44 Resources for Women Entrepreneurs
In honor of Women’s Small Business Month, the U.S. Small Business Administration hosted a Twitter chat to share tips and resources for women entrepreneurs.
We were honored to be among the organizations and individuals invited to participate in the #SBAchat, who are dedicated to helping small businesses succeed. Below are some highlights from the chat, plus some great resources for women entrepreneurs.
Chat Questions and Our Answers
There were 7 questions asked over the course of the one-hour Twitter chat. Here’s each question with our answer, plus a few of our favorite answers from others.
Q1: What advantages do women bring to business?
Our answer: Women often take on many roles, which gives them an advantage as a business owner where you wear several hats.
We loved Erin Gibbens answer: “Most women entrepreneurs I know are creative thinkers, risk takers, exceptional team players”.
Q2: What are some key elements to managing a successful business?
Our answer: Be sure to have other biz owners in your inner circle for support No one understands the risks & rewards better.
Rieva Lesonsky, CEO of Small Biz Daily said, “keep the cash flowing. Also marketing is key. Don’t skimp on technology, it makes you more efficient & productive.”
Q3: What’s your best time saving tip?
Our answer: Never agree to anything without consulting your calendar first! Nothing zaps time like finding & resolving a conflict #SBAchatNever agree to anything without consulting your calendar first! Nothing zaps time like finding & resolving a conflict. It’s amazing how tempting it is to say yes to something without taking a quick peek of your calendar…don’t do it, you’ll regret it!
Whitney Keyes with the National Women’s Business Council makes an excellent point by saying, “Avoid multitasking. Amazing things happen when you let your mind focus, even for a few minutes, on your top biz priority!”
Q4: What advice would you give someone hiring their first employee?
Our answer: Ask for actualities not hypotheticals: “what did you do” – not – “what would you do.”
We liked what Howdie Molton tweeted: “It never gets better than the interview. Trust your instincts when hiring.”
Q5: What makes a good boss?
Our answer: If you want respect, show respect. This key to great boss/employee relationships
Women Impacting Public Policy said, “A good boss sets high standards and makes expectations clear. She also cares about her employees outside of work.”
Q6: What are some good tactics for networking events?
Our answer (which got retweeted multiple times): Before a networking event, scan social media for people who will be attending. This helps you connect faster.
We retweeted what Google Small Biz posted: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions—big or small—when networking at events or workshops.”
Q7: What resources do you recommend for women entrepreneurs?
Our answer: : Good resources for women entrepreneurs include local women’s organizations and fellow female business owners.
A couple of additional resource suggestions that were tweeted out:
Tools for Women Businesses Webinar from Small Business Majority
Small Biz Majority, “Check out this recording of our Women’s #Smallbiz Month Webinar: Tools for Women Businesses ow.ly/rIft309YoEs #SBAchat
A free eBook on how to pitch your business to prospective customers or clients from VistaPrint.
Resources for Women Entrepreneurs at Your Fingertips
Here is the list of participating organizations & individuals in the SBA.gov Twitter Chat that offer tools, tips, services, and products to help small businesses and entrepreneurs succeed:
Bucknell SBDC
@BucknellSBDC
Helping businesses start, grow, & prosper
Small Biz Majority
@smlbizmajority
A national small business advocacy organization founded and run by small business owners.
America’s SBDC
@ASBDC
The America’s SBDC represents America’s Small Business Development Center (#SBDC) Network — the most comprehensive #SMB assistance network in the nation.
The National Association of Women in Real Estate Businesses
@NAWR
#NAWRB Women in Housing Diversity and Inclusion Advocate with Resources and Expertise. #WomenInBusiness
Desiree Patno (@DesireePatno) is the CEO of @NAWRB
National Women’s Business Council
@NWBC
An independent federal advisory council providing advice & making recommendations on issues facing women in business, women entrepreneurs, & the aspiring.
Small Biz Daily.com
@SmBizDaily
SmBizDaily covers the world of small business and entrepreneurs.
Rieva Lesonsky, @Rieva, is the CEO GrowBiz Media & Small Biz Daily
Google Small Biz
@GoogleSmallBiz
Providing small business owners with tips, tools and resources to grow their businesses online.
Alison L. Grimes
@KySecofState
Alison Lundergan Grimes is the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Hispanic National Bar
@HNBANews
HNBA is a nonprofit, nat’l membership org representing the interests of Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors, legal assistants, and law students.
Barbara Weltman
@BarbaraWeltman
Trusted #Smallbiz Advocate, Author of J.K. Lasser’s Small Business Taxes book series + others, Publisher of Big Ideas for Small Business® + Idea of the Day®
Connecticut Small Business Development Center
@growCT
CTSBDC provides no-cost advising to both prospective and existing entrepreneurs to help them grow in CT.
