By Staff Reports

(Maui)– The County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development today announced its free workshops for the month of June. Workshops are presented at the Maui County Business Resource Center, a County of Maui facility, located in the Maui Mall across Pizza Hut, in Suite B-9. Seating for all workshops is limited, and all workshops are subject to change or cancellation. Workshops are free unless noted otherwise. To reserve a seat, call the Maui County Business Resource Center at 873-8247.

The following workshops are available:

Becoming a Best-Selling Author: Leveraging the World’s Greatest Marketing Secret by Writing, Publishing and Promoting Your Book to Better Market Your Business

Instructor: Patrick Snow

Friday, June 5, 2015 – 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Are you looking for a better way to market your business? Do you have a burning desire to become a best-selling author? Attend this seminar and learn how to make your publishing and business goals come true. If you want to stand out from your competition, strengthen your credentials, and get free publicity, then writing and publishing book is your best marketing strategy. Let international best-selling author, Patrick Snow, guide you through the process. In this two-hour seminar you will learn your three publishing options, top five requirements for becoming a best-selling author, and 18 mistakes to avoid. Most importantly you will learn how to monetize your passion and even better market your business, or start a new business using your book as a platform from which you can launch! Come early, and stay late for his Q & A session that will answer all questions on your book project. Patrick Snow is an international best-selling author of Creating Your Own Destiny, The Affluent Entrepreneur, and Boy Entrepreneur has sold between 250,000 and one million copies of his three books in five languages and 108 countries. As a professional speaker he has given more than 2,500 speeches on three continents. As a publishing, book marketing, and speaker coach he has mentored more than 750 clients worldwide to achieve their publishing goals. He has been featured as a cover story in USA TODAY, The New York Times, and Forbes. When he is not traveling the world presenting, he lives in Wailuku. For more information visit www.PatrickSnow.com. or www.ThePublishingDoctor.com.

Business in the Think Tank with MBB Members (Free)

Tuesday, June 9, 2015 – 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Maui Business Brainstormers (MBB) invite you to bring your business challenge to our Brainstorming Segment OR If you want to feature your business (or business concept) in our “Think Tank” segment (that’s 20 minutes just for you), submit a form on the MBB meetup site, OR come along to brainstorm and be showered with ideas. To attend, please RSVP at www.Meetup.com/MauiBusinessBrainstormers. Non-members need first to join the FREE membership of MBB.

Features:

• Mingling, introductions
• Get to Know Your Neighbor, an opportunity to interact with new faces and strengthen your own ability to communicate succinctly with others in fast-paced situations
• Featured Business in the Think Tank, a 20-minute segment in which a selected business is featured for focused brainstorming with the group. Owners of startups and small businesses benefit from this activity. You are qualified if you have a business concept fully researched and planned but with questions or obstacles remaining, or if you are a business already in operation with sales, but facing challenges to achieve further growth. The business owner needs to be an MBB member. To be featured in the 20-minute case-study “Think Tank,” fill out and submit the online form describing your business challenge. On the day of the meeting, the candidate chosen presents a 5-min overview of the business, including the current challenges. The audience then brainstorms on ideas to address the problem area with the “build it, measure it, learn from it, improve it!” spirit.
• 5-min Think Tank: Attendees have the opportunity to present a challenge they are experiencing in their own business for ideas and suggestions from the group. No prior submission is required – just come to the meeting with your ideas and questions, to help others and be