University of La Verne SBDC Small Biz Blog

  Imagine you have a business, but no one knows about it. With a website, you can reach a global audience and promote your business 24/7. You can showcase your products or services, collect leads, and even sell online. But building a website can be daunting, especially if you don't have any technical skills. In this webinar, you'll learn everything you need to know to create a beautiful and functional website, even if you're a complete beginner. We'll cover everything from choosing a domain name and web hosting provider to creating your website content and designing your pages. DIY or Hire it out to a Designer Should small business owners create their own websites or outsource to a web designer? That depends on a few factors, such as your budget, time constraints, and technical skills. If you're on a tight budget and have the time, you can certainly create your own website using simple web design tools. However, it's important to keep in mind that creating a web

Verus Wellness, LLC. 185 Lexington Ln Costa Mesa, Ca 92626 Karla Andrade is the owner of Verus Wellness, LLC, and her journey began with a vision to address the limited access to registered dietitians faced by the majority of the population. Recognizing the need for health consulting services beyond hospital settings, she expanded her business from personal training to health consulting. Through networking and meeting with other providers, she realized the shared challenges in their respective sectors and sought ways to bridge the gap in healthcare access. Karla's mentor, who had previously received assistance from the SBDC, recommended the University of La Verne and specifically Sean, a business mentor at SBDC, to help Karla with her business plan and marketing strategies. "I have a business mentor, and Sean had helped her in previous years... She put me in contact with the University of La Verne, specifically with Sean,” Karla explained. Having no prior business education, K

Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your marketing efforts? In today's fast-paced digital landscape, email marketing remains a tried-and-true strategy to engage your audience, cultivate lasting relationships, and drive conversions.Stay tuned as we guide you through the intricacies of email autoresponders, teach you effective list-building strategies, and unveil the secrets to crafting visually stunning email designs that convert like never before. Get ready to revolutionize your marketing approach and make a lasting impact with email marketing! Picking a Auto Responder First step to email marketing is to use an autoresponder, a service that holds your contacts and sends mass email campaigns, because the last thing you want to do is mail merge from a from your email account and get busted for spammy activity. Mailchimp Easiest way to get started for most small businesses is Mailchimp , which provides a free account for up to 500 subscribers and sends 1000 emails a month be

La Forme 238 N. CItrus Ave Covina, Ca www.Laformefit.com Christina Lemaire is the owner of La Forme, a boutique wellness studio that offers Barre, Pilates, and Yoga that caters to women's health and fitness. Christina was originally a Barre instructor until 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when all the classes moved online. She then started teaching classes virtually from a courtyard. Christina’s first introduction to the SBDC was finding workshops in the LA Regional Network for starting and managing a business. “I’m pretty positive I googled ‘small business resources’ and it led me down a little rabbit hole to seminars online for the SBDC,” Christina explained. Christina was connected with the University of La Verne SBDC and was able to schedule an appointment with business advisor Mark Hicks within a week. Like most new business owners, Christina didn’t have a background in business and did not know how to plan a business or even where to begin. “The challenge was understanding

Starting a business and joining a multi-level marketing (MLM) company are two different paths to entrepreneurship. Both options have their pros and cons, and it's important to consider your goals, resources, and personal preferences. Let's explore the advantages and disadvantages of each path. Starting a Business Pros When starting a business, you have complete control over your brand, marketing, products, and pricing. You can work on your business at your own pace and on your own terms. You can also set your own schedule and work from anywhere, depending on your type of business. This can give your business more flexibility, and a successful business can lead to unlimited earning potential. Starting and growing your own business can be incredibly satisfying and fulfilling . Cons Starting a business can be a high-risk endeavor, and there is no guarantee of success. Now, depending on the type of business, it can require significant upfront costs , such as product development, m