eValueWeb: Evaluate, Update, Regulate – Is Your Web Site Working For, or Against You?

Regular maintenance is a part of everyday living. Cars’ oil levels need to be regularly checked. Children need yearly physicals. Even chimneys, air conditioning units and furnaces need looking after. Well, guess what? The same holds true for web sites.

Web sites are one of the most advantageous marketing tools available to business owners, allowing them to not only be “open” 24/7, but to reach customers and clients around the world. However, web sites also require constant monitoring and updated information, graphics, and usability features or functions. A web site featuring old information or outdated graphics could negatively impact business.

To help Nebraska business owners avoid the pitfalls of bad or ineffective web sites, GROW Nebraska is offering the affordable eValueWeb critique. The cost is $30 for basic GROW members, or $15 for GROW bundle members. Non-members will pay just $205 for the critique (includes GROW Nebraska membership through December 31, 2011). Registration deadline is June 30 and completed critiques will be received by August 1.

A jury panel of web industry experts in e-business strategy, graphic design, marketing and usability testing will rate the web sites in audience/purpose, graphics, navigation, content, functionality and search engine optimization. This year’s panel professionals include:

Jason Berry of Wildberry Production Group
Kurt Guntner of Blue Collar Design Studio
Ryan Cole of Three Pillars Media
John Stappert of Power Computing, Inc.
Angela Stueckrath of Angela Stueckrath Consulting
Lance Hedquist of South Sioux City Economic Development
Kelly Diekmann of Perfect 11 Solutions
David Hefley of Meridian Consulting
Doris Lux of Central Community College-Columbus
Derek Bierman of Shockra Multimedia and Design
Sara Brownwood of Impact! Media & Marketing
Erik Miller of CleanSheep Design
Melody Hansen of Sublime Artistry.

The juror’s biographical information and photos are available at grownebraska.org/webeval/.

GROW Nebraska member Ann Wooledge of Wingsets in Lincoln was glad she participated in a past critique. “I can say the money was certainly well spent. Their comments were very constructive and helpful.”

eValueWeb and membership applications are available on the GROW Nebraska web site at www.grownebraska.org. To find out more about eValueWeb, call GROW Nebraska at 888.GROW.NEB (476.9632), or e-mail info@grownebraska.org.

GROW Nebraska’s mission is to maximize the state’s entrepreneurial and small business spirit, create an economically viable and sustainable environment for entrepreneurs, and generate social awareness through promotion, marketing and education.

Press Release: HOLBROOK, NEB. (June 2, 2010)

Japanese wind turbine technology generating research at the University of Nebraska Kearney

MAY 18, 2010 (KEARNEY, NEB.)—Shungo Saito, senior sales manager for the North American operation of NIKKO Company, a Tokyo, Japan-based wind turbine manufacturer, today unveiled the NIKKO 1kW turbine as part of a joint relationship with the University of Nebraska Kearney (UNK). The NIKKO/UNK project now enables physics students and faculty at UNK to conduct research projects involving the collection of data on wind speeds and energy generation. Read more

SBA Offers Tools to Help Exporters Succeed

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U. S. Small Business Administration is offering new, free tools for new and established small business exporters to help them grow and succeed in international trade. Small businesses will now have access to six-part podcast series, an introduction to exporting Youtube video and an online training course.

“Exporting is a critical strategy for helping small businesses grow and create jobs,” said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. “We’re working every day to help small businesses break into exporting, reach more international markets and be more competitive in the global economy.”

The podcast series topics cover: Growing Your Business Through Exporting; Developing an
Export Strategy; Preparing for Global Markets; Conducting Market Research; SBA Exporting Loan Program; and a Small Business Exporting Success Story.

The introduction to exporting video is available at the SBA YouTube Channel and the free, online exporting course
“Take Your Business Global,” is available under the SBA’s Business Management training website.

In addition to the new online tools, SBA Resource Partners – Small Business Development Centers, Womens Business Centers and SCORE – are available to assist small businesses in every U.S. State and Territory who are interested in exporting. These resource partners can help entrepreneurs identify potential export markets, facilitate export transactions, develop linkages between United States small business and pre-screened foreign buyers, advise on participation in international trade shows, assist in obtaining export financing and in facilitating the development or reorientation of marketing and production strategies. In addition to counseling resources in every state and territory there are export specialists available at the 8 SBDC International Trade Export Assistance Centers and SCORE online international trade advisors. To find your local counseling resources please visit www.sba.gov.

