Upcoming Seminars and Workshops

Writing a Winning Business Plan:
January 18th from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - $25/person
February 15th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. - $25/person

Smart Marketing:
January 23rd from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - $25/person

QuickBooks for Beginners:
January 24th & 31st from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
- $45/person for two-session workshop  **Limited seating**

**FREE** Basics of Starting a Business:
February 6th from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

**FREE** Doing Business with the Government:
February 7th from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

**FREE** Obtaining Business Financing:
February 8th from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

**FREE** Sales Tax Made Simple:
February 14th from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

For more information on the above seminars and programs, please call the Aurora BDC at (303) 326-8690 or visit http://www.aurorabdc.com.

......What is SEO?

Many people do not realize that there is a difference between the skills, training, and experience necessary to be a Web designer versus a Web developer. Even though the titles are sometimes used interchangeably, the focus and requirements for each is distinctly different. Here's an overview to help you decide which you will need for your Web site project. A Web designer is primarily a graphic designer. This is the person who creates a look-and-feel for your Web site that includes pleasing colors, interesting images, and a design the best conveys the visual message you wish to present to your Web site visitors. A Web developer is primarily a programmer. Programmers are trained to understand how to "talk" to computers and browsers. Web developers must also know how to work with a wide range of databases. These types of skills are an absolute necessity if you wish to develop a dynamic Web site or one with advanced or interactive features. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a specialized skill that is not necessarily mastered by either a designer or developer unless they have made a substantial effort to learn these skills. SEO is the active practice of optimizing a web site by improving internal and external aspects to increase the traffic the site receives from search engines. Firms that practice SEO can vary; some have a highly specialized focus while others take a more broad and general approach. Optimizing a web site for search engines can require looking at so many unique elements that many practitioners of SEO consider themselves to be in the broad field of website optimization (since so many of those elements intertwine).

Aurora BDC 2007 Seminar Schedule Is Here!

The Aurora BDC is excited to announce that its 2007 brochure and seminar schedule is available for distribution and on our web site. Once again, we have attempted to improve our programs to better meet the needs of the small business community. Some of the changes you may notice include:

The Obtaining Business Financing seminar will be FREE next year and will provide an overview of what every business owner needs to know about seeking business financing.

NEW! Getting Results from Your Web Site – Participants in this seminar will learn ways in which they can increase the effectiveness of their Web sites. Bonus! All participants receive a FREE one-on-one evaluation of their Web sites using the principles outlined in the seminar.

Artist Workshops – The Aurora BDC will again partner with The Other Side Arts in Aurora to offer two workshops geared for emerging artists throughout the metropolitan area. One will focus on the legal concerns for artists, including copyrighting and trademarks, and the other will concentrate on the marketing of artwork.

Client Showcase – In conjunction with the Aurora Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business-to-Business Expo on July 26th, the Aurora BDC will host a client showcase, enabling our clients to have a booth at this popular Chamber trade show and networking event.

Brochures have been mailed, but please call us if you do not receive one or download a copy from our Web site.

Procurement Opportunities for City of Aurora’s Prairie Waters Project

The city of Aurora is embarking on the Prairie Waters Project, the largest water project ever undertaken by the city. The project will increase the city’s water supply by 20 percent and will ensure that the city can continue to supply its citizens and business community with clean water well into the future. The city is encouraging the maximum participation of small and local businesses, inclusive of minority, veteran, and women-owned business enterprises through subcontracting opportunities with the three firms that have been selected as prime contractors. A Small and Local Business Fair will be held to provide interested businesses with information on subcontracting opportunities. For convenience, two sessions will be held on January 18th, from 7:30-11:00 a.m. and again from 12:30-4:00 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Denver Southeast located at 3200 South Parker Road (I-225 and Parker Road) in Aurora. All businesses are encouraged to bring a brief Statement of Qualifications to give to each of the three prime contractors. For more information, please contact Bryn Fillinger at (720) 859-4346 or Joanna Cunningham at (720) 859-4304.

	The Aurora Business Development Center (BDC) offers free one-on-one counseling, low-cost seminars, financing programs and technical assistance for entrepreneurs and existing small business owners.  www.aurorabdc.com
The Aurora Business Development Center’s (BDC) e-newsletter, BIZ BEAT, contains our upcoming events and programs, valuable business tips and trends, City of Aurora news and other small business resources. If you do not wish to continue receiving this e-newsletter, please email us at info@aurorabdc.com.