Consider the tentative growth of global marketing budgets, these three resources identified by Small Business Trends as being helpful for launching your own business overseas are very timely.

In particular, they highlight the importance of attending conferences and trade events.  The rationale?  "Trade fairs and shows allow you to introduce international buyers, distributors or representatives to your products or services... You’ll also be able to meet other small business owners and gain their insight about what’s worked for them, what hasn’t worked and get an insider perspective about what could be in store for you as well."

They’ve also identified a searchable list to find official trade missions and trade events sponsored by the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.  Click through to learn more about this and their other identified resources for encouraging overseas business growth.

The SBA's Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs)  offer assistance in outreach, assessment, long and short-term business training, counseling, directed referring, and online assistance to veterans, service disabled veterans, and Reserve business owners and entrepreneurs.

According to the FAQ of one of AGi's local VBOCs, the services provided include "assessing their entrepreneurial needs and requirements, developing business plans, entrepreneurial training and counseling to include accounting, marketing and other business functions."

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Malcolm Gladwell: Choice, Happiness, and Spaghetti Sauce

"Tipping Point" author Malcolm Gladwell gets inside the food industry's pursuit of the perfect spaghetti sauce -- and makes a larger argument about the nature of choice and happiness.

The SBA reports that Microsoft has initiated a free online training program that is designed to help small business owners learn the computer essentials required to run your business.

 

Business Technology Simplified features three self- paced online courses that cover basic technology tools and a range of technology-related areas that are vital to your business. Each course gives tips on how to use modern technology and innovation in the day-to-day operation of a business.  As a business owner, you can learn practical, relevant and easy to use approaches to save time and money, reach more customers, and take advantage of the current business software.

Some of the topics covered in the series include:

• Desktop Technology Benefits

• Saving Time Using Technology

• Using Web-Based Services

• Reaching More Customers by Extending Your Business Online, and

• Managing Your Sales Pipeline

Related articles

• SBA Partners with Microsoft to Deliver Technology e-Learning Series (virtual-strategy.com)
• Microsoft partners with SBA to offer courses (trib.com)
• SBA course puts power in hands of small business (timesrecordnews.com)