If you could grow your business simply by marketing to your existing customers, making money would be a cakewalk. But to generate new revenue, you have to win over the customers you’re not getting. The 2010 Census reveals that one in three Americans is not White. Now, more than ever, it’s important to reach diverse market segments to grow your business. Diversity marketing is the new norm, and this doesn’t simply mean racial diversity. Diversity comes in many forms: gender, race, age, lifestage, language preference, politics, religion, sexuality, and hobbies or special interests are all ways in which people’s differences are recognized. By recognizing these differences and tailoring your product, message or marketing efforts to reflect consumers’ values, you are validating the importance of a consumer group. It’s about marketing to values, not demographic profiles. Using real-world examples from successful businesses, “How to Market to People Not Like You” demonstrates how to create a deep, emotional connection between your products or service and new consumers.

This session will cover the basics on how a business presentation pitch can be tailored to achieving a stated outcome or objective that brings into play the perspective of the audience.

Cost, competition and value are three variables used when setting the price on products or services. Join Bryan as he gives you ideas on how to apply these three variables to your own situation in order for you to maximize value.

If you would like to get control of your e-mail “beast”, you should attend this program. Learn how to tame your e-mail account, with proven strategies for keeping your inbox efficient and under control by building and administering a personal "e-mail infrastructure". Reduce the mess in your inbox by having “natural” places for your e-mails to go. Learn how to get rid of all those “quick little” e-mails once and for all, as well as how to mitigate or even eliminate much of that annoying junk and spam. Finally feel on top of your e-mail and related activities, rather than feeling it is on top of you.

A look at the legal issues facing startup businesses and their consequences.

In this extended version of Randy Dean’s popular program on “finding an extra hour of productivity” every day, Randy goes deeper into many of the most common areas of productivity loss (and possible gain!) afflicting many busy professionals today: managing multiple projects, maintaining “traction” when dealing with tasks and interruptions, getting more from time spent in meetings, clearing the clutter in your mind for better focus and attention, keeping staff on task, tracking “who owes you what” and getting that information on time, and better managing your calendar and contacts for better time and relationship management.

The Internet is becoming the key place for your business to be found by both local and national customers. Sue Pitts, IWCC SBDC director, will take you through the process of developing your website and social networking presence so your company gets on top of major search engine results and is ultimately found by your ideal customer.

We all know that the customer is king. In our increasingly competitive business environment, it’s more important than ever to cater to customers’ needs, desires and provide customer service that goes way beyond basic politeness and courtesy. The best and smartest companies are finding that listening to what customers want and delivering on every promise, no matter how small, keeps customers happy and coming back for more. And terrific customer service doesn’t have to break the bank: it’s not about spending more to keep customers happy, it’s about truly understanding the customer experience from a personal point of view.

Adam Hohl will share how he started growing produce for institutions/wholesale and cover the positive/negative experiences along the way. Linda will focus on business development leading up to opening the first retail coop grocery in metro Des Moines. She will review the process that the steering committee followed including the creative financing that was used to open the doors in less than 3 months from the time of incorporation! Craig will cover Food and Coop Finance Opportunities under Iowa's State Small Business Credit Initiative.

The EntreFest! evening reception provides an opportunity for attendees to have fun, visit exhibitor booths, network and enjoy light hors d’ oeuvres all in one location!

Each winner will have the opportunity to showcase their business and ‘pitch’ for the grand prize. The pitch off begins at 5:30pm, with opening remarks by lead sponsor John Sorensen of the Iowa Bankers Association. This year’s celebrity emcee is Debi Durham of the Iowa Economic Development Authority! To learn more about each winner go to www.dreambiggrowhere.com Dream Big Grow Here contests were created at the University of Northern Iowa by the MyEntre.Net team, and are sponsored by the Iowa Bankers Association, Renew Rural Iowa, the Community Vitality Center, the Iowa Area Development Group, the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Technology Association of Iowa, and VentureNet. Join these sponsors, winners and other small business owners at the Dream Big Grow Here pitch-off! Customers, family and friends welcome- refreshments and cash bar.

In a ‘speed-meet’ setting get advice from a buffet of business experts – come ready for answers to your most burning business questions!

When it comes to starting and growing a successful business, you need every edge you can get! Sometimes you need an “edge” in marketing; sometimes you need an “edge” in finding capital. Being certified as a “Targeted Small Business” (TSB) in Iowa can give you an edge in doing business with the State of Iowa or accessing low-interest financing! Find out how simple it is to become to a certified TSB and discover a new edge to help your business succeed! NOTE: The TSB Program of Iowa targets businesses owned by women, minorities, or the disabled. This workshop will also touch briefly on three new and exciting State programs that provide financing to small business owners, regardless of gender or ethnicity (State Small Business Credit Initiative, orSSBCI).

A Fest! Favorite. Our 2012 entrepreneur panel promises to offer up both thorns and roses for the Iowa business experiences over the past year.

No Risk, No Reward... and if you do fail, do it with style! Ever been paralyzed with fear? Fear of failure? Just SO you know, failure's gotten a bad wrap!! Learn how to turn fear into flair with a little word called CHAOS . . . Creativity Humor And Other Stuff!

Prize Drawings. Thanks for attending EntreFest! 2012!