Biz Talk - Business Blog Roanoke and Beyond

July 1 always brings in new laws for Virginians.  This year the impact could be very substantial to businesses with executives and marketing and sales reps traveling across the state.  New "civil fees" will be imposed for Virginia drivers who get caught for certain felony traffic violations.

The Washington Post reports…

As part of the plan to fund the annual $1 billion transportation package approved this year, state legislators endorsed a new set of "civil remedial fees" for all misdemeanor and felony traffic violations, such as speeding 20 mph above the limit, reckless driving and, in some cases, driving with faulty brakes.

A memo of warning might be worthwhile to your employees driving for company business.  Actually, this information is crucial to all Virginia drivers.  See the entire bill here.

How many times have you said to yourself, "If I knew then what I know now"?  What would you have done differently?  Looking back at your business, what would you do different today than you did 5 years ago?    I recently read a post at ProBlogger and they challenged their readers to comment on what they know now that they wished they had known when they started their blog. 

This exercise reminds me of how important it is for a business to re-evaluate their branding and marketing strategies by applying lessons learned over the past several years.  Ask yourself a few simple questions…

1. Is my brand clear? 
2. Who are my competitors? 
3. What are my competitors doing that I'm not? 
4. How has technology changed and how can it help my business?

Read more from Ira Kaufman on Integrated Marketing Strategies.

(Roanoke, VA  June 18, 2007)  Roanoke Biz2Biz is proud to announce the addition of Susan Moore to our staff.  Susan will serve as Sales and Business Development Manager.  Susan brings with her more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience.

Susan will be working with our existing clients as well as introducing the new expansion of Roanoke Biz2Biz to “Fine Dining”, “Choice Shopping”, “Services” and “Health Linx”.  She will also be offering our clients an opportunity to expand their market beyond Roanoke with the addition of our new website www.vabiz2biz.com.

“We're excited to have Susan join us as she adds a new dimension to our team”, says Ira Kaufman, President of Roanoke Biz2Biz.  “Her experience and passion will deliver new sales opportunities to our clients.”

Roanoke Biz2Biz serves as a marketing arm for small to medium sized businesses providing tools and connections helping them generate results and revenue.

For more information:

Patsy Stewart
Operations Manager
PO Box 14094
Roanoke, VA 24038
540-563-2249
info@roanokebiz2biz.com

On Friday, July 6 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. all local Young Professional Organizations (YPOs) will convene to the railside amphitheater in downtown Roanoke for First Fridays. First Fridays is in its 20th year of providing social fundraisers for charities in the region. During its tenure the organizations has channeled over $1 million to local groups. Started as a young professional networking event, First Friday's demographics have changed throughout the years to an older audience. With this event on July 6, the YPOs in the region will try to re-establish the audience the group had originally targeted 20 years ago. The Convertible Blondes, an 80's cover band, will be performing. Admission is $5. Drink tickets are $3. Come early and stay late.  Read More about this event and other activities for Roanoke Young Professionals.

This is a continuation from our recent post about the Biz2Biz Leader's Forum Creating a Regional Presence.   Attendees learned of the challenges and opportunities facing business owners desiring to expand their business throughout Virginia and North Carolina. 

During the second segment of the forum, speakers shared marketing strategies and tools available for expanding to a new marketplace. 

Ira Kaufman, President Roanoke Biz2Biz and Online Advantage, talked about creating a regional brand where he emphasized 8 Steps to a Branding Strategy.

Tom Markiewicz, President of EvolvePoint, spoke on Accessing Social Media to Develop a Regional Presence.  Tom focused on using blogs, feeds and other social networks to market and brand a business for expansion. 

Fred Burke with Patterson Partners in Greensboro spoke on Public Relations and opportunities for growth in North Carolina and Kaithe Clark, Sound Ad-Vice Advertising, shared how traditional media can be used when expanding to a new region or marketplace.

Salem, VA, June 8, 2007 – The Express Personnel Clydesdales are coming to Salem on June 20, 21 and 22, 2007 and will appear at the Roanoke Valley Horse Show, compliments of Express Personnel Services.
  
Of a rare black and white color, the Express Clydesdales stand 17-18 hands high and weigh over 2,000 pounds each. Their shoes are the size of dinner plates and weigh over three pounds each. They are the reigning National 8-Horse Hitch and National 6-Horse Hitch Champions.
 
The Express Clydesdales have participated in many nationally recognized parades and promotional events including the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Fiesta Bowl Parade, Kentucky Derby Pegasus Parade, Orange Bowl Parade, the Calgary Stampede Parade, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the International Finals Rodeo and a DreamWorks Production Company “$1 Million Giveaway.” They most recently appeared in the 2007 Rose Bowl Parade.

For information contact:
Donna Tatum, Manager
Express Personnel Services
1109 Electric Road
Salem, VA 24153
540-389-8979
donna.tatum@expresspersonnel.com

MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES GALORE in VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA!  That's what those attending the Biz2Biz Leaders "Forum Creating a Regional Presence" learned at the Wednesday event. 

Matt Martin, Economist, Federal Reserve Bank in Charlotte, NC and Carl Mitchell, CEO, Virginia Economic Bridge shared facts and figures supporting the opportunities that Roanoke area businesses can tap into. 

Matt Martin outlined the characteristics that made North Carolina an attractive area for Roanoke businesses to expand to.  He presented some impressive charts showing the growth of North Carolina cities compared to that of Roanoke.  Roanoke was behind in the population and employment growth, however, homeownership in Roanoke was among the highest in the metro cites he compared which shows the stability of Roanoke residents.  I found it interesting that the percentage of Roanoke adults 25+ with BA degrees was the lowest of the cities.  I have uploaded Matt's presentation for those who would like to review his facts and figures.

Carl Mitchell showed how the Virginia Economic Bridge has developed resources to help businesses in southwest Virginia create a regional presence.  He outlined many tools that are available to Virginia businesses.  One website, www.SWVAonline.org shows statistical data for each southwest Virginia region.  Carl noted how new businesses to southwest Virginia are using this site to attract and recruit employees.  Virginia Business Pipeline is also a great marketing tool for area businesses.  It is an online business directory for Virginia businesses to market products and services throughout The Commonwealth.  To see other tools and resources available through the Virginia Economic Bridge see Carl Mitchell's complete presentation.

I will continue this post later with some additional tools and presentations from other speakers at the event, including marketing and branding solutions when expanding to a new market area.