Digital Summit

presented by The Connection Agency

Reach More People. Make More Sales. And get More Done - in less time!

May 1, 2024

9AM - 12PM Central

The half day virtual summit will take place via zoom.

Watch the video below to learn more about this incredible online experience for small business owners:

Don’t Grow It Alone®

STOP WAITING TOO LONG TO FIND AND CONNECT WITH YOUR PEOPLE - AND CLOSE SALES.

Growing your audience and increasing sales takes a whole lot more than simply handing out your business card at a networking event.

Times are changing - and utilizing social media, AI technology, and other digital tools are key in helping to grow a thriving business.

You’re getting a lot of things right: You’re showing up, taking action, and getting things done.

But… you feel like you're constantly spinning your wheels and not really getting anywhere. You’re tired of putting in all the effort without seeing the kind of growth (or sales) that you’d like.

Maybe you've tried a new strategy here and there, but it just hasn't seemed to make a significant impact on your bottom line.

You're ready to stop feeling frustrated with your business growth trajectory - and start seeing some real results.

That’s why The SBOC is excited to host the Small Business Owners Community Digital Summit!

This virtual event, on May 1st from 9am - 12pm central time, will provide small business owners with the strategies and tools they need to take their business to the next level.

There is a better way - and you don't have to figure it out alone.

Maybe right now, you're feeling:

Overwhelmed with all the different digital marketing tools and strategies out there
Frustrated with not seeing the growth or sales you want for your business
Unsure of how to effectively use social media, AI technology, and other digital tools to grow your audience and increase sales

How would it feel to….

Connect with other business owners who are facing similar challenges and learn from their experiences
Learn how to grow your audience and make more money - in less time.
Have access to experts in the field of digital marketing who can share their knowledge and strategies for success
Walk away with a clear plan of action to take your business to the next level

That’s exactly what The Small Business Owners Community Digital Summit aims to provide.

Our goal is to help you reach more people, make more sales, and get more done - without all the overwhelm and frustration.

DURING THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER COMMUNITY DIGITAL SUMMIT YOU’LL LEARN HOW TO :

REACH MORE PEOPLE

We’ll kick off the day with a round of Speed Networking! Later in the day, we’ll hear from Rand Fishkin and learn how to get your message to more people and grow your online audience.

MAKE MORE SALES

Sales is not a game of “wait and see.” Stop putting off the work it takes to close the deal! Learn how to take action and make your follow up strategy a strong part of your sales process. You’ll learn how with sales expert, Dr. Donna Smith Bellinger

GET MORE DONE - IN LESS TIME

Learn how to leverage AI technology to become more productive. Discover the potential of AI with a full-blown demo of Microsoft's Co-pilot, led by Microsoft Trainer, Jennifer Buchholz.

Meet Our Speakers

Rand Fishkin | Keynote Speaker

Rand Fishkin will be presenting “How to Grow Your Online Audience”

Rand Fishkin is cofounder and CEO of two companies: SparkToro, makers of fine audience research software, and indie game developer Snackbar Studio. He’s dedicated his professional life to helping people do better marketing through his writing, videos, speaking, and his book, Lost and Founder. When Rand’s not working, he’s usually cooking a fancy meal for the love of his life, author Geraldine DeRuiter.

Rand dropped out of the University of Washington in 2000 to work full-time at his mother’s small business marketing firm as a web designer. In 2004, he created the SEOmoz blog, which, over the next decade, became the world’s most popular community and content resource for search marketers. In 2007, the company (Moz) transitioned from consulting to software and Rand took the role of CEO. That same year, he proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Geraldine DeRuiter, with a TV commercial that received widespread publicity (and, later, an awkward appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show). The two married in 2008 in a move Rand considers the best of his life.

Over 7 years as CEO, Rand grew Moz to 130+ employees, $30M+ in revenue, and traffic to 30M+ visitors/year. He raised two rounds of funding, led three acquisitions, and a rebrand. Rand stepped down as CEO in 2014 during a rough bout with depression and left the company 4 years later. Rand also co-founded Inbound.org alongside Dharmesh Shah. The site was sold to Hubspot in 2014.

In 2018, Rand started SparkToro with Casey Henry and published, with Penguin/Random House, Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World. Rand previously co-contributed to two books: Art of SEO, and Inbound Marketing & SEO. He’s been profiled in the Seattle Times, featured in Puget Sound Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, named to BusinessWeek’s 30 Under 30, written about in Newsweek, The Next Web, the Inc 500, and hundreds of other publications. He is, however, most proud of his prominent appearances in Geraldine’s books All Over the Place and If You Can’t Take the Heat.

Geraldine and Rand are also small investors in TinySeed Accelerator, LegUp, TeamSportz, Techstars Seattle and Backstage Capital.

Jennifer Buchholz

Unlock the potential of Microsoft Copilot for your business! Join our interactive session to discover how this powerful AI tool can transform your daily operations.

Learn to streamline tasks, enhance creativity, and collaborate more effectively with Copilot’s cutting-edge features. Perfect for solo entrepreneurs and micro business owners, this training will provide you with the insights to elevate your business productivity.

Best-selling author, entrepreneur, coach, and engaging geek Jennifer Buchholz has worked in higher education, training, and development for over 20-years. When she realized that traditional methods weren’t helping her students thrive—she founded Excel & Flourish in 2012. Based in Milwaukee, Excel & Flourish helps organizations and teams improve productivity and reduce frustration with Microsoft products through fun technical skills training.

