CEI

As a business owner, having your financials in order is the most important step to running your business effectively and profitability. The start of the New Year brings a new opportunity to get your accounting system and processes set up the right way. Join the Urban League of Louisiana’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation for this special series to learn the foundations for setting up QuickBooks online, managing everyday transactions and financial reports, and the key concepts and tasks that you must know for ongoing maintenance. At the close of the series, participants attending all 3 sessions will receive 6 hours of customized, one-on-one QuickBooks Online training and maintenance support from a Financial Advisor. During this session, participants will be guided through a deeper understanding of the reporting process in QuickBooks Online and how to set up your Chart of Accounts for optimal clarity into your business financials. Participants will learn how to run the three primary financial reports (income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows), how to read these reports, how to reconcile accounts, and how to create custom fields to track income/expenses. Attendees will also learn how to run other reports that are specific to your business […]

Branding is hard - for any business - in part because it is not as well understood as many businesses think. But for smaller businesses, it is even harder because it requires resources and skills you don't normally have in-house. During this session, entrepreneurs will learn the fundamental truths about branding such as the difference between “branding” and “visual identity.” This workshop will also help to clarify some of the confusion and provide some direction on how to make your own business stronger inside and out with some specific steps on developing (or re-developing) your own approach to branding. About the Facilitator: Brandon C. Armant Brandon C. Armant has nearly twenty years of experience in public relations, media relations, marketing, crisis management, and journalism; and he serves as the CEO and President of BAMM | A Communications Company that he founded in 2012. Brandon has also served as a freelance Community News Columnist for Nola.com | The Times-Picayune, Louisiana's leading source for print and online news and information; and he is the host of The Blueprint, a podcast and radio show that features professionals who are excelling and advancing within their respective industries. There is no cost to attend this […]

Digital marketing is the easiest solution for small businesses to become the talk of town. A digital marketing campaign can include SEO, email marketing, influencer marketing, mobile marketing (via text or media), PPC, video marketing, electronic billboards, affiliate marketing, in-app mobile advertisements and more. During this session, entrepreneurs will take a deep dive into the most up-to-date trends in digital marketing and how they change the competitive landscape and impact sales. In addition, participants will learn about the most effective strategies and tools that should be used to maximize your online presence and impact your bottom line. About the Facilitator: Brandon C. Armant Brandon C. Armant has nearly twenty years of experience in public relations, media relations, marketing, crisis management, and journalism; and he serves as the CEO and President of BAMM | A Communications Company that he founded in 2012. Brandon has also served as a freelance Community News Columnist for Nola.com | The Times-Picayune, Louisiana's leading source for print and online news and information; and he is the host of The Blueprint, a podcast and radio show that features professionals who are excelling and advancing within their respective industries. There is no cost to attend this informational webinar; […]

Learn how your business can be found online with Google. This workshop explains how Google Search works and how you can improve a website's visibility with Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The session also introduces products like Google My Business, Google Trends, Search Console, Google Analytics, Google Ads, and more. In this workshop, we’ll discuss best practices for: • Improving your website’s visibility in Google’s organic search results, on all devices • Creating a free Google My Business listing • Advertising your business on Google There is no cost attend; however, registration is required. Register today to reserve your seat!

For entrepreneurs, the #1 goal in marketing is to reach consumers at the moments that most influence their purchasing decisions. For optimal influence, businesses can leverage the customer buying process – the journey your customer goes through before buying your product. Today, with explosion of product choices and digital channels, coupled with the emergence of an increasingly discerning, well-informed consumer, businesses must take a more sophisticated approach to navigating this environment to capture all touch points and key buying factors. During this session, entrepreneurs will learn the key components of the customer decision journey and how they can leverage this process to increase sales. About the Facilitator: Brandon C. Armant Brandon C. Armant has nearly twenty years of experience in public relations, media relations, marketing, crisis management, and journalism; and he serves as the CEO and President of BAMM | A Communications Company that he founded in 2012. Brandon has also served as a freelance Community News Columnist for Nola.com | The Times-Picayune, Louisiana's leading source for print and online news and information; and he is the host of The Blueprint, a podcast and radio show that features professionals who are excelling and advancing within their respective industries. There is […]

Consumers have become increasingly dependent on social media platforms to identify new sources of products and services and to share information about their experiences with businesses that have patronized, good or bad. Now, more than ever, entrepreneurs must be very strategic and deliberate about offering quality products and services and delivering exceptional customer service at every single touchpoint, in-person and online. During this session, entrepreneurs will learn essential strategies for improving customer service including: - Developing a customer service strategy and plan of action - Integrating customer service into the company culture - How to train and engage employees in the customer service process - Retaining clients and creating brand ambassadors - Plus other special topics and considerations Participants will also be guided through a process mapping exercise to identify opportunities for improvement within their customer engagement process. Learn how even the smallest of changes to your customer service process can have an exponential impact on your bottom line (the butterfly effect). About the Facilitator: Brandon C. Armant Brandon C. Armant has nearly twenty years of experience in public relations, media relations, marketing, crisis management, and journalism; and he serves as the CEO and President of BAMM | A Communications […]

