Thinking about exporting? Come to our next Cornerstones

If you have been thinking about expanding your market and selling your products or services internationally, but not sure who to talk to or where to get started, then come to our event on July 9 (get more details by clicking on title of post). Two international trade experts will be there to tell you what to think about, how to get started and what some other companies learned when they went global.

Our two experts are:
Paul Taylor, chair of the Oregon Export Council and a trade law expert
Scott Goddin, Director of the Portland U.S. Export Assistance Center

Thursday, July 9; 7:30 a.m. at Alliance lobby conference room

Are you thinking about expanding to an international market? What have you learned so far?

Stimulus Dollars for Small Business

Today, two experts shared some really helpful information with the group. Sam Brooks, founder and chairman of OAME and Gabe Silva from the OECDD. They talked about different programs through the state and through the SBA that give small businesses access to capital. Both Sam and Gabe also stressed the importance of getting your business plan certified and getting your certification together if you are a woman or minority-owned business.

OAME is currently administering more than $1 million in SBA loans and OECDD has a bunch of programs for you to learn more about. OAME is doing orientations about their loan program the second Tuesday of each month. The next one is Tuesday, June 9. Here's a link: http://www.oame.org/ and go to Access to Capital tag under the Events Calendar listing on the lefthand side.

Gabe from OECDD has a bunch of information and have a link to his powerpoint.
http://www.slideshare.net/portlandalliance/oecdd-cornerstones-stimulus-funds-presentation

Social Media Research: Kerry Finsand & Kelli Matthews

Portland Biz Alliance Cornerstone Conversations

View more presentations from kellimatthews.

Thanks for inviting us! We're both happy to answer questions.

Kerry Finsand
@kfinsand
kerry@goseetell.com

Kelli Matthews
@kmatthews
kmatthew@uoregon.edu

Cornerstones on Thursday: Researching Social Media

We have two social media gurus with us on Thursday morning to talk about how to start your organization's social media plans off on the right foot - with sound research. U of O Professor Kelli Matthews and Kerry Finsand from GoSeeTell.com. Use link above to register.

Details: Thursday, May 7; 7:30 a.m. 200 SW Market, lobby conference room.

Photos from the April event on Flickr

Pictures from the April 2 Cornerstones event "Marketing to the Hispanic Community" have been posted on Flickr. Check them out >>

Hispanic marketing event

Many people contributed to a great event yesterday. "Marketing to the Hispanic Community" included Gale Castillo, President of the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber and Melanie Davis, Managing Director of El Hispanic News. One of the event sponsors, Regence, was also represented by Francisco Garbayo who leads Latino marketing and outreach efforts for Regence BlueCross BlueShield. All three guests stressed the importance of:

• Relationship building
• Having people on staff who are not only bilingual, but also bicultural
• Brand loyalty is multigenerational once that trust is established

Gale Castillo handed out helpful background info which can be found at the link above. Any one have any success stories or words of advice for marketing to the Hispanic population?

TV advertising and DVR/Tivo

Interesting story in NYT about advertisers working with Tivo and DVR on how to be successful on TV w/ the new age of fast forwarding through commercials. See link. Anyone still watch commercials these days? There are a few I actually watch. Are they the most emotional??