Start Strong Strategies: 10 Steps to Marketing Your New Business

The Start Strong Strategies series is designed to help individuals effectively build a strong business. Participants will learn the basics of a financial business plan, business structure and marketing. Each workshop will provide basic information to become more strategic and successful.

Many businesses may start as a hobby or interest. For those ready to take the next step and start a business and those seeking input on how to strengthen a newer or emerging business, these workshops provide practical information for determining if they are ready to be an entrepreneur and the essentials for launching a business. You will learn about the initial steps to starting a business, including the transformation of a sole proprietorship to a formal business entity. You will learn how business and financial planning will help you move forward, as well as how to effectively market a business in a changing and technologically evolving world. Attendees also may request free, one-on-one assistance from the Small Business Development Center to refine their idea and build their business plan.

All workshops are FREE, but registration is required as space is limited. Participants are welcome to attend individual workshops or can register for the entire series.

Foundations in Financial Business Planning

December 7, 2023, from 12:00 pm (noon) – 1:15 p.m.

A business plan provides the outline of the future objectives of a business. This workshop will discuss the parts of a business plan to include the narrative aspect and the financial projections. Participants will gain basic understanding of the vocabulary, view an example of projections, and learn about funding options and resources.

Build Your Business Blueprint

December 21, 2023, from 12:00 pm (noon) – 1:15 p.m.

This workshop explores the four major entity types, common questions, typical steps to form a business, and other business considerations. The process can be confusing without considering all aspects. Participants will learn the four fundamental concepts to reduce risk in a business and briefly discuss ways to protect their brand.

10 Steps to Marketing Your New Business

January 11, 2024, from 12:00 pm (noon) – 1:15 p.m.

Participants will learn how to enhance their web presence by effectively connecting with prospective customers using a website, social media, and email. A strong marketing presence includes website development, marketing and online branding, social media marketing, and email marketing.

A confirmation email with program logistics, parking information, and webinar log in information will be sent prior to the seminar with a reminder email sent the day before the event. If you don’t receive log in information, please check your junk/spam folder or contact the SBDC for assistance: sbdc@uwlax.edu or 608.785.8782. Should circumstances arise that change program dates or its activities, the program provider, UW-La Crosse SBDC, will contact the program participants.

By registering for this event, the participant grants the program provider, the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center, the University of Wisconsin System (UW System), and the participating organizations (identified below), the right to use, publish, and copyright the images and comments (including print and digital written narratives, materials, audio, video, and still images) in connection with this program for use in connection with program participation (current and future), websites and for promotional and educational purposes. The participant also consents to the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center providing the participant’s contact and attendance information to the program instructors and supporters (such as students), and the participating organizations.

Participating organization: Coulee Region Business Center, Inc., La Crosse, WI.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the SBDC for assistance: sbdc@uwlax.edu, 608.785.8782.

The SBDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration ("SBA"). All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed, if any, are those of the presenter, are not intended to be professional advice to program participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA, SBDC or UW System.