Melinda F. Emerson, known as “SmallBizLady,” is recognized by Forbes magazine as the #1 Woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. As the creator of #Smallbizchat, the largest Twitter chat for small business owners, Melinda reaches 3 Million small business owners per week through social media and her blog succeedasyourownboss.com. She is a regular columnist in the New York Times and Huffington Post. Melinda’s mission is to end small business failure. She educates her audiences on essential business skills, marketing and social media.

Her bestselling book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months is widely regarded as one of the best start-up books ever written. She has been featured as an expert on MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC and in Fortune, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Washington Post, Entrepreneur, Essence and Black Enterprise.

The Emerson Planning System has been widely received as an Adult Education, Distance Learning, Community College, and Educational Institution curriculum. Melinda Emerson enjoys engaging as a speaker and keynoter at venues that encourage personal and professional growth of entrepreneur, especially women business owners.

4 Keynotes

How to Become a Social Media Ninja

Is social media still a mystery to you? Let Melinda Emerson teach you how she became SmallBizLady and how you can become a social media ninja too. Melinda is a pioneer in social media marketing who is also the social media columnist for the New York Times. She’ll offer tips on the do’s and don’ts of building a social media brand, how to create a blog, and determine your best social media platform, and build a following in just one hour a day. You’ll learn how social media can become your #1 marketing tool in your small business.

Attendees will learn:

• The Triple ROI of social media
• The HELP Mantra
• Blogging for Business
• Small media action plan

From Corporate to Small Business Ownership

Are you unhappy with your job and ready to start a small business? Don’t just quit! You need a plan to fire your boss or reinvent your struggling business. Small business owners have limited time and resources to hit it big with their target customer. Let America’s #1 small business expert Melinda Emerson “SmallBizLady” teach you her proven step-by-step method for how to transition from corporate to small business ownership. Her talk is based on her bestselling book Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months.

Attendees will learn:

• What’s involved in Starting a Small Business
• The Emerson Planning System
• Funding Your Start-up
• Developing a Niche
• 5 Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail

How to Kickstart Your Marketing

Too often small businesses market their companies with what is left at the end of the month. However, finding and attracting the right customers is fundamental to having a sustainable business. Marketing your small business doesn’t have to be difficult but it certainly takes some planning. Let Melinda Emerson teach you how to kickstart your customer attraction system and boost your small business revenues:

Attendees will learn:

• The 30 day rule
• Features vs. Benefits
• The Storm-starter Strategy
• Getting Social

10 Biggest Mistakes in Small Business and How to Avoid Them

It’s hard to run a small business. You are doing 14 jobs all at one time. It’s easy to drop a ball, but a lot of the pain of running a small business is self-inflicted. Melinda Emerson ‘SmallBizLady’ is going to teach the 10 biggest mistakes of small business and how to avoid them. Often, costly mistakes are due to a lack of planning or just a lack of experience. Melinda will walk attendees through the most common mistakes in business and social media and give tips for how to create customers for life.

Attendees will learn:

• Top 5 Marketing Nos/Nos
• Keys to customer service success
• Social media selling secrets

Testimonials

“Melinda Emerson has been a fantastic small business and social media resource for the Pitney Bowes team. Not only is she personable and easy to work with, but she also has an innate understanding of the small business audience. My marketing programs have greatly benefited from Melinda’s guidance.”

Justin Amendola,
Former VP, Global SMB Digital Strategy, Pitney Bowes

“Melinda Emerson, “SmallBizLady,” is an engaging and witty speaker and a great addition to any conference. Her terrific presentation and compelling delivery give people the information they need and want to become their own bosses and grow successful businesses.”

Laurie Dalton White
Conference Director, Pennsylvania Conference for Women

“Her wit and depth of subject knowledge were entertaining and empowering. Melinda is definitely on our short list of seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders we look to invite back in the near future.”

Tennille M. Robinson
Senior content & Event producer for Inc. magazine

“If you are looking for a versatile speaker who can talk about how to grow small businesses or get started with social media, look no further.”

Heather Van Sickle
Executive Director, National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)