Week of: November 4, 2019
OUR MISSION:
JARI is the collaborative force that enhances all aspects of our region to grow a diverse economy and build vibrant communities.
JARI Launches Social Media Campaign for Entrepreneurship Month

In celebration of National Entrepreneurship Month, JARI is featuring one entrepreneur a day all month long on our social media channels. You'll see a glimpse into the lives of our area's up-and-coming business owners through snapshots of them while they're on the job.

Are you following us on social media? Click the buttons below to check out our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn so you can see what the entrepreneurs are up to throughout the month.
"Engage" Business Walk Held in City of Johnstown

JARI and CareerLink are partnering to visit existing companies in Cambria County as part of a state-wide retention initiative, “Engage”. Last week, representatives of the two organizations along with the SBA Pittsburgh District Office and the St. Francis Small Business Development Center held a “business walk” in the City of Johnstown, visiting 8 businesses in the downtown area during one afternoon. These companies included: Flood City Café, Flood City Flooring, The Vault, Balance Restaurant, CrossFit Excursion, Hope Cyclery, Press Bistro and Stonebridge Brewing Co.  As we celebrate entrepreneurism the entire month of November, we look forward to visiting with additional small businesses in other portions of the county.  
Tips for Boosting your Small Business on Social Media
Lauren Thompson
TA Advisor

November is National Entrepreneurship Month. JARI would like to help our region’s entrepreneurs by providing valuable marketing tips each week to help boost business. This week we are focusing on tips for social media.

Social media platforms have become a key piece of advertising for small businesses. If your business page isn’t getting as much traction as you think it should, it may be a good time to change up your marketing strategy. Here are a few tips and tricks to boost your small business on social media.

  1.      Content: What you’re posting to your social media account is key. Your content needs to resonate with not only your business but also your audience. Post topics that are relevant to your business that people want to read. Using catchy headlines, creating weekly blogs or even just starting a conversation can greatly increase the chances of your page being seen. The more chance for people to interact with your page, the better.
  2.       Be Visual: Photography and video have taken over the social media realm. Your posts have a higher chance of being seen if there is something ‘eye-catching’ to look at. Your audience wants to see what you’re doing. If it’s a coffee shop, take a photo of the espresso you’re making. An auto garage? Maybe it’s a snapshot of the project you’re working on. Whatever it is – make it something to grab the viewers’ attention.
  3.     Show Your Personality: Your audience generally wants to see that there is more than just a logo to the business page. Giving them something to relate to can make your business more personal. This could be in introduction of yourself or your staff, sharing recommendations on blogs or products that you find helpful or even a video about what your typical day is like. Social media goes beyond just the business. It’s about connecting with people and helping others find useful information.
Startup Alleghenies Goes On The Road to Honor Veteran Entrepreneurs
Startup Alleghenies

November 11th marks Veterans Day 2019, when the country pauses to salute veterans who have served our country.

Startup Alleghenies (SUA) jumpstarted a movement to create the next vibrant startup zone in the Alleghenies. Since launching in June 2017, the nonprofit has registered over 450 entrepreneurs from Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset Counties. Among those entrepreneurs, Startup Alleghenies has been especially proud to support veterans who dream of bringing their big ideas to market.

Startup Alleghenies will be acknowledging veteran-owned business by touring the Southern Alleghenies region and live-streaming visits to veterans who have or currently are starting businesses. Startup Alleghenies entrepreneurial coaches will be interviewing veteran-entrepreneurs about their service, their businesses and how the skills they learned in the military helped them on the path toward success.

“Many veterans are doing amazing things after their service and we want to celebrate that,” said Andrew Trexler, Startup Alleghenies entrepreneurial coach for Bedford County.

Startup Alleghenies welcomes everyone to watch throughout the day on Startup Alleghenies Facebook page by clicking here. To read the full press release, please click here.
Startup Alleghenies Celebrates National Entrepreneurship Month
Startup Alleghenies

November is National Entrepreneurship Month, a great time to recognize and celebrate the successes and contributions of our entrepreneurs, and to shine a spotlight on our region as a great place to launch a business. 
 
As part of our ongoing mission to expand awareness of the benefits of entrepreneurship right here and right now, we are kicking off the month with a special Public Service Announcement (PSA), entitled #StartRightHere. 

The 30-second spot, which you can view by clicking here, highlights the variety of businesses in the Startup Alleghenies (SUA) ecosystem. 

Following the launch of the #Start Right Here PSA, each Friday in November look for #StartRightNow interviews with our entrepreneurs on Facebook (@startupalleghenies), Twitter (@StartupAllegh) and on our website. 
 
Please don’t forget to use our movement’s hashtags, #StartRHRN and #StartRightNow when sharing and commenting.
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