The Women’s Business Center at JEDI (serving women and men throughout Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity and Humboldt counties) seeks to offer the latest trends and success strategies to small business people looking to grow and thrive.

The Women’s Business Center at JEDI (serving women and men throughout Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity and Humboldt counties) seeks to offer the latest trends and success strategies to small business people looking to grow and thrive. The two upcoming workshops provide insight and hands-on training in two areas of great importance these days: A webinar reviewing the use of social media to raise badly needed start up or growth capital-crowdfunding; and two in-person workshops on video marketing to gain more customers.

The WBC at JEDI is offering this free webinar to bring exciting new trend information to a large audience of people. “Crowdfunding: How to Turn Your Network into Funding” will be held on Wednesday Aug. 9, from noon–1 p.m.

According to iFundwomen.com, crowdfunding is a fast way to get one’s startup, small business or side hustle off the ground. Crowdfunding means raising money, usually in small increments from lots of people, on the internet. Most of the funding will come from one’s network of people: Friends, family, industry folk and social networks, who want to support your idea. You owe your funders nothing in return except succeeding, stated a JEDI press release.

After analysis of nearly a half million crowdfunding campaigns, PwC in collaboration with The Crowdfunding Center has found that women are an average 32 percent more successful at reaching their funding targets than men across sectors and in every geography where campaigns are launched. The report entitled “Women Unbound: Unleashing Female Entrepreneurial Potential” released today also found that in the U.S. and the UK, campaigns run by women also command higher pledge amounts – on average $10 more than campaigns run by men.

According to the webinar presenter Kathleen Minogue of Crowdfund Better, “More funds will be raised via crowdfunding than venture capital in 2017, but only 2 percent of [men and women owning small businesses] are using crowdfunding to fund their business. The main reason: They don’t know about it!”

The August webinar will cover: What crowdfunding is and how it is different from traditional loans and private investment, the four types of crowdfunding and credible platforms, basic elements of a seed crowdfunding campaign (and how to avoid the big potholes) and the crowdfunding secret to success. To register for the Aug. 9 Crowdfunding Webinar, from noon–1 p.m., contact info@e-jedi.org or call (530) 926-6670, ext. 10.

The second trend to be presented is Video Marketing. The workshop, “Is Video Marketing Right for Your Business?” will be offered at the WBC at the JEDI office on two consecutive Tuesdays, Aug. 8 and 15 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at 205 Chestnut Street in Mount Shasta.

Did you know that 85 percent of American internet users view online video? Think of what that could mean when you are trying to gain the attention for your product or service. It has become standard branding in marketing and it’s easy for you to learn, stated the press release. Creating a short business video to post on your website, social media platform or email campaign is a trusted way of increasing SEO rankings and engaging viewers. Instructor Robin Fator, a website designer, business coach and entrepreneur, will teach the basics of making a simple, effective video that promotes your business, products and targets customers – and the best tools for creating it.

“Using video to promote your business, make sales, and communicate with your target customer is the future of marketing,” said Fator. “Whether you are a startup, own a small business, or are buying air time for the Super Bowl, your video advertising speaks volumes about your brand, products and values. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then a video is worth 1,000 pictures.”

According to a Hubspot study four times as many customers would rather watch a video about a product than read about it. (Animoto, 2015) Source: www.hubspot.com/marketingstatistics?_ga=2.6447163.866349424 .1500589119-746446864.1500589119). And almost 50 percent of internet users look for videos related to a product or service before visiting a store. (Google, 2016) Source: www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics?_ga=2.6447163.866349424.1500589119-746446864.1500589119). Video marketing is more than a trend and it applies for small businesses as well as large. Video marketing allows potential customers to have an experience before choosing to purchase.

Following the workshop, participants may schedule a free consultation with Fator. She can assist with making a video and/or uploading it to a website, social media platform or email campaign.

Fator will also create a Facebook group where workshop participants can ask questions and share videos with other business owners.

The workshop cost is $20 for JEDI members. Women and men are welcome and encouraged to take advantage of this specialized workshop. To register, contact JEDI at (530) 926-6670, ext. 10; or email jpayton@e-jedi.org. Purchasing an annual membership for $25 helps support the WBC at JEDI and provides member discounts for classes and workshops.