SMALL BUSINESS BANNER:                                      October 2015
Did You Know?

Dalton was listed as #4 on the 
"Top 10 Best Places to Start a Business in Georgia" list?
(NerdWallet, 8/2015)

Discover resources offered by the State of Georgia: www.georgia.org/smallbusiness
COOL NEWS: 
Local Small Business, AstroTurf, supplies artificial
grass for the Houston Texans 

Presented by: BizJournals.com

When the NFL's Houston Texans decided to switch from a grass field to artificial turf at NRG stadium they needed some help.  In steps AstroTurf. 
To read the rest of the story, click HERE.
Do you need any assistance with your small business?
(L to R): Carl Campbell (Executive Director), Barbara Ward (Director of Workforce Dev.), and Summer Nix (Project Manager). 

If you're looking to start your first business or
 wanting to expand an established business, the Chamber and Development Authority can help!  

No question is too big or too small- we've heard them all. 

Call 706-278-7373 for immediate assistance. 
Take Advantage of these FREE Opportunities...
Provided by SCORE
5 Simple & Affordable Social Media Tactics for Your Small Business
Thursday, October 15th at 1:00 PM EDT

Social media marketing is hard, particularly for small and medium sized businesses. In this session, we'll will share practical tips for using social media to drive real business results, without a huge budget.You'll come away with techniques you can apply immediately to your business and be given a chance to ask questions of one of the leaders in the field.

Free of Charge: For more information or to register click 
5 Ways to Prepare Your Business for the Holidays
Thursday, November 3rd at 1:00 PM EDT

Preparing your business for the all-important holiday season entails far more than putting out decorations and putting in long hours! From marketing to operations, we'll cover strategies that you can use to simplify your efforts, increase satisfaction, drive sales, and spread holiday cheer. 

Free of Charge: For more information or to register click HERE
Update Your Marketing Materials & Digital Media for 2016
Thursday, November 12th at 1:00 PM EDT

During this webinar, you will learn simple tips and tricks you can do yourself to make your printed collateral more impactful.  Additionally, simple tweaks to your existing web and social presence can make all the difference in positioning yourself above the competition. 
 
Prepare your business for the new year with actionable steps you can take to improve your brand and image through updated marketing materials.

Free of Charge: For more information or to register click HERE
Classes in Your Area...
Sponsored by the Small Business Development Center through UGA.
The SBDC will be holding multiple classes in our area: 

October 23: Grow Smart Series (Atlanta, GA)
October 27: Digital Marketing Boot Camp (Kennesaw, GA)
October 29: SBA Business Loan Requirements (Atlanta; US Small Business Admin.)
November 5: Becoming a Camera-Ready Venor (Atlanta)

 Click HERE to learn more!
How to get better email open rates
By: Georgia SBDC

Just like social media, you have to be almost a word-smith with email too. Many complain that their open rates have plummeted, their emails get marked as spam, or their contacts are unsubscribing and "they're losing them forever."
Everything from subjects lines, colors, boring content, to images, can all play a role in whether someone will read your email or banish it to the Junk or spam folder. A poor email can also reflect badly on your organization, because it can make you look unprofessional.

Here are some tips on how to make your news newsletter more successful...
 
Click here to read the entire post. 
Contact:
100 S. Hamilton Street, Dalton, GA 30720
Made possible by Grow Greater Dalton 2.0 Investors