Managing your money can be an intimidating thought. Being financially responsible involves control, planning, and having a strategy in place to reach your financial goals. Learn how to establish reachable goals and develop new spending and saving habits that can help you increase your income and decrease spending. In addition, everyone knows you should be saving, but not everyone knows how to initiate and commit to a savings plan. Discover why it is important to save, and realize that you can make your money work for you. This workshop will answer these big questions: - What are the steps for setting financial goals? - How can you track your daily spending habits? - Are there ways to increase your income and decrease your spending? - Why is it important to set a financial goal and save? - What can you do to help your money grow? - How can you create a savings plan? During this session, a Regions associate will walk small businesses through the answers to these questions and provide guidance to get you on the road to financial well being. This webinar is a part of the Regions Next Step Seminar Series. There is no cost to […]

The National Urban League and the Urban League of Louisiana are collaborating with UPS to offer a special promotion to support local businesses with saving time and money with access to shipping discounts and credits, and other special services. UPS is committed to putting the power of logistics to work for entrepreneurs every day by providing speed, outstanding reliability, and technology tools so that you can focus on your business - not your shipping. If you have spent hours on the phone filing a shipping claim, spent weeks waiting for a resolution or response, or suffered a bad customer review because of a shipment “gone wrong," UPS Capital would like to help. UPS Capital offers a suite of customizable insurance solutions designed specifically for small businesses like you. The right shipping insurance can save you time, frustration and money. What makes it right? It needs to be customized to fit your specific needs and be optimized for how and when you ship. In addition, UPS Capital insurance coverage is a great tool to fight against lost time and money, while protecting your company’s hard-earned reputation against bad online reviews. UPS Capital insurance policies offer: - Ultimate flexibility on what to […]

Showing up when customers are searching online is more important than ever. Ensure customers can find accurate, updated information about your local business on Google Search and Google Maps, no matter which device they use. In this workshop, you will learn how to create and manage a Google business profile from start to finish. In this session, we’ll show you how to: • Create or claim your Business Profile on Google • Manage your business info across Google Search and Maps • Use Google My Business to connect with potential customers Course Facilitator: A native of Baton Rouge, Orhan Mc Millan has been in the web development and graphic design industry for over 19 years. He is founder and managing partner of DezinsINTERACTIVE. He and his team provide award winning branding, web and marketing services to start-ups, established businesses, associations and non-profits. There is no cost attend; however, registration is required. Register today to reserve your seat!

Please note that this is a multiple-day online training series via GoToTraining and cannot be split. Get the Help You Need to Start Your Business the Right Way! Have you recently started your own business and realized that you need help? Are you unsure if you have explored all of the tools and resources needed to ensure your success? Would you like more in-depth assistance with your business planning? If so, Start Up! Louisiana is for you! Start Up! Louisiana is a 9-session, online entrepreneurial training program that teaches new entrepreneurs how to launch their business ventures the right way. This series provides best practices for how to build a solid business foundation that ensures success. Topics covered focus on developing your entrepreneurial mindset, starting lean, understanding business financials, and how to effectively market to your target customer. Participants also receive individual business counseling and access to other support services and resources needed to successfully launch and grow! Ready to get started? Classes will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 13 - May 11, 5:30-8:30pm. There is no cost to attend this series. All classes will be held online via GoToTraining. Schedule- Tuesday, April 13 | Session 1: Becoming […]

In this workshop you will learn how to reach more customers and grow your business with Google Ads. In this session, we’ll talk about: • How to create an account and set up an ad campaign • How to write great ads, refine keywords, and include ad extensions • How to measure success Course Facilitator: Malaika Moran is the Owner and Lead Strategist for SOCIALSTEP Consulting. SOCIALSTEP provides marketing strategy and business development services for small- to mid-sized businesses, non-profits, and government agencies. Other services include: strategic planning, digital marketing, event logistics, class facilitation and public speaking. Malaika is also an Urban League of Louisiana Contract Business Advisor and Course Facilitator. There is no cost attend; however, registration is required. Register today to reserve your seat!

In this presentation, learners will discover how to create a search-friendly website that drives user action and supports their goals. Whether launching a new website or sprucing up an old one, this workshop will help. Course Facilitator: A native of Baton Rouge, Orhan Mc Millan has been in the web development and graphic design industry for over 19 years. He is founder and managing partner of DezinsINTERACTIVE. He and his team provide award winning branding, web and marketing services to start-ups, established businesses, associations and non-profits. There is no cost attend; however, registration is required. Register today to reserve your seat!