Avoid these mistakes that business owners often make: 1) Ignoring your brand You put a lot of effort into your branding. Your social media efforts should carry the same message and branding. Inconsistent branding may confuse or turn off customers. 2) Putting in minimal or inconsistent effort Your social media efforts must be consistent and timely...
Hello, this is Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Leading up to the holiday season, I’m sure most of us were busy finding that perfect gift. Many consumer’s buying habits include purchasing from online retailers and taking advantage of Cyber-Monday and other web-based deals. However, if you...
By Amy Kuhlers, Program Manager and Network Builder, IASourcelink Cyber-attacks on small and medium-sized businesses are on the rise. The reason? Criminals assume that smaller companies are less aware of the risks and have less resources at hand to protect their data. This assumption has merit, but it doesn’t need to. ...
By Lea Hensel and Cally Reed, UNI Business and Community Services For many entrepreneurs and business owners, marketing is not in your primary wheelhouse. You’re busy running the business, managing people, paying bills, balancing accounts, etc. And so it often means that marketing becomes an afterthought or is done hastily and...
By Joe Bolick, Iowa Waste Reduction Center Where do I even begin? In today’s business world, you really have no choice but to have a social media presence. But having a presence and actually being effective are not one in the same. It can be complicated and time consuming. The days of...
Complying with regulations is often considered one of the necessary evils of small business ownership, and recognizing which regulations apply to your business can be a hurdle to jump. Even the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) agrees that some regulations should be modified or repealed and is now seeking input...
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are the backbone of the American economy. According to the SBA, firms with fewer than 100 employees make up the largest share of small business employment. The reality is that companies of all sizes are at risk, and small and medium-sized businesses are growing targets...
By Lea Hensel, UNI Business and Community Services I have been working from home for almost eight years. I have a very love/hate relationship with the situation. And I’ve learned that giving advice about working from home is very similar to giving advice about parenting. What works for me, may not...
Our state has a rich tradition of biotech innovation. The Iowa Biotechnology Association hopes to continue that tradition with a “first-ever”, day-long Biotech Innovation Showcase we’re adding to the agenda for our “Partnering For Growth” forum on Wednesday, March 30th. The event is the result of industry leaders and investors seeking...
To enhance supplier access to state procurement opportunities and facilitate online solicitation responses, the Iowa Department of Administrative Services (DAS) has implemented Iowa Vendor Self Service (VSS). This new online bidding system replaces DAS eBid, and will feature bid opportunities posted by DAS Central Procurement Enterprise (DAS-CPE), Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities,...
