For all Michigan Rock Star Entrepreneurs, MEDC is inviting Michigan companies to apply for INC 500 and contributing the $100 fee.

Here is an opportunity to get your fast growing business listed in the Inc 500/5000.   This is a great public relations opportunity and we encourage your consideration to use this opportunity or to share with associates that you feel will gain from this excellent recognition and exposure.  Let’s put our Great Lakes region on the technology entrepreneur community leadership map which will attract more entrepreneurs, investors, team members, and customers! As a thank you for doing business in Michigan, MEDC will contribute your $100 application fee to Inc.

The state’s economic development agency, the MEDC is providing a streamlined and no cost application process for entrepreneurs to apply for the Inc. 500|5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the country.  Honorees who make the list will be recognized in Inc. Magazine as well as online at www.Inc.com.  Additionally, a special celebration will be held at the annual Inc. 500/5000 Conference later this year. The goal is to increase the number of Michigan companies recognized on the list each year.

Michigan based companies should contact the assigned concierge, Colleen Armstrong, Senior Project Specialist for Inc. 500|5000 at 212.389.5504 or via e-mail at cgwen@inc.com, to apply. (The deadline may be extended by 2 weeks for Michigan companies ONLY so please be sure to contact the concierge to apply). As a benefit to you, MEDC and Inc. have partnered to provide Michigan companies with personalized concierge services to walk you through the application process.

MEDC hopes to see you at the annual Inc. 500|5000 Conference in September 30–October 2, 2010, to celebrate other Michigan companies and alumni.

As a thank you for doing business in Michigan, MEDC will contribute your $100 application fee to Inc. We look forward to celebrating your success as part of the Inc. 500|5000 community.

Thanks to Lisa Dancsok, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications of MEDC for sharing this opportunity with us.

A corporate brand isn’t just about your logo, website and Facebook fan page. Your brand is the source of a promise to your customer. It’s really all about making sure that everything you do as a company has a coordinated look and feel about it. Graphically, that means creating a logo, choosing a corporate color (or colors), a typeface, and often a photo or illustration style.

Content-wise, it means honing in on the key points of your marketing messages to clearly, concisely, and compellingly reach your target audience. Taking the steps to establish a consistent message and image will pay off with customer loyalty, vendor confidence and employee pride.

The following questions will help you define or evaluate your current brand.

1. What products and/or services do you offer?

2. What are the core values of your products and services? (fun, creative, honest, etc.)

3. What are the core values of your company?

4. What is the mission of your company?

(keep this short, succinct, and inspiring )

5. What does your company specialize in?

6. Who is your target market? (age, education, etc.)

7. Who do your products and services attract?

8. Try to use your answers to create a tagline.

(be succinct, memorable, descriptive)

In order to perfect the image and message of your brand you must do the research to determine your target audience and how you want to be seen by that audience. Upon review of your answers you will begin to see the character of your company. What qualities stand out? Is your company innovative, energetic, or classic? Which of these characteristics and qualities get the attention of your prospects? Review the answers and create a profile of your brand.

More to come:

Part 2- Create Your Visual Brand…

Part 3- Protect Your Brand…

Part 4- Monitor Your Brand…

Please contact Connie Sweet at Connection Graphics 517-645-4387 or info@connectiongraphics.com with re-print permission and questions.

Although some reports state traditional newspapers are experiencing declining readership, numbers actually show an increase in readers. This increase is due in part to the migration of readers online. Consider this when building your marketing campaign. To get the most from your display advertising, it is critical to advertise in print as well as utilize online advertising. Facebook is enjoying the largest number of hits per second on the internet right now but when  you are attempting to reach a local audience, print publications are still king. Follow the 10 tips below to get the most value from your time and money. Give us a call if you need help creating professionally designed advertisements. Connection Graphics is here to deliver solutions for building your brand in print and online.

