for $15 payable to Mountain Xpress.

FREE ASHEVILLE SOCIAL MEDIA SCHOOL Class #2

March 23, 2010 from 5:00pm-7:30pm at the Garage At Biltmore
101 Fairview Rd Asheville NC 28803
Learn Social Networking using Twitter and Facebook.

The location is not set yet, but it will be within 10 minutes of downtown Asheville. Besides G Social Media, there will be guest speakers including Trey Pennington from Greenville South Carolina and Social Village from Asheville discussing some very important social media information. They will also show you how to set up a Twitter and Facebook account and some great tips for you and your business. Drinks will be available during the meeting and a music and social time will follow the class at 7pm. RSVP on Facebook or by Email (Email is on the G Social Media website)

AAF Asheville is proud to announce the March 2, 2010 CONNECT event. The free event requires no RSVP and will be held from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Satchel’s Bar at 56 Patton Ave, in downtown Asheville. This is a great way to meet and network with local experts, small business owners and professionals while enjoying the beauty of downtown in a fantastic location.

AAF Asheville is the realization of a dream, born from the knowledge that we’re big enough, diverse enough, and creative enough to have a Western North Carolina advertising club. For more information about CONNECT business networking events and monthly programs visit www.aafasheville.org.

This class will provide students with an overall understanding of the buying and selling process, including the financial statements and ratios used, how to prepare and market your business for sale, how to analyze a business to buy, and managing and structuring deals. (2 hrs)

Total Registration Fee: Free

• Tue, Jan 19, 6:00PM – 8:00PM
• 2046 Small Business Center, Enka Site Course #: SBC-7795-700
• Thu, Feb 25, 6:00PM – 8:00PM
• 126 Ramsey, Madison Site Course #: SBC-7795-701

Feb. 25, 2010 5:30 PM 755 Biltmore Ave.

RSVP to RSVP@meetthegeeks.net

For more info visit www.meetthegeeks.net

Asheville, NC — The Board of Directors of Meet the Geeks (MTG) invites you to attend its first community showcase event at CityMac in Biltmore Village on Thursday February 25th starting at 5:30 p.m.  The event is open to the public and refreshments will be served. CityMac is located at 755 Biltmore Avenue and there is parking onsite.

MTG is dedicated to supporting and growing the IT industry in Western North Carolina and the new community showcase program allows the opportunity to gather at a local place of technology and create awareness for resources within our community, facilitate connections among IT professionals, and advance and promote IT-related endeavors. Doing so contributes to the overall economic health and diversity of the region.  MTG, in conjunction with local organizations, will host a community showcase event quarterly.

CityMac is a proud sponsor and supporter of MTG.  CityMac stores offer consumers and business customers the “Apple Retail Experience” which is similar to that of Apple corporate store locations. The stores provide complimentary daily training, users group meetings, one-on-one training, a coffee shop, and free Wi-fi access. All of CityMac’s locations maintain a complete Apple Authorized service department offering on-site and in-store repairs and support for all warranty and out-of-warranty Apple products.

Meet the Geeks (MTG) is a volunteer-driven organization that seeks to build and support the IT community throughout Western North Carolina. Since its founding in March 2005, Meet the Geeks has grown to over 500 registered users.  Meet the Geeks hosts a successful series of networking events, offers an online portal for local IT professionals, participates in recruiting new IT business to the area, and has initiated efforts to build the regional IT community.  Events and classes are free and open to the public. For more information or to join the network visit www.meetthegeeks.net.

Sponsored by:

Teresa T. Carrelli, CPA 828-230-0704
Teresacarrelli.cpa@gmail.com

March 6, 2010 – Saturday – 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (details below)

Registration: $40.00 (box lunch provided during seminar)

Save $5 by pre-registering!

There is an ancient Oriental saying that states, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” We at Asheville SCORE would add that it’s probably a good idea to be headed in the right direction when that step is taken. Our How to Start a New Business in Tough Times seminar is designed to point the new or potential business owner in the right direction.

This seminar provides an overview of key elements and issues that every business owner must face: the Business Plan, Record Keeping (for tax/inventory/accounting), Legal Structure, Financing, Promotion/Marketing and Risk Management/Insurance (workers’ comp and liability). Any person starting a business without this knowledge may be taking those aforementioned initial steps toward a cliff, while admiring the clouds in the sky!

