15 ways to promote your company

Looking for ways to promote your business? You don't have to have the budget of a General Foods to get the message out to your customers.

Here's an article from the Small Business Administration (SBA) that outlines great ideas -- every single one of them the type of "real marketing" that can make a difference.

15 Foolproof Ideas for Promoting Your Company includes ideas such as:

• contests
• newsletters
• demonstrations
• seminars
• premiums
• speeches

Take a minute to check out what else SBA offers.

Sharon Hill, the Phoenix entrepreneur who is currently in beta with her ambitious undertaking, YoreTown, was the first to hammer home to me the importance of SBA (Small Business Administration) resources.

After all, she points out, they are free, smart, have deep experience and really know their way around starting a business. (Plus, it can't hurt to be sure you are on the right side of the government from the start).

If you have always poo-poohed government agencies as having only canned advice, take another look.

Are you reaching the "older" online market

The May 21 Wall Street Journal ran an article about the Forgotten Market Online, women over 35.

The fastest growing segment of Facebook users is women over 55, ... and 65% of online apparel sales go to women over age 35, according to market researcher NPD Group. Among these, the fastest growing sales are to women between 55 and 64 years old

Online sales to women aged 25-35 fell 8% in the year ended in March, but sales to 55-to-64-year-olds rose 11%.

Saks Fifth Avenue's website, the average age of an online customer is 42, and she spends an average of $400 when she visits.

So here's the point: if you hunting for customers, be sure to consider how you can reach these buyers.

Support the arts in San Jose at May 12 City Council meeting

Please join the San Jose Arts Alliance* to show your support for arts:

7 p.m.

San Jose City Council meeting

Tuesday, May 12

San Jose City Hall

At this meeting, the council begins its public hearing on the proposed budget for FY 09-10 and this is our opportunity to show support for arts funding.

Background: At a budget study session May 7, District 3 Council member Sam Liccardo proposed that the city look for ways to shore up funding for arts organizations, and other council members supported this proposal. Now it’s our turn.

Here's what you can do:

• Come to the City Council meeting
• Wear a black shirt

The Arts Alliance will provide a sticker with a red letter A that says "Support SJ Arts."

The message is simple - the arts add value to our city and we are requesting that the City find ways to shore up the declining Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT, or hotel tax) to ensure our grants remain at the current levels. Click

* Members of the Arts Alliance include: Abhinaya Dance Company of San JoseBay Area Glass InstituteChinese Performing Artists of AmericaCinequestCity Lights Theater CompanyChildren's Musical TheaterMACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino AmericanaSan Jose Chamber OrchestraSan Jose Institute of Contemporary ArtSan Jose Stage CompanySan Jose TaikoSan Jose Youth SymphonyTapestry ArtsTeatro VisionSan Jose Museum of Quilts & TextilesSan Jose Jazz