1. People buy what they know – branding and name recognition is the primary value of advertising. Six months, and preferably a year, of consistent, repetitive messaging to your targeted demographic sees the best results.
2. Multiply your marketing channels-— print ads, inserts, online campaigns, signage, magazines, newsletters, coupons, specialty advertising, etc. — customized to attain your marketing objectives in your market(s).
3. Work with expert(s) – Well-trained newspaper ad representatives and experienced graphic designers can provide targeted ad campaigns that reach your audience.
4. Combine a mix of print and online media – attain maximum reach of your message to multiple markets to get the best results.
5. Bigger is not always better – choose a small ad for a longer amount of time rather than a large ad for a shorter run.
6. Online advertising – always include a link to your website, special offers encourage people to ACT NOW!
7. Educate – change your message every four to six weeks, but always keep your visual brand, your logo, colors, images, etc. consistent .
8. Choose special sections – those that are specifically targeted to an audience you want to reach. Also, these sections are often saved so have a longer shelf life.
9. Be patient – some quick sales may happen but it takes time to build brand recognition.
10. Advertise to bring them in – deliver to keep them coming back. Provide quality service and products, build on your brand promise to keep the customers your advertising attracts.

Re-print with permission from: Connie Sweet, Connection Graphics – info@connectiongraphics.com

Capital Area Michigan Works! is participating with the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth and Microsoft to implement Elevate America, a program designed to build Greater Lansing’s workforce-related skills in a 21st Century economy.

Elevate America provides access to FREE Microsoft E-Learning courses and certification exams. Beginning learners can access free training online. Intermediate and Advanced learners can visit a Capital Area Michigan Works Service Center to receive a voucher. Vouchers are available through April 9, 2010.

Intermediate vouchers are available to help job seekers, students, small business owners and residents upgrade their Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Access and Excel skills (2003 or 2007), as well as Microsoft Vista skills. Additionally, learners can receive vouchers for the Microsoft Office Specialist Exam (2003) and Microsoft Office Certified Application Specialist Vista and Office Exam (2007). Free testing is available with vouchers at New Horizons in Lansing.

Those with existing IT experience can upgrade their skills further with vouchers for access to 89 different e-learning courses to help IT professionals prepare for Microsoft Certifications. Elevate America advanced e-learning courses support occupations such as Web/Windows Developers, Support Technicians, Database Administrators, Systems Administrators, Systems Engineers, Enterprise Administrators and Server Administrators.

Small businesses and existing professionals are welcome and encouraged to receive vouchers.

For more information, visit your local Capital Area Michigan Works! office in Lansing, St. Johns, or Charlotte.

Teri Sand, PHR, CBSP Capital Area Michigan Works!, 2110 South Cedar Street, Lansing, MI 48910 Direct Phone 517-492-5516; Fax 517-492-5501; Email tsand@camw.net

March 12 Grand Rapids 9am-4:30pm Davenport University M-6 Campus

March 19 Livonia 9am – 4:30pm Davenport University

Register at www.miceed.org

The theme this year is “Bridging the Gap from Good to GREAT!” All our companies are good and many of them are great. The training is geared to make even the great greater. Our focus this year is on GROWTH!

Steven Hughes, who received rave reviews for his presentation on “Emotional Intelligence” last year, is presenting “Seven Essentials of Greatness” as a follow up this year. Davenport is also part of the Marketing Panel to bring us up-to-date on Internet Marketing and Social Media for business. Chrysler is providing insight into customer diversifi cation. And two of our powerful women business owners will be presenting on branding (online and off). Connie Sweet of Connection Graphics will discuss branding and corporate identity as it relates to small and large corporations – on and off line. Our keynote this year is Rita Woodruff of Gill Industries. Rita and her sister have taken over from her mother, Rita Williams, and she will be sharing the story of their ups and downs and lessons learned along the way to a multi-million dollar enterprise. Not bad for a full day of training. Don’t miss this event! Last year’s participants were overwhelmed with the value they received and it is our goal to make this event even better this year. The cost for CEED members will be $125 and for non-members $139. For registration or questions, please call Kathi Boyle at 734.677.1400 or email kboyle@miceed.org. Register at www.miceed.org

Sponsored by:

Small Business Administration, Comerica Bank and Davenport