Starting one’s own business is a dream held by many but successfully attained by few. It is certainly enticing for those feeling stuck in a job that is, to say the least, unpleasant and unrewarding, financially and otherwise. However, dreaming about it and actually taking the bold and risky steps necessary to achieve the dream are worlds apart.
Where to Begin
Conducting market research will assist you in identifying customers for your future or current business. In-depth analysis of the competitive landscape goes a long way in empowering you to shape your company into something that can stand out among others with whom you compete.
Some of the big-picture questions that likely need answering are the following: What is the demand for your product or service and is your market saturated with competitors providing a similar product or service? Another important thing to ponder is profit. Can you provide a service or offer a product at a price that will meet or, preferably, beat what most of your potential customers already pay or are willing to pay? Then, of course, there are social media and general digital marketing techniques, a must in this day and age but bewildering to many a small business person. Indeed, discovering any competitive advantages for your own small business is arguably one of the most important things you can do. And yet, how does one begin to accomplish all this? Can a small business person even hope to make it all happen on his or her own? The litany of questions for many can seem unending.
So Many Questions: A Unique Business Seminar Format May Be the Answer
As you seek to educate yourself about the intricacies of starting up a new business, (or making your existing one more successful), and if you don’t have mentors and investors already on your proverbial Rolodex, it can be a daunting and often depressing dilemma. Seminars and business-related events are where many people turn to discover ways and means (and strategies) to succeed as an entrepreneur. Veteran professionals can share what they have already learned the hard way, namely the experience gained through trial and error; they can be a highly valuable resource for those seeking to start or revitalize their business. However, not all education providers are equal; some should be avoided, some perhaps considered and a precious few sought out.
A Provider Called “QnA Summit” Offers a Unique Angle
One provider worthy of note is an event provider known as QnA Summit (Q&A Summit). The conferences they host stand out from the usual fare due to a unique interactive quality. What makes these events special is quite intriguing and yet so simple that one might wonder why no one else has tried it already.
QnA Summit brings to the table the ability for its conference-goers to ask questions directly to the speakers at virtually any time throughout an expert’s presentation via a live microphone. The provider claims this to be the first-ever conference with a truly open mic where the audience can pose their questions during talks and panel discussions. (The company’s microphone attendants deliver the microphone once the speaker is allowed to finish a thought or complete a point.) This makes QnA Summit different and is a big selling point above and beyond their many competitors. And, indeed, with a preponderance of glowing feedback, it certainly seems to make a big difference for those in attendance.
Miguel Salvado, the founder of QnA Summit, says his strategy lies in an interweaving of "entry-level, medium, and advanced entrepreneurs in a conference that's tailored to encourage the professionals to not just give speeches but fully interact and share experiences with conference-goers.”
This writer certainly is impressed having found nothing quite like it and it almost goes without saying that anything potentially giving you an edge in making your business thrive and be profitable is to be recommended.
A Sampling of the Pros Attending Last June’s “QnA Summit”
The QnA Summit first edition held last June 27 attracted about 100 attendees. Audience participation was a big part of the event. Some talks and panel discussions had about 50% time reserved for audience Q&A.
The following are a few presenters in attendance at the last (and the company’s premiere) summit, which was focused on "How to Scale Up Your Business":
Alexandra Isenegger is distinguished by being on the Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list. She is the founder and CEO of Linkilaw, a legal platform for startups that provides comprehensive and affordable legal services, including contract writing, and other invaluable advice to businesses.
Donna Jackson beat many to the punch when she founded a digital agency in 2009 and trailblazed by working with some of the first tech startups and digital businesses. A described “thought leader”, Donna recently spoke at Google Talks to Google staff on "Who Will Own the Internet in the Next Five Years." She focuses on principles of leadership, content curation, B2B and B2C marketing, digital strategy and social media marketing.
Dr Rodrigo Perez-Vega, a successful (and published) author, is a lecturer in Marketing at Henley Business School and researches such areas as digital marketing, online consumer behavior, social media marketing, social CRM, and applications of AI to marketing, all complex but important subjects of which many new business owners would likely have little ability or knowledge to exploit.
According to the event provider, QnA Summit will be held biannually in May and November. More information about November's QnA Summit (second edition) will be announced soon.