GROW News
March 31, 2010
Facebook Frets?
If you would like to post in the GROW web site that you are on Facebook, but do not have a BUSINESS FAN PAGE (not just a profile page), please e-mail GROW staff member Ashley Blickenstaff with your name and number. She will call you and either set up a page for you, or walk you through the steps to set up your own page. A page can be set up in 10-15 minutes and has potential to reach thousands of potential customers.
E-mail Ashley Now >>
Are You Taking Advantage of the GROW Facebook Page?
Remember that you can post your upcoming events, information about your products, and promotions on the GROW Nebraska Facebook page! To do so, however, you first must become a fan. This is a great way to reach 3,200 people who are interested in Nebraska products and services.
Become a Fan Now >>
Earth Day Promotion
Join GROW Nebraska as we celebrate Earth Day at the State Farm Campus in Lincoln on April 21, 2010 from 11:30am-1:00pm. You can do this prior to the pre-conference. This opportunity is limited to the first five that sign up. This is a promotional event. You will not be able to sell items but sampling is encouraged.
Sign up here to participate in this great event. If you have questions, please e-mail
info@grownebraska.org.
FREE Photo Days!
GROW Nebraska will be offering FREE photography at the Pre-Conference and Marke
Tech Conferences in April. This is a great time to get your items' photos taken for the
GROW eCommerce site. This service typically costs $15/photo, so this is a wonderful opportunity!
If you are planning on attending either the Pre-Conference or MarkeTECH conference and would like photography taken, please sign up today so we can be prepared. Please note all photographs will be taken on a white background with no "props" and will be for individual products only; no group shots allowed. Limit 20 photos per member.
Remember, you MUST attend either of the conferences to qualify.
Sign Up Today
>>
MarketTECH Conference
The GROW Nebraska Annual Meeting is now called the GROW Nebraska Conference. This year's MarkeTECH conference will be held in Lincoln on April 22 from 8 am-5 pm.
The conference will also feature the annual product evaluation, a service business trade show, a wonderful meal and many great speakers.
Chris Russell, operations manager at Google, will be the keynote speaker. View the
speaker's profiles and the conference agenda
here.
Food and beverage members, if you are attending the conference, you are eligible to promote your food product by providing a snack during breaks at the conference.
E-mail us if you're interested.
Sign up for
here. If you have any questions, please contact us at 888.476.9632 or e-mail us at
info@grownebraska.org.
Pre-conference: For Members Only!
The 2010 Pre-Conference will feature GROW Member, Michele Johnson of Art Cottage Web Site Development and Michele M. Johnson Fine Art. Michele will be covering many aspects of successful web sites and will touch on how to incorporate social networking into your web site for a larger web presence.
After the presentation, GROW Staff and UNL Extension will also be available for one-on-one technical assistance in the areas of product description and pictures, social networking, and adding the affiliated program to your web site.
The pre-conference will be held April 21, from 2 pm – 5 pm at the Holiday Inn Express & Hotel Suites, Lincoln Airport. The pre-conference is for GROW Nebraska members only and has a limited space. Sign up now to register!
Rooms are available for the discounted rate under GROW Nebraska. Call 402-464-0588 to reserve a hotel room.
GROW Food Members: Important Network Meeting
GROW Food Members:
GROW Nebraska is going to host a network meeting for Nebraska food businesses. The purpose of the meeting to discuss marketing needs of businesses and how we can better work together. If possible, please bring something everyone can taste that contains your product so everyone can try your product – remember word of mouth is still the best form of advertising.
- When: Thursday, April 29
- Where: Conestoga Mall Grand Island Social Room
- Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Please respond by or before April 15 by clicking here.
*Please note if you are unable to attend this network meeting, please plan to attend the GROW Nebraska MarkeTECH Conference on April 22. During the conference a network meeting is also going to be held for industry specific products. Click here to sign up.
State Capitol Open House
We are proud to announce that Senator Harms' office has generously agreed to host another open house for GROW Nebraska on April 12, 2010 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The purpose of the open house will be to display and sample the wonderful products that are available in our state. We would like to have 20-25 members present to sample and showcase their products. This event will take place at the State Capital in room 1023. This is a wonderful opportunity to promote your product line to state senators, staff and other key personnel.
This event will be similar to last year. You will be able to sell your items that day. GROW Nebraska will be the cashier and will take 25% of the retail price. Please click here to be included in this fantastic opportunity.
If you have questions, please contact us at info@grownebraska.org or call 1.888.GROW.NEB.
Google AdWords Pilot Project
GROW Nebraska is starting a pilot project for Google AdWords in conjunction with GROW Member eGrowth Marketing. This project will allow members to access Google AdWords for FREE. If you sign up, we will help to promote your product using our Google AdWords account to try and increase sales on our eCommerce site.
To participate, you must have your items on the GROW eCommerce site at shopgrownebraska.org. To find out if your product is available on our site, click here and to see if your business is listed. Please remember that to have items on our eCommerce site you must have them available in the Kearney retail location.
If you are interested, please sign up today. If your items are not available on the eCommerce site, you will be required to submit photos and descriptions for your product. Members will be limited to 5 products each to open the opportunity up to as many members as possible. If you have any questions about this service, please e-mail us at info@grownebraska.org.
Sign Up Now >>
Be Featured on our Blog
Want to get your business noticed on Google? Would you like your company to have the opportunity to get higher on the search engine ranking? Well if you answered yes to any those questions, you need to take advantage of the NEW service from GROW. It’s the GROW Blog Services. Click here, provide the information requested and GROW will develop a blog for your business. Click here to see the members who have taken advantage of this and look for more to post soon. Become a blogger today with the easy NEW service from GROW Nebraska.
IMPORTANT for Non-food, Product Members
Please visit this link to download your GROW Nebraska Form 13. Form 13 is the Nebraska Resale or Exempt Sale Certificate for Sales Tax Exemption. You may include it with your taxes to show that GROW Nebraska paid sales tax on all items sold in our retail locations. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@grownebraska.org.
New Members
Say it Flags- Neligh, NE
Welcome returning military, make an announcement, give directions or celebrate special occasions with these custom printed novelty flags.
Send Out Cards
- Kearney, NE
Select from over 15,000 electronic cards that you can personalize, upload pictures and add a gift.
Member News
Candy's Cupcakery was featured on NTV's The Good Life this week. Read the story here.
Cedar Hills Vineyard was recently featured in the Kearney Hub. Read the story here.
Sehnert's Bakery was recently featured in the Lincoln Journal Star. Read the story here.
Recipe to Reality Seminar
The Food Processing Center is offering a one-day seminar for all entrepreneurs interested in exploring the idea of starting a food manufacturing business. The “From Recipe to Reality” seminar will be offered on May 1 in South Sioux City.
Pre-registration is required and space is limited. For complete information please contact Jill Gifford at 402-472-2819 or
jgifford1@unl.edu.