Our five-speaker team will bring their expertise to you in an easy-to-grasp manner, so that by the end of the session you will have a realistic understanding of what you need to do to get your business off on the right foot. There will be ample opportunities to ask specific questions of each speaker.

Here’s a fact: most business start-ups fail due to bad business decisions made by the owners. This seminar will help you make the right decisions during the critical formative stages of your organization. The seminar runs until 2:00, so lunch is included in the seminar fee.

Kerry Friedman is a partner in the Asheville law firm of Patla, Straus, Robinson & Moore, PA, specializing in business and corporate law. He will make you aware of the various legal forms of business organizations and the advantages /disadvantages of each so that you can make the best decision for your business. In addition, this is an opportunity for you to become familiar with a broad variety of the legal issues of your business and the options available to you.

Glenn Pirrong is an Asheville SCORE counselor with an extensive background in finance and general management. Prior to purchasing and operating his own company he was the CFO of a NASDAQ-traded public company. Earlier he held senior financial positions with major corporations and was the president of a subsidiary company. His presentation will cover many areas of obtaining financing for small business.

William ‘Chip’ Williamson is President of Hutton Vincent Williamson Mclean Insurance Company, located in Asheville, NC. Chip started his career as a field agent and then eventually became President of Schley and Williamson Agency in Asheville. He successfully merged his company with two other insurance agencies in Western North Carolina. An Asheville native, Chip is active in his church and various community organizations. His company is a full service agency offering complete services for home, auto, business, life and health.

Terri Carrelli, CPA is a graduate of UNCA with BA in Economics. She earned her CPA in 1988. A member of AICPA and NCACPA since ‘89, she began her career as an auditor with McGladrey and Pullen specializing in small to midsize businesses. This was followed by association with Brian C Hunter CPA P.A., specializing in small business and accounting software consulting, tax returns and financial statement preparation and tax planning. Terri is currently owner and principal of her own consulting firm. She can be reached at 828-230-0704 or by email at teresacarrelli.cpa@gmail.com.

Don Sinclair is our presenter. He was a practicing chiropractic physician for 25 years with four clinics. In addition, he owned Chiroventures, Limited. – a publishing house specializing in newsletters, audio tapes and videos for the chiropractic profession. At Chiroventures he was responsible for all the company’s marketing and advertising, which led to his founding his own advertising agency. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and Life Chiropractic College. Don is presently a marketing consultant and SCORE counselor serving the Asheville area. The knowledge he shares with you comes from his practical successes…and failures, and can help your business grow.

Scheduled dates, times, location and directions:

March 6, 2010 – Saturday

Time; 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.(boxed lunch provided)

• 8:00 a.m. – Registration
• 8:30 a.m. – Seminar starts promptly
• Location: A-B Tech Enka Campus, Small Business Center, Room 2046

Sponsored by Mail Management Services

February 27, 2010- Saturday – 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (details below)

Registration: $30.00

Save $5 by pre-registering!

February 27, 2010 – Saturday

• 8:00 a.m. – Registration
• 8:30 a.m. – Seminar starts promptly
• Location: A-B Tech Enka Campus, Small Business Center, Room 2046

To register visit The Asheville SCORE website

February 17, 2010 – Wednesday – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (details below)

Registration: $30.00

Save $5 by pre-registering!

In the modern world communicating via the Internet has become commonplace. Many small businesses and corporate companies now utilize the massive exposure available online in order to build and maintain both a strong customer base and financial security. Are you wondering about the Internet? Would you like to know more about how the Internet can be a good investment for you? Attend SCORE’s Internet Marketing 101 Fall class and find out how to make Internet tools work for you. This introductory class will help you discover the following:

• What kind of Internet presence is right for you?
• What kind of web site should you build?
• How do you speak the language of the World Wide Web?
• What are blogs, social networking sites, email newsletters, search engines, pay per click campaigns and more? Plus, what do these things do and why are they important?
• How much does a web site cost?
• How can you get started building your web site?
• What are the keys to building a successful Internet presence?

This class is geared towards small business startups and companies interested in integrating the Internet into their current business model or plan. Internet beginners and business owners unfamiliar with web site design are encouraged to attend.