 Crowd Funding: Problem or Solution?
Equity Based Sites Look for Help from Congress
A North Dakota brewer raised $41,000 in equity investment over the internet from 17 people this year using crowd funding site Pro Founders, and then the site was shut down. According to according to a Wall Street Journal article, the problem was that the site had not complied with securities laws. Bills are currently being considered to waive somesecurities regulations for startup financing. Consumer advocates worry that this may promote fraud. Some small business advocates worry that firms raising capital this way may get entangled in securities law suits. Much has been written about donation based crowd funding sites like Kickstarter, but equity based sites give opportunities to firms that need equity and don't inspire donations or meet the standards of traditional angel groups. Pro Founders may be gone, but sites like WealthForge and MicroVenture Marketplace have complied with securities law and are accepting applications. |
Myths About Social Media Forbes Guru Mixes the Old with the New 
"Everybody is on Social Media". "You can't do everything in-house". "You can't measure ROI". "Social media can replace your website". Not true says Forbes contributor and online marketer Neal Rodriguez. Social media has just added to the range of marketing tools available he says in a recent article. He goes on to explain how a small business can merge the new with the old to deliver their message to their customers. The article is rich with links to other sites that help you maximize your marketing efforts. |
Expert Insight: Branding is Everything
Michael Davis, Advertising Executive and SCORE Counselor
"There is much more to a brand than a name or a logo. A brand is a collection of promises, traits and characteristics. It has a personality. A brand means something and stands for something, and people are buying the promises that are in the brand as much as they are buying the product or service that the brand is on. So always be conscious of your own brand and how you are presenting it in the marketplace. Everything you do contributes to your brand's image."
Make an appointment for more expert insight. |
Success Stories: Managing Photo Growth
Taking Special Events to the Next Level
Erik Pierce's special event photography service Paparazzi Tonight was growing rapidly was growing rapidly when he came to SCORE. The question was how to continue to expand.
His company was creating entertainment for parties by providing costumes and taking photographs that were instantly available to guests. The question was when to ad staff and office space and how to budget.
"SCORE offered us an unbiased voice of reason to help us work our projections for the future," says Erik. "I have recommended SCORE to many others."
Paparazzi's work can next be seen at the Holiday Ale Festival through December 4 at Pioneer Square. He will be taking photos to promote the Oregon Lottery's Holiday Sweater Scratchits.
|
