What does it take to be an Entrepreneur?

Willamette Angel Conference 2010 - Randy Harrington - The Entreprenuer Riff

Thinking about Entrepreneurship, and why folks should get involved in the WAC, and ran across this great video from last year's conference...it says so much about the drive, motivation and fun of getting creative, getting active, and starting something from scratch and making it so much more...

Willamette Angel Conference 2010 - Randy Harrington - The Entreprenuer Riff

- video by craighgray

Blogs for the Entrepreneur

Are you an entrepreneur or part of a start-up company looking for advice from venture capitalists and industry professionals? Do you want to stay on top of the latest news in the technology industry or want to know about upcoming angel conferences? You’ll want to check out these blogs: They offer news and resources for success that are geared toward entrepreneurs and start-ups.

ReadWriteStart

ReadWriteStart is a resource blog for entrepreneurs and start-up companies from the popular technology blog, Read Write Web.

Venture Capital Dispatch

The Venture Capital Dispatch from the Wall Street Journal offers insights into the business world with a focus on the tech start-up industry. If you’re a tech start-up seeking angel capital, this blog will give you a chance to learn about the industry and stay on top of the news.

A VC

“A VC” is the blog of Fred Wilson, a venture capitalist and principle of Union Square Ventures in New York City. With 19 years of venture capital experience, Wilson offers advice for those seeking to make an impression on angel investors and on those who are trying to get their business ideas off the ground.

Deal Book: Venture Capital

Part of the New York Times’ “Deal Book” financial blog, the venture capital section delivers news about recent venture capital investments, high-profile investors or start-ups and general start-up business news.

Funding Post

Funding Post posts information about upcoming venture capital conferences happening all over the country.

VentureDeal

While it requires a subscription, VentureDeal offers venture capitalists and start-up companies a look into the latest venture capital deals and up-to-date information regarding new technology companies and angel investing firms. 

Know of a great blog that isn’t listed here? Leave a comment and let us know!

Leveraging Social Media for Your Startup

When establishing your start-up business, it is critical to ensure that you are reaching potential consumers through all available outlets. A great way to advertise to multiple audiences is through social media. Networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and by even creating a blog on WordPress allow opportunities for you to instantly communicate new ideas, products, and events to just about everyone.

Though it may be understood that these are great tools for promoting a start-up business, many still are unaware as to how to use these forms of social media to their advantage. According to an article by Chairman and Executive Director of Inc. Business Owners Lewis Schiff, it is important to set up your social media accounts to allow full leverage for search engine traffic to maximize your business’ visibility.
Schiff provides three suggestions to help increase visibility:

1) Use keywords and keyphrases. Make sure to clearly define certain topics, words, and ideas that you believe your potential customers may be searching online for.
2) Construct your website with high quality HTML. The easier it is to access your business’s website, the easier it is to attract more potential customers.
3) Share content from other websites that you have found to be useful and beneficial for the development of your business. By passing on good information, your website can become a trusted source for advice.

Consumers favor companies that connect through social media and are more transparent about its actions. Online networking allows start-ups more chances to reach desired audiences. Make sure to take advantage of these opportunities!

By Lauren Short