Sunrise Community Futures

Hot Topic: Social Media for Business

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:56:12 +0000

Many companies want to explore social media but aren’t sure where to start, and what will work to engage customers and promote their business. Knowing the GOALS of any marketing campaign is the first step to success, and then learning the fundamentals about social media comes next.

Social media for business is a hot topic right now. So we decided to ask the experts for some advice! Michael Klein, owner and CEO of Meshy Communications and Harley Rivet, President and CEO of Deep Dish Digital, have close to 30 years combined experience in the social media and marketing industry. They will be the featured speakers at the Social Media For Business session on May 29, 2012 in Estevan, SK. Attend and get your burning questions answered by the best in the biz!

Topics will include: the best social media tactics for your business, the five most important components of effective websites, how to maximize social media buy-in from followers, and tools for maintaining your social media presence.

Sesssion Details: May 29, 2012 from 1:30pm – 4:30pm at the SK Energy Training Institute in Estevan. Tickets are $10. Registration required: 306.637.2190 or rebecca@estevanchamber.ca

Pass it on. Let’s pack the room for this one!

A Very Good Read

admin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:36:11 +0000

Spring is a busy time, especially for anyone who owns a small business. Even with a hectic schedule, taking a 10 minute ‘time out’ can do wonders for your mindset! Grab a coffee and use those newly carved 10 minutes to read through CF Sunrise’s online business books. These informative (but short!) books can be downloaded or read online and they are FREE.

Nine fantastic titles in all. They cover topics like Social Media, Succession Planning, Marketing and HR Development. Two thumbs up – a very good read!

Click to take a look: Business E-Books

Succession Planning for business

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:36:30 +0000

Own a business but thinking about retirement? Exiting your business won’t happen overnight – start planning for this change right now! Valuing your business and finding a buyer that wants to take over operations may be a longer process than you think. And there are a lot of business owners just like you. A recent survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business shows that two-thirds of Canadian owners will want to exit their business in the next 10 years. So that’s a whole lot of businesses for sale, all looking for qualified successors (and a way to monetize the equity that the owner has invested).

The big question is – who will buy? Some options may include family, employees, competitors (yes, competitors!) or investors. Getting your business information in order is the first step. Wills, insurance, partnership or shareholder agreements and a solid Succession Plan will be crucial to the successful sale. Start reading about Succession Planning and then with the help of your Succession Team (accountant, lawyer, etc) create a formal plan for your transition.

Check out CF Sunrise’s website for more Succession Planning resources: www.sunrisecommunityfutures.com

Webinars answer Labour Standards questions

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:27:57 +0000

Employers with questions about Labour Standards in Saskatchewan can find answers with the click of a mouse. Wonder about your requirements related to holiday pay, hours of work, dismissals and overtime pay? Check out the Labour Standards webinar listing and get … Continue reading →

Help Clients Find Your Company. . . Online

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:19:15 +0000

Ever wonder how effective your company website really is? Have your website graded using a free on-line tool. “Webgrader” delivers a short, informative report identifying what’s working great on your website, as well as improvements that can enhance your website’s effectiveness. How to incorporating social media into your site, a list of top pages that link to you, and suggestions on structuring page content are all covered. Take a look: www.webgrader.com .

For more info on marketing your small business, email CF Sunrise: v.oneill.sunrise@sasktel.net

Give your Business a Boost in 2012

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:42:22 +0000

New Year’s resolutions often find us promising to nix bad habits and replace them with good ones. Why not apply this to business? Give your management skills (and your company) a boost by reading through our online business resources. It may be what you need to get inspired and make changes that affect your bottom line in 2012!www.sunrisecommunityfutures.com/workshops

Looking for Workers in Your Business??

admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:54:47 +0000

Take in the Successful Staffing workshop – two sessions still coming up: November 24th in Carnduff and December 7 in Estevan. You’ll find out about effective job advertising, interviewing techniques, immigration resources and much more. Call to register: 1.877.851.9997

Build A Banking Relationship

admin — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:41:37 +0000

When times are good, a lender can be your best proponent and ally. They can help to ensure your cash flow meets demands and you can access new equipment or inventory when needed. But when times are rough the first instinct shouldn’t be to shelter your lenders from the news. An open line of communication will keep your lender on side, and their belief in your business success strong. Giving your lender a ‘heads up’ when a loan payment needs to be pushed back or additional financing is necessary. By developing that banking relationship in good times and in bad, your character can shine through and your lender will have the opportunity to work with you. The alternative is never good! Remember, just like on the playground, honesty is always the best policy.

Encourage the ‘above and beyond’ attitude in your staff

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:43:24 +0000

Attitude makes or breaks a customer experience. Customers make or break a business.

Not really profound, but a good concept to continually come back to when dealing with clients. I recently had the opportunity to speak to a small group about Customer Service. I’m sure they wondered what I could possibly say that they hadn’t heard before! Actually, my entire talk centered around how a small shift in attitude can create a welcoming and comfortable customer experience. And that always translates to the bottom line!

CF Sunrise has some short, humorous and very insightful DVDs that can be borrowed for staff training. They can provide you with a jumping point to start the conversation at your next staff meeting: www.sunrisecommunityfutures.com/dvd_resources

Biz Game for Kids

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:28:50 +0000

Here’s a fun way to get kids thinking about entrepreneurship: Disney’s Hot Shot Business Game. This online game is a great way for kids to discover basic business concepts. They can operate a virtual landscaping business, comic book shop, pet spa, candy store or skateboard factory. Loads of fun, and a Parent/Mentor Guide is available on the website as well. Give it a try: http://www.disney.go.com/hotshot/hsb3/index.html