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On this week’s free SBDC webinar, host and director, Kelly Bearden is joined by Melissa Forziat, a nationwide marketing speaker, consultant, and author based in Southern California. Forziat provides examples of how businesses can more effectively market through partnership collaboration. Downloadable worksheets on tactical marketing options and promotional ideas, types of business allies and how to find them, and crafting the company’s message are included.
Forziat works with corporate clients and small business owners to create strategic marketing plans. She is author of the free eBook “Small Business Marketing on a Budget.”
The webinar begins with Kelly providing updates on the Bakersfield Entrepreneurship Grant Program, capital resources programs, and weather-related disaster assistance for businesses from local, state, and federal governments. This marks the 286th episode of the weekly “Webinar Wednesday” business series that provides news and information helpful to employers and business owners.
The CSU Bakersfield SBDC provides free one-on-one consulting to help small business owners. New and existing businesses can go to www.csubsbdc.com for more information or to sign up for assistance.
Timestamps - Link to when Melissa Forziat begins to speak is below in bold and underlined blue.
00:00 Intro
00:37 Upcoming webinars
01:45 What’s up today July 26, 2023
03:57 Economic Corner
06:57 Entrepreneurship Grant Program is open
08:03 Entrepreneurship Grant Program – Basic Requirements and Process
09:33 Grant Program General Eligibility Requirements and ways to qualify
10:05 Bakersfield Foodservice Management Program
11:10 Community Calendar: Business Security Improvements Grant Program
11:50 Community Calendar: 27th Annual Hispanic Business Conference & Expo – Aug. 30
12:27 Community Calendar: Central Valley Native Economic Summit – Aug. 30
12:59 Capital Corridor....debt ceiling for small business – factors that can limit raising capital
14:34 2023 Winter storm, weather-related Disaster loans and information
15:43 Benefits of EIDL winter storm, weather-related disaster loans
16:44 SBA Disaster Loans for CA Declaration 17757 vs. 17842
17:19 Photo of snowbound White Wolf Ranger Station in Yosemite National Park
17:32 Review us on Google – We would love to hear your feedback on today’s webinar
18:07 Kelly introduces today’s speakers, Melissa Forziat
19:05 Melissa Forziat begins to speak
21:25 Melissa begins the PowerPoint presentation
22:42 What we’re going to talk about
23:19 Let’s talk about profiting with partnership marketing
23:30 Word of mouth marketing
24:06 Question: On a scale of 1 to 10, how much work are you doing to generate word of mouth?
26:03 You don’t have to wait for word-of-mouth marketing to come to you
26:48 Everyone in your community can help share your story
27:09 There are 3 keys to successfully build word of mouth
27:32 Building referrals – Control the Message
34:40 Building referrals – Be the Catalyst
39:08 Building referrals – Show Gratitude & Attention
40:55 Finding Business Allies for Your Business
41:11 Partnership Marketing
41:23 Leverage your business with other businesses and access their communities
41:40 Types of Partners: Compatible Businesses or Influencers
42:34 Types of Partners: Different Business Structures
43:43 Types of Partners: Hyperlocal companies or influencers
45:42 Types of Partners: Competitors
47:47 How to Collaborate
47:58 How to build strong partnerships
48:26 What can partners do?
50:54 Most types of marketing can include collaboration
51:07 Help your community help you
52:17 Kelly rejoins Melissa for discussion and questions
53:47 Questions and Answers with attendees