National Black Chamber of Commerce
@NationalBCC
The National Black Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to the economic empowerment of African Americans.
Michigan SBDC
@MichiganSBDC
Driving small business success by providing no-cost consulting, training and market research to Michigan’s entrepreneurs.
Robert Half
@roberthalf
Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm.
Association of Women’s Business Centers
@AWBC_USA
The AWBC works to secure entrepreneurial opportunities for women by supporting a national network of Women’s Business Centers to help women succeed in business.
Vistaprint
@Vistaprint
Vistaprint empowers millions of business owners worldwide to market themselves professionally. We share your passion for #smallbusiness
Dun & Bradstreet
@DnBUS @tyr
Official Dun & Bradstreet Twitter. Driven by data & analytics to help our customers & partners make better business decisions.
Amex OPEN
@AmexOPEN
Insights, Inspiration and Connections to Help You Get Business Done
New York SBDC
@nysbdc
The NY Small Business Development Center delivers high quality business counseling and training to New Yorkers who want to start or improve a business
Nav
@navSMB
Uses data to make it easy for #SmallBiz owners to manager their financial health and find the right financing—completely free.
BizBuySell
@BizBuySell
The Internet’s largest and most heavily trafficked business for sale marketplace, bringing small business buyers and sellers together.
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
@WBENCLive
Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nation’s largest third party certifier of women’s business enterprises.
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
@SBECouncil
Protects small business & promotes entrepreneurship. Strengthening the ecosystem for startups & biz success!
Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council @KarenKerrigan
National Action Network
@NationalAction
NAN is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation, with chapters throughout the entire U.S.
Ebonie Riley, @ebonie__riley, is the DC Bureau Chief, NAN
Women Impacting Pubic Policy
@WIPPWeDecide
WIPP is a national, nonprofit membership organization working to increase the economic power and public policy clout of women entrepreneurs.
Kedma Ough
@KedmaOugh
inventor, author, speaker and a fifth-generation entrepreneur. Writer @entrepreneur. SBDC Director
JonesPRinc
@JonesPRinc
Jones Public Relations is a national, results-oriented communications agency for corporations and organizations to be heard anywhere. OKC/Tulsa.
LegalZoom
@LegalZoom
Where life meets legal. Helping families, entrepreneurs, and small businesses for over 15 years.
First Data
@FirstData
First Data makes payment transactions secure, fast and easy for merchants, financial institutions and their customers.
ATHENA International
@ATHENAleaders
Supporting, developing and honoring women leaders. Inspiring women to achieve their full potential. Creating balance in leadership worldwide.
Association for Enterprise Opportunity
@AEOworks
AEO is the voice of microbusiness in the U.S – supporting the development of strong, effective initiatives to assist underserved entrepreneurs.
Geri Stengel
@Ventureneer
Helping organizations build thought leadership with entrepreneurs via branded content marketing, market research, social media + training opportunities.
North Carolina Secretary Of State
@NCSecState
NC Department of Secretary of State
Expensify
@expensify
The official account for the best expense reporting app on your phone & web. We do Expense Reports that don’t suck!
The UPS Store
@TheUPSStore
Your helpful neighborhood small business resource center. We’re making business easier and delivering convenient solutions.
Wisconsin SBDC
@WisconsinSBDC
Working with small business owners and entrepreneurs to facilitate growth, improvement & launch of companies. Local, no-cost, one-on-one consulting & education
National Urban League
@NatUrbanLeague
The nation’s largest historic civil rights & urban advocacy organization, devoted to empowering communities & changing lives since 1910.
Stephanie DeVane, @StephanieDeVane, Vice President Entrepreneurship and Business Development
SBDC West Michigan
@SBDCWestMI
We provide no cost counseling, training, and market research for West Michigan’s new and existing small businesses.
Scranton SBDC
@scrantonsbdc
The University of Scranton (PA) Small Business Development Center #SBDC. Helping #smallbusiness start & grow!
SBDC University of Georgia Gainesville
@ugasbdc_gville
Enhance the economic well-being of Georgians by providing a wide range of educational services for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
University of Houston SBDC Network
@UHSBDC
Providing entrepreneurs in Houston and the surrounding 32 counties resources to start and grow their business!
LSBDC SLU
@LSBDCSLU
#LouisianaSmallBusinessDevelopmentCenter at Southeastern Louisiana University
Plum Street Publishers
@plumstpublish
Celebrating literature, history, and culture with the young and young at heart
Liz Russell, @LizSmithRussell, publisher and community development lender
Last but not least, BIGG Success. We serve small businesses, professionals & organizations. Helping you grow your brand & think like an entrepreneur for personal & professional success.
BIGG thanks to the the U.S. Small Business Administration for hosting the #SBAchat and for having us be a part of it!
