June 26:

ABC's of Starting a Small Business-- Initiate a business with a strong foundation. This seminar will take you through the essential steps in starting a successful business. Learn about license and permit requirements. Participats will receive reference materials to use as they move forward in the business planning process, This seminar will be conducted at the Housing Authority of Bowling Green in the Learning Center, 247 Double Springs Road 6-8:00pm. You may register at ABC's of Starting a Small Business there is no charge for this seminar.

July 14:

Marketing for the Small Business:

This session will take attendees through the basics of marketing a small business. Specifically, some of the teaching points of the event will be:

--Discussion of the big picture of marketing

--Defining your market

--The importance of Customer Service

--How to develop a marketing plan

--Press opportunities and Public Relations

--Advertising

--Pros and cons of different types of media

--Online / Web marketing

--Developing a marketing budget

--Low-cost marketing techniques

--Tracking / Evaluation of your marketing

The goal of the session is that attendees will leave with an understanding and action plan to begin marketing their business.

About the Presenter

Chris Houchens (www.ChrisHouchens.com) is a marketing speaker, writer, blogger, and owner of Shotgun Concepts, a marketing firm he founded in 1997 to provide guidance on marketing strategy to today's forward thinking companies. Houchens has spent years working in both media and marketing, in the broadcasting, online, print, and healthcare fields.

Chris’ blog, the Shotgun Marketing Blog, is ranked on Advertising Age magazine's list of the world's top marketing blogs and is read daily by hundreds of subscribers. Chris has been hired as a business speaker at conferences such as the Medical Group Management Association, the American Advertising Federation, and the World Tea Expo and to private companies like Schwinn Bicycle and the University of Tennessee. Chris was the reviewer and wrote the foreword for the 2006 book, “A Marketer’s Guide to HIPAA” and was a co-author of 2007’s “Achieving Customer Mindshare through Advertising”.

Locally, Chris is a past President of the Bowling Green Professional Marketing Association where as a member he has garnered many awards including being honored as that organization's 2007 Marketer of the Year. Chris works as the Online Director of the Daily News where he manages the online content for bgdailynews.com as well as operations for the monthly entertainment tabloid, The Amplifier. Chris is an Adjunct Instructor in Western Kentucky University’s School of Journalism and Broadcasting.

This seminar will be held at the Garvin House, 221 Ft. Webb (31W to Riverview(Beech Bend Rd) turn left at the Bowling Green Country Club, then turn left at the Garvin House sign, follow the lane up to the big house. This will be held from 6-8:00pm, you may register at Marketing for the Small Business There is no charge for this seminar.