Source: Release Number: 10-22
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

Grant Funds Available for Agricultural Producers and Cooperatives

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is accepting grant applications to assist small, socially disadvantaged agricultural producers and cooperatives in rural areas. Read more

Tapping into State and Federal Policies and Programs for Rural Development

Does your community understand the link between public policies and programs and how to tap into programs for rural development in Nebraska communities? Interested in federal farm programs, renewable energies and small business development programs for your community? Read more

$17,000 Available to Businesses Seeking to Transition

USDA has provided funding for 8 business exit plans for employer businesses seeking to transition over the next 2 – 6 years, and who communities and counties need to successfully retain.

NBDC will provide the program, valued at $17,000 per business at NO COST to the business owner.

What’s Included:

Limited Professional Business Valuation
Projected Business Value using 7 Unique Exit Strategies
Detailed Business Exit Plan – Developed around Owner Needs
Significant Market, Industry and GIS Data
On-Going Plan Assistance and Annual Progress Reports and Recommendations
Opportunity for Other Professionals to be Involved
NBDC Assistance for Buyer of Family Member Successor to Complete Deal

We need recommendations or nominations from Development Professionals like you.

The counties included in the grant are:

Antelope, Box Butte, Cedar, Clay, Franklin, Keith, Kimball, Knox and Sheridan.

There are only 8 spaces available so get your nominations in as soon as possible for your community or county!!

Nomination Deadline is June 1.

Thanks for your help. We’re happy to coordinate assistance with other agencies as well!

Any questions, please call me on my cell at 308.440.3009

Odee Ingersoll, Director
Nebraska Business Development Center
University of Nebraska at Kearney

Certified Economic Development Finance Professional
Member of the Institute of Business Appraisers
Member of the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts

NBDC-UNK
WSTC 127 E
1917 West 24th Street
Kearney, NE 68849-4440
http://www.nbdcunk.com

Main: 308.865.8344
Direct: 308.865.8429
Fax: 308.865.8153
Cell: 308.440.6972

AgriMarketing Professional Development Opportunity

Do you work with agriculture producers who have entrepreneurial ideas?
Do you want to learn how to effectively create a feasibility plan?
Do you want to better understand marketing concepts?
Do you want to learn about online direct marketing?

Then you need to sign up for the AgriMarketing Professional Development opportunity created by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Entrepreneurship Work Group. This professional development training will:

increase your entrepreneurial marketing knowledge, skills and confidence while working with agricultural producers on value added ideas
help improve your ability to work with clientele to develop
- sustainable value added ag-business feasibility plans,
- understand general marketing concepts, and
- develop online direct marketing strategies.

The 2 year program includes:

three face-to-face market focused trainings and a series of follow-up webinars:
- Building Feasibility – June 24 and 25, 2010
- AgriMarketing Concepts – Feb. 15 and 16, 2011
- Online Direct Marketing – Nov. 9 and 10, 2011

The promotional flyer includes more detailed information on the program highlights, workshops and expected long-term outcomes. Registration and scholarship information can be found at http://go.unl.edu/marketingforag

Application deadlines: scholarship – April 16; registration – June 3.

Space is limited so sign up NOW!

The UNL Extension Entrepreneurship work group is excited to bring this opportunity to you. This professional development opportunity is funded through a USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research Education (SARE) grant.

If you have questions, feel free to contact Jim Crandall – crandall3@unl.edu, Charlotte Narjes – cnarjes1@unl.edu, Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel – cburkhartkriesel1@unl.edu, and chancock1@unl.edu

GROW Nebraska MarkeTech Conference: Where new tech marketing meets your business

MARCH 24, 2010 (HOLBROOK, NEB.)—The lightening speed of changing technology combined with today’s ever-changing lifestyle needs makes it more challenging than ever to market products and attract repeat customers. Read more

April 8, 2010 – Getting Your Community Ready for Entrepreneurship Development

Webinars are 1 hour in length. Broadcast time is the same each month.

The first of this two part series on “Community and Entrepreneurship: A Winning Combination” is scheduled for April 8, 2010 at 2 p.m. EDT; 1 p.m. CDT; 12 noon MDT; 11a.m. PDT. Read more

USDA Announces Efforts To Increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA will award grants of up to $5 million to improve access to and increase participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – formerly the Food Stamp Program. Read more

« go back — keep looking »