My husband loves football. He is from Texas, a die hard Cowboy’s fan, he has also learned to love the Colts.  Great, twice as much football on Sunday afternoons.

For him, Super Bowl Sunday is a national holiday.  For me, it’s an advertising event, time to watch the best Madison Avenue has to offer.  It is also a day to test my creative cooking skills.  Can I match the food to the teams competing?

So when Super Bowl fever began to catch hold in Indy, I didn’t get it.  I thought, it’s just a game.  But I was wrong.

Hosting a Super Bowl is about economic and community development, legacy projects and community spirit.   Here is just a small sample of what the Superbowl has done for Indy and the surrounding communities.

• The Super Bowl has provided a deadline for much needed infrastructure projects ranging from road work and neighborhood improvement projects, to the new Airport terminal, expanded convention center and Lucas Oil Stadium.  Each of which will improve the quality of life for Indy residents for years to come.
•  The Super Bowl host committee has been working on this project for years involving football fans and non fans like me to be part of the event.  From students to grandmothers,  people have come from all corners of the community, and around the world to be a part of Super Bowl 2012.  You can find just a few of their stories here http://www.xlvifaces.com/  This is truly a community event.
• More than $1 million dollars was raised for the Super Cure project, the nation’s only breast cancer tissue bank. More important then the money, the events and connection to the Super Bowl has facilitated the collection of more than 1,865 tissue samples.  These samples are distributed to labs  throughout the world working on a cure for breast cancer.
• One goal was to  plant 2,012 trees in the Indianapolis area.  To date, more than 2,876 trees have actually been planted.
• Our guests will be welcomed as they check into their hotel room, with a handwritten note or drawing by an Indiana student.  More than 18,000 students from every county in Indiana contributed these welcome greetings.
• With ten days of concerts and art exhibits this event is for the community as much as it is for the fans and visitors.
• You will be able to identify the thousands of  community volunteers by their blue and white scarves which were hand knitted by volunteers from around the world. More than  13,000 blue and white scarves have been created to be worn during the event.  ( And yes I have one too).
• The impact will reach well beyond our community.  On game day, 7,000 gift baskets will be delivered to hospitalized children in each of the 32 NFL cities .  This was a collaborative project between the Riley’s Children Foundation, The Basket of Hope Program and former Colt’s coach Tony Dungy
• With our Super Bowl smart phone application, social media command center and Social 46 volunteers ( I am excited to be one)  we have a shot at claiming the title of the most tech-connected Super Bowl ever.

I am really looking forward to this year’s Innovation Summit. TechPoint has put together a terrific lineup (including me) of local and national speakers. This is one event you don’t want to miss.

Even if the temperature is up and down, things are really heating up in the Indianapolis Startup community.  Everywhere you turn, there are exciting headlines and stories about developments, changes and events.  If you are interested in being involved in a startup, this is the place to be:

• Hackers and Founders is Now Verge
• Indianapolis Startup Weekend April 8 -10 – Registration is Open
• Indianapolis Startup Scene Gains Momentum

Want to be a part? Join us for the next Startup Weekend.

Roundpeg is focused on small business for several reasons:

1. I like working with business owners.  It is fun to share their passion and help them make their dreams a reality.
2. I really believe the economic recovery will come from the jobs created by thousands of new of small businesses.  The stronger the startup community, the stronger the community will be overall.  This is one of the reasons I am so involved with Startup Weekend.
3. There are a lot of small businesses!!  This data from Gaebler.com shows you just how many there are in Marion County.  And this doesn’t include any of the surrounding counties.

There is a vibrant small business community, which is growing daily.  Want to be a part of the action?  Check out the local networking and Startup groups, from Rainmakers and BNI, to the Chambers and Hackers and Founders.  Or join the conversation on line at places like Smaller Indiana.   If you are thinking of starting a business, this is your year!

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Need a little help organizing your business ideas? Download our free business plan outline to get you pointed in the right direction.

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Thinking about starting a business, but not sure where you should focus your efforts? A recent post on Entrepreneur.com identifies a series of of trends and niches for 2011.

Boomers Again: Buying and Still Working!

• 76 million-strong, Boomers are providing a slew of market opportunities such as construction services to make homes more senior-friendly; supermarkets with lower shelves and wheelchair-compatible shopping carts; and sales and techsupport by phone for seniors, by seniors
• 62 percent of working boomers expect to stay in the labor force for at least nine more years – So they will have money to spend!

Two other trends tied to some extent to the Boomer influence are

• Home Sweet Home - As home values have fallen people are choosing to renovate and retrofit rather then move.  Some of the growth is fueled by delayed repairs from previous years, but much of the growth is expected to come from the Boomer’s desire to age in place.  Addition of safety rails in showers,  conversions of living space to create first floor bedrooms and more accessible kitchens will be a staple for many construction firms in the years to come.
• Vital Signs - With costs on the rise and access to the healthcare system expanded, the technology and services sectors are poised for growth.

Get Packing – The Travel Industry is Heating Up

• Revenues are up:
  • International trips will jump 5.5 percent, to 94.7 million;
  • Domestic trips will rise 1.2 percent, to 627.4 million
  • Hotel revenues will go up by 4.4 percent, to $114.8 billion;
• The opportunity is not just in the travel industry itself, but in the exploding “App” market  to support, guide, and inform travelers.  Smart phone applications include: Wi-Fi finders, flight status updaters, local restaurant finders, budget booking assistants, and translators

Other exploding niches revolve around consumer spending:

• Social Shopping - As the lines between online shopping sites and social networks begin to blurr
• Who’s Your Daddy – Marketers are finally discovering men are interested in more then just gadgets and electronics. Fashion, health and beauty ( ok what do you call mostierizers and facial products for men? )
• Great expectations - Consumers seeking out and manufacturers providing moderately priced luxury; designer lines at Walmart and Kmart, and high end companies offering online versions for less.

