SOHO/SME Business Conference and Expo

The SOHO/SME Business Conference and Expo is an event that brings business professionals together to connect with the latest in technology, products & services, and customer generation. In essence, it is a venue where small and medium-size companies can learn techniques, as well as network (pitch) their ideas, to further their growth and market share amongst their respective industry.

I recently attended this event in Vancouver to see for myself what was out there for the little guys. The event was filled with a line up of speakers, tradeshow exhibitors, and professional consultants ready to answer your questions. Each medium brought a different take in terms of what is vital to success and sustainability. However, if there was one theme or tool they all had in common as part of their secret to success it was the ever expanding use of multimedia technology. I listened to speaker Mike Agerbo of Getconnected TV talk about all the latest in tech gadgets for networking. More business communication is made via the use of online and portable technology. From the Blackberry to USB Memory sticks, these are no longer luxury gadgets, but necessities to running all facets of your operation. Being able to connect with your client by means of a hand-held device allows you, the president, manager, associate, sales person, to be accessible outside the office, thus increasing your productivity while saving you money. Heck, who would have thought it would be possible to join in on a video conference while grabbing a cup of coffee at your local espresso hang-out? And gone are the non-intuitive devices that take hours of use, and a degree in computer science, to master. Even the least tech savvy folks like myself can figure out how to use many of these doodads in mere minutes. The intimidation factor might still be there, but the learning curve is gentle.

Another major key to cultivating exposure for your business is via website traffic. Monitoring the number of hits your website gets in a particular time frame is essential in gauging how popular your company’s name is when using an online search engine such as Google or Yahoo, not to mention current ad campaigns. I learned that the majority of potential customers largely use online tools to find the service they are looking for. Word of mouth is still king, but in online form. The use of blogs, chat rooms, and online forums are very productive tools in helping the consumer find your business.

Throughout the event I met a number of interesting and engaging people, all of which showed a keen interest in LedgersOnline as I did about their venture. Networking the different booths and presenters helped me gain a better understanding of where the small (and not-so-small) business industry is heading and what tools they are adapting to get them there.