CenPhoCamp is coming to the Cronkite School to help business owners improve their game. The fact is, many small, local businesses are looking to better connect with their customers, they need a kick start on internet marketing and they need to be reminded that the internet isn’t a place, it’s a channel they can use to solve customer problems.
CenPhoCamp is an “unconference.” A place where some sheister, lowlife web guy isn’t going to scam you for $100k to build a partially complete web site and tell you that it is a gold mine for yourself and your business.
CenPhoCamp will feature some great local experts showing businesses without a ton of resources how to better market themselves using low- or no-cost techniques. Community building will be discussed, not just the brick and mortar stuff, the stuff that allows business owners to connect with customers where they want to be reached.
I am really glad to hear that some local visionaries are stepping up by helping others. This won’t be a “woe is me, the economy sucks” kind of crowd. No, these people prefer to look at life a little differently than most. Take a look at yesterday’s press release to get the direct scoop from CenPhoCamp.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy. For years, small businesses have been looking to the experts to save them. For a group of local businesses right here in Phoenix, that time is over. It didn’t work out so well, so they’re helping themselves.
CenPhoCamp is an unconference designed to bring small, local organizations together with the customers they serve. Unlike a typical seminar, participants are encouraged to ask questions, to leave sessions they don’t think are helpful and even contribute to the learning as they see fit.
Developed as a series of tracks, each hour-long presentation adheres to one of the following themes: Beginner, where those new to marketing can learn about basic approaches, Technology, offering instructions on the latest web apps and Community, designed to help businesses enable their customers to be their best advertisers. A Roundtable discussion led by industry experts completes each hour’s offerings.
CenPhoCamp, held free of charge, is being run by volunteers only. Rent for the Cronkite facility is being paid by generous session and room sponsors.
Speakers include Designer Nina Miller of ASU , Innovators Derek Neighbors of Integrum and Chris Conrey of Gangplank , News Anchor Brahm Resnik of Channel 12 , Freelance journalist Nick Martin, Light Rail bloggers Nick Bastian , David Bickford and Tony Arranaga – Small Business Manager Brandon Stout, Social media guru Jack Smith and SEO nerd Justin McHood among many others.
All of these professionals will share solutions that have worked for them, instead of theories they’d like to see happen.
Admission is completely free, although we ask that participants bring food or drink.
Please sign up Here: http://www.cenphocamp.com/registration/
Event: CenPhoCamp
Location: Cronkite School 555 N. Central Avenue Phoenix, 85004. The location is easily accessible via the light rail. Exit at the Central/Van Buren station OR the Van Buren/1st Ave station.
Date/Time: January 23, 1:30 to 8pm
What/When Schedule of events / list of speakers
**Please note: Just because “Camp” is in Phoenix, it doesn’t mean people from Mesa, Glendale, Tempe, Atlanta, New York, Australia or any where else can’t join in. The information shared here will be valuable for all!**
People that still think there is nothing happening downtown just need to take a few minutes to actually pay attention. I’m not saying that everything is perfect, but I am here to tell ya’ that the world has not ended. New businesses are opening, people are enjoying a lifestyle in downtown that wasn’t around just a short time ago. Come on out to CenPhoCamp. See for yourself, it’s “Game On.”
*Big thanks to Tyler Hurst and Yuri Artibise ( and many others) for doing most of the heavy lifting to get this thing going!*
There is such a cool vibe going on right now throughout Downtown Phoenix – especially along the light rail! This will be a great opportunity to exchange ideas with small business owners on how to take advantage of our transit system in our urban core. Looking forward to the panel – see you tonight!
. According to the study, the most important tool for small businesses to succeed in 2010 is search engine marketing, while email marketing, public relations and social media cited as crucial for success.
23.8% of all small businesses reported that search engine marketing was the tool most needed for their business to succeed in 2010.
http://www.onlineuniversalwork.com
I really wish that our city in Syracuse, NY would do more of things like this. Seems like Phoenix has it’s act together.