So if you are looking for a new idea, new inspiration to grow your business or start a new one, perhaps this list will give you that “new” idea.
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Even if you are thinking about funding your business yourself, a business plan is a great way to organize your ideas. Don’t know how to get started? Download our simple outline to point you in the right direction.

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January , prediction time. Every writer and pundit is making predictions about the economy, small business, the internet, social media, fashion, trends and more. You can spend an entire year reading the trends, and miss the real year completely. As I read the multiple lists, I look for common trends, where does everyone agree.

So what seems to be on everyone’s prediction lists?

• Erica Swallow writing for Mashable says we can expect to see increased spending on websites and a revolution in smarthphone technology.
• Lance Ulanoff writing for PC Mag.com says it will be about speed as consumers demand the same type of speeds from mobile devices they enjoy at home   He also expects social media to continue to grow with Facebook dominating the space, and twitter a strong second
• Jolie O’Dell also writing for Mashable sees an expansion of cloud computing and collaboration tools, improved Wysiwyg type interfaces for developers and higher standards for web and mobile security?

Technology is not the only area where we predictions this time of year.   Economists also jump into the game.

• Robert Oak writing for the Economic Populist submitted the following, not very encouraging summary of a Goldman Sachs report -

1. a strengthening in growth from 2.1% on average in 2010 to 2.4% in 2011, with real GDP rising at an above-potential 3½% pace in late 2011
2. A peaking in unemployment in mid-2011 at about 10.75%
3. extremely low inflation – close to zero on a core basis during 2011
4. a continuation of the Fed’s (near) zero interest rate policy (ZIRP) throughout 2011.

What are the implications for small business owners if they are right?

• If you haven’t updated your website in the last 18 months, plan on doing it this year.  Focus on load times, compatibility with mobile applications and social media
• Stop sitting on the fence when it comes to social media – Facebook and Twitter are a part of how business operates.
• Low interest rates will make this an attractive time to make capital investments in your business as you prepare for growth in your business.
• With continued unemployment, there will be many qualified candidates available, so hire wisely
• Expect more low priced competition as newly unemployed individuals make the decision to start their own business in your space.

What are your predictions and plans for 2011?

When I was in college (eons ago), I had a vision of my glamorous marketing career. I thought I would be selling business owners on cutting edge concepts and ideas. If the ideas were good enough, I thought, they would have no problem handing their marketing budget over to me. Here’s an example:

Me: “…so that’s basically my insanely brilliant marketing idea.”
Business Owner: “By George! You’re brilliant, Jay. Here’s one million dollars. Let’s make this happen! Also, take all the time you need. There’s no rush.”
Me: “That sounds lovely.”

The above example is what I thought would happen. Unfortunately,  business owners have more to worry about than whether something “looks pretty”. In fact, business owners typically care less about a creative concept, and more about measurable results.

At Roundpeg, as we work with small business owners the emphasis is always on the  potential results of a strategy first and the creative execution to support the strategy is secondary.  While a large corporation might be running five marketing campaigns at once, our clients typically run one, so our work has to be incredibly efficient and quantifiable. Personally, I like the accountability. It forces me to grow and improve every day.

What is the most important aspect of your company’s marketing? Do you value innovative concepts or quantifiable success to make marketing decisions?

At Roundpeg, we’re gearing up for October conference center. We’re excited to be speaking to some great groups of people. If you’re looking to catch a presentation, you can find us:

• 10/6: Lorraine will present “10 Mistakes Business Owners Make” for the Entrepreneurship Advancement Center at the Fishers Train Station, , 11601 Municipal Dr, Fishers, at 8 a.m.

• 10/6: Lorraine’s going to be busy! After her morning presentation, she will be presenting “From Random Strangers to Raving Fans” for the Perfect Wedding Guide at the Omni Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. 12 p.m.
• 10/13: Boy Wonder Jay Mattingly will present “Forget Henry Ford: Easy Tips for a Tough Economy” with Nick Carter of AddressTwo fame. The presentation will be held at 8:30 a.m. at the offices of Trustpointe, 6666 E. 75th St., Indianapolis
• 10/21: Lorraine will be reprieving her “From Random Strangers to Raving Fans” workshop for the Tipton County Chamber of Commerce, 11:00, 1020 W. Jefferson St.

We hope to see you at one of these events!

On October 13th our own Jay Mattingly will join Nick Carter, founder of AddressTwo, to teach a marketing seminar for small business owners which challenges the assumptions about how you should run a business.

In today’s episode of More than a Few Words,  Jay talks about the seminar, who should attend, and what they will learn.

There is no charge to attend and there are still seats available.  Click here to register or contact Jay

As we emerge from one of the longest recessions in the last 50 years, many small business owners are unsure how to approach their business.  What changes should you make to turn your business around and accelerate their growth. Some of the most valuable changes you can make ere operational in nature.  For example:

1. Focus on Customer Generated Revenue – This seems kind of intuitive, but the author suggests instead of looking for a loan go looking for more sales to fuel your growth.
2. Use online invoicing and payment solutions. – Here the strategy is to accelerate payments to you.  Although I pay a fee to process a credit card, it is nothing compared to what it costs to chase an invoice after the project is complete.  Practice asking your clients if they ” want the miles” referring to the mileage points they receive when they use their credit card, as away of encouraging them to use their cards to pay you.
3. Invest in technology - Upgrade computers, enhance software. Don’t spend frivolously, but  don’t try to run your business with antiquated technology.
4. Manage costs, but when you invest ahead of your competitors – While everyone else is still cutting costs, now is a good time to invest a little.  It won’t take as much to leap out ahead as it would if everyone was spending.

What else would you add to this list?