THE GROWSMARTBIZ CONFERENCE

Wired Magazine Editor-in-Chief Chris Anderson to Keynote the Conference

Enter code NSFRIEND or SHASHIB at checkout to register for the $299 conference for just $99, courtesy of AIW friend Shashi Bellamkonda, NetSol’s Social Media Swami.

Hosted by Network Solutions®, the GrowSmartBiz Conference will bring small businesses, from startups to well-established companies, together with industry experts through group learning discussions and networking opportunities.  Well-known industry leaders will share their insights on propelling small business growth and marketing small businesses effectively and efficiently, regardless of business sector and business longevity. Wired Magazine Editor-in-Chief Chris Anderson will serve as a keynote speaker for the first-ever GrowSmartBiz Conference, to be held on Tuesday, September 29, at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. Registration information can be found at: http://growsmartbusiness.com/small-business-conference.

“We are excited to bring together the best and brightest minds in small business, and are thrilled to have Chris join us for the first ever GrowSmartBiz conference,” said Roy Dunbar, Chairman and CEO of Network Solutions. “He has a tremendous background in technology and innovation, and truly understands the importance of small business, as well as the unique challenges small business owners face.”

The small business sector is responsible for more than 40 million jobs and a reported $6 trillion in revenues in 2008. The GrowSmartBiz Conference was created as a result of the Small Business Success Index (SBSI) – an ongoing measurement of the overall health of small businesses commissioned by the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business and Network Solutions. The conference will focus on key areas of business that small businesses view as critical to their success, including:  access to capital, marketing and innovation, and computer technology.

Through keynote addresses, panel discussions and networking opportunities, attendees will leave the conference with:

• Insights into best practices of successful small businesses,
• Proven strategies for business growth despite the current economy,
• Executable, cost-effective ways to market and promote their businesses,
• Knowledge of what banks believe is the key to securing small business financing, and
• Actionable ideas for integrating and leveraging social media into existing marketing and communications efforts

Registration for the event is open and all attendees who register before August 7 will receive $100 off the registration fee. For more information regarding the GrowSmartBiz Conference, please visit the conference site at http://growsmartbusiness.com/small-business-conference.

Enter code NSFRIEND or SHASHIB at checkout to register for the $299 conference for just $99, courtesy of AIW friend Shashi Bellamkonda, NetSol’s Social Media Swami.

DATE: Tuesday, September 15, 2009
TIME: 6:30 pm for networking and 7 pm for the event
COST: $15

LOCATION:
Project Performance Corporation
1760 Old Meadow Road, McLean, VA 22102

These days, a great resume just isn’t enough. To build your platform, snag an awesome job, and win lucrative clients, you need a strong personal brand to back up your official credentials. Think of it this way: personal brand = street cred.

On Tuesday, September 15, Kristen King, MPS (of Inkthinker and KristenKing.com), will discuss how she used social media to craft a strong brand online and share actionable tips you can use to build your personal brand. Kristen has been blogging since 2006, is an avid user of Twitter and Facebook, and has taught about websites and social media at American Independent Writers, The George Washington University, Virginia Press Women, and the National Press Club, among other venues.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Identify your social media goals
• Pick the right tools for the job
• Work social media into your business routine
• Build a targeted online presence
• Increase your network of followers and friends

SIGN UP FOR THIS EVENT

About the sponsor
Project Performance Corporation, part of the AEA group, is a management consulting firm integrating world leading expertise in the areas of environment and energy with cutting edge IT and global management. Their customers include top government and Fortune 500 decision makers.

Are you an AIW member with a news item to share? Are you involved with an event for writers? E-mail the details to MarCom Committee Chair Kristen King.