The result? Amped-up collaboration and better success across every aspect of their business and work. Her background includes a Masters in Human Resource Development and a Microsoft® Teams Adoption Specialist and is a Microsoft® Certified MOS Expert and Master as well as a Microsoft® Certified Trainer.

Dr. Donna Smith Bellinger

Join award-winning sales leader and trainer, Dr. Donna Smith Bellinger, for an empowering and informative workshop designed specifically for sales managers and business owners: "Sales is not about wait & see: Do you want to get paid now or eventually?"

In this Dr. Donna will delve into the crucial aspects of successful sales strategies that can help you close more deals in less time.

She will equip you with invaluable insights and techniques to pre-qualify leads effectively, overcome objections effortlessly, and master the art of closing sales with finesse.

Dr. Donna's captivating style of delivery will keep you engaged throughout the workshop. During the workshop, Dr. Donna will delve into ways to overcome sales reluctance as well as the three essential elements of effective qualification.

Meet Your Host:

PAT MILLER

I spent two decades in broadcasting management and hosting. After leaving the radio industry, I spent time consulting small businesses and realized the support system for entrepreneurs was broken. While building the local small business community, the pandemic hit and the mission of supporting small business owners expanded.

The group started as a daily Zoom call to bring entrepreneurs together and after 90 days, the Small Business Owners Community was formally launched on June 1, 2020. Since that launch, the community has connected small business owners from all around the US, Canada, the UK and Australia!

The Small Business Owners Community mission is simple: It’s Your Dream, Don’t Grow it Alone®

See you at the Small Business Online Community Digital Summit. I can’t wait to see you there!

Title Sponsor:

The Connection Agency

We know that relationships drive sales, and we're passionate about helping purpose-driven businesses create meaningful connections with their audience.through their sales and marketing strategies.

We have a heart for service - which is why our team is sharing what we've learned along the way in our weekly email series. By providing resources, tips, and insights, we aim to empower online business owners to grow and succeed.

Get Weekly Sales and Marketing InsightsJoin The Connection Agency Breakthrough Email List

What to Expect at The Small Business Owners Community Digital Summit

When and Where

The Small Business Online Community Digital Summit hosted by the Small Business Owners Community and sponsored by The Connection Agency is a half day event on May 1, 2024. This event is entirely virtual, so you’ll be able to attend from anywhere in the world with internet access.

Expert Sessions

Attend presentations from our lineup of incredible speakers including Rand Fishkin, Dr. Donna Smith Bellinger, and Jennifer Buchholz. Trainings will cover how to reach more people with your messaging, building a plan to take action to make more sales, and discovering how to make the most out of AI and it's incredible capabilities.

What You'll Walk Away With

Not only will you walk away with valuable knowledge and strategies, but you’ll be able to connect with fellow attendees, speakers, and event organizers through our virtual networking opportunities.

A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO BUSINESS.

Reach More People. Make More Sales.

And Get More Done - in Less Time!

You don’t need another summit teaching you the same old strategies and tactics that everyone else is using. You need a new approach with fresh ideas and innovative techniques that actually work in today's fast-paced digital world.

You need to hear from other business owners just like you, alongside leading experts, to learn what's working and what isn't in the digital landscape.

Join us at The Small Business Owners Community Digital Summit and turn your overwhelm and frustration into success and growth.

Testimonials

This group has been such an encouraging, supportive, and welcoming place that I feel like I don’t need to look anywhere else for resources. I can unsubscribe from all the other marketing, branding, business strategy people I follow and just tap into the members of SBOC. I feel more focused, and I seem to have more capacity to build my business now that I am not so distracted.

- Erin S

The SBOC was there for me during my separation and divorce. They were there for me when I put my business on hold for the first part of this year to get sorted, as the British say. The community gave me words of affirmation that I would be OK even when I thought I wasn't.

The community is there for me now as I reengage and build the emcee and hosting business—the community checks in on me when I haven't shown up for a while.I love to give to this community when I can, even if it's a joke or two.I am honored to be part of this community.

- Roger Wolkoff

I just want to say how amazing this group is. I'm in my third week and I've gotten so much from this group already by just showing up to events. Today was a power packed day! Thank you all!

- Michelle

YOU’RE READY TO EXPERIENCE GROWTH

It’s time to stop spinning your wheels, feeling overwhelmed, and struggling to see growth in your business.

Join us at The Small Business Online Community Digital Summit presented by The Connection Agency and start connecting with other business owners, learning from experts in the field, and implementing effective strategies that actually work.

HAVE QUESTIONS? WE’VE GOT ANSWERS.

How do I know whether this summit is right for me?

If you’re ready to connect with more people and learn what's working in today in the small business pace, this event is for you! We’ll be specifically talking to small business owners like you and focusing on how to meet more people, make more sales, and get more done.

When is this event happening?

This half day summit takes place on May 1, 2024.

What if I’m not able to attend live?

We encourage you to attend live if you can, but replays will be provided. We would love for you to set aside some time during the summit to attend the live sessions and participate in networking opportunities.

Are the presentations live?

Yes! The speakers will all be live on the zoom call and able to answer questions at the end of each of their presentations!