Opportunity Machine’s Small Business Boot Camp is designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing a framework to learn about the basics of running a business.
Classes will take place every Tuesday (except Mardi Gras) from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm for nine weeks (February 5 – April 9) in the Opportunity Machine suite at 537 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA. It’s FREE to attend, however, registration is required due to limited seating. Please make sure you register for each individual session you plan to attend.
February 5 – Develop Your One Phrase Business Strategy
February 12 – Social Media Content Creation
February 19 – Build Your Brand and Rule the World
February 26 – Pricing Products and Services
March 12 – How to Use Storytelling for Social Media and PR Success
March 19 – Accounting: Measuring Results for Success
March 26 – Sales for Startups and Small Businesses
April 2 – Legal: Why You’re Not Your Company When Liability Looms
April 9 – Managing Your Most Important Resource: People
Session Descriptions
Develop Your One Phrase Business Strategy
Tom Cox, founder and CEO of Golfballs.com, will share the details of his company’s unique business strategy that has proven to be successful in the highly competitive golf retail market. Come prepared to discuss your current business strategy in a round-table format!
Social Media Content Creation
Are you having difficulties knowing how to price your product? Does your small business need a value for its services? Join Dr. Joby John, professor in the Department of Marketing and Hospitality at UL, as he constructs a pricing decision for your service and/or your product. By calculating breakeven and understanding 3 main pricing strategies, you’ll have better insight into giving your products and services the value that is deserved.
Build Your Brand and Rule the World
Advertising, marketing, communications, social media, Facebook ads, flyers, public relations, email campaigns, word of mouth, online review, tv, radio, newspaper, billboards…where do you even begin? How do you avoid wasting precious resources – money, time, money, and mostly money? It all begins (and ends) with building a brand. Who is your target audience? What message should you use to connect with them? Where do you put that message? Building your brand begins from the inside out. And it’s crucial to building your business.
Pricing Products and Services
Are you having difficulties knowing how to price your product? Does your small business need a value for its services? Join Dr. Joby John, professor in the Department of Marketing and Hospitality at UL, as he constructs a pricing decision for your service and/or your product. By calculating breakeven and understanding 3 main pricing strategies, you’ll have better insight on giving your products and services the value that is deserved.
Sales for Startups and Small Businesses
If you’re just starting out as a sales professional or business owner and would like to close more deals and sign up more clients, or if you’ve been a sales professional for some time and are looking to pick up a few tips along the way, this class is for you. By taking this class, you’ll learn more about a systematic way to sell your product or service, a process fit to your company in finding what works in your cell cycle and what to do about it.
How to Use Storytelling for Social Media and PR Success
Around a campfire, dinner table or maybe even the latest Netflix rom-com – stories can keep us captivated and leave us speechless. Simply posting on Facebook or sending out your latest press release isn’t enough. Storytelling is one of most basic aspects of humanity and you may be missing out on some serious exposure by not leveraging it. In this talk, Rally Marketing Vice President Rodney Hess will give you actionable tactics on how to use storytelling for social media and PR success.
Legal: Why You’re Not Your Company When Liability Looms
Taught by Loyola Law graduate and local real estate attorney, Brandon Bradley, this class provides business law education on topics including entity differences, individual vs. entity liabilities, liability coverage, risk management, employment contracts, as well as products liability and worker’s compensation. As a business owner, there are many questions and concerns to bring to the attention of those who know just how to answer, and this is your opportunity!
Accounting: Measuring Results for Success
Join Trae O’Pry, CPA and CVA at Broussard Poche LLP, here at the OM to fulfill a better understanding of the basics of accounting. From basic concepts of account types to inputting and paying invoices, from a program to reconcile a bank statement, this class is your opportunity to gain more of an understanding on your accounting and financial needs as a small business owner. Allow Trae to answer any specific questions you may have for your own business, therefore steering you in the right direction for what’s to happen next for your books!
Managing Your Most Important Resource: People
No matter what industry your business may fall under–industrial technologies, healthcare, oil and gas, or even education–there should be investments in not only monetary resources but most importantly in your employees and those who represent your company. Acadiana Society for Human Resource Management makes investments every day by educating others in their roles as a human resources providers. Now, at OM, you can have the chance to invest. The ASHRM team will help you understand the HR fundamentals including performance management, information on employment law and compliance, as well as types of benefits and compensation. Sign up to invest your time in your human resources today!
