Women In Business Event Offers Knowledge, Networking, Camaraderie

I should not have expected to be the only man in the room, because clearly, I was not. There was actually one other man at the Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce's "Women in Business" luncheon event, held Tuesday at El Torrito Restaurant. 

But the real story was not the two men in this room of about 30 women -- what was actually taking place at the monthly networking event was the passing on of knowledge. Karen Clark, an expert in the field of Social Media and Online Marketing and owner/operator of My Business Presence, laying out some easy ideas for the entry-level Internet user to market their business online via some simple (and free!) tools such as Facebook business pages, Twitter, and other components of social media. 

This, to me, was one of the most important business talks that I have attended in Sonoma County over the past few years. I have actually met business-people (women and men) that do not have an online presence, are afraid to get near a computer, and some that didn't even know what a "jpeg" is or how to attach it to an email. 

Marketing on the Internet remains a mystery to many small business owners who are satisfied to come up at the top of a Google search, or to get a positive review on Yelp, but who do not understand exactly why they are -- or are not -- this is happening. It's a marketing strategy that is a little bit like going to a casino and putting quarters into a slot machine and expecting to come out ahead each and every time.  Life doesn't work like that.

Businesses need exposure online and to have an effective strategy with which to engage their core clients, which in reality are the people from in and around their towns.  But how does a business-person with only a little bit of web knowledge get there?

Clark laid out some good starting points for the business-person, like creating a Facebook business page, getting involved with MerchantCircle, getting listed on Google Maps (via Google +), and on Yahoo Local. And she spoke about the importance of having a website that is kept fresh with content from a frequently updated blog. (This was the point in the meeting when some people had the "How am I ever going to get this done...?" look come across their faces).

Similar free tools are available here on Patch, that can all help a businesses online presence. By claiming one's listing in the Business Directory, a local business can add photos and videos, post events, and have what is essentially a mini-website about their business -- all in a place where local people are looking for information about what is happening in their town. 

I spoke with several women after that meeting that were elated at learning so much about marketing their businesses online.  The information had been presented in an easily digestible format. Everyone in the room had pledged to do at least one thing on the list that Clark had presented. 

However, there may have been some in the room that were looking for a shortcut.

As I left, a pair of women were going over the benefits from the business card left behind of another person whose core product is actually doing the social media and online marketing for small businesses that Clark had been amply describing how to do. I guess that, for a small price, the service would give business owners the time to do what they want to do -- and that is to run their own business!

If the women were willing to pay the cost, or dive in themselves, was an unanswered question.

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Email alex.horvath@patch.com, or call me at (415) 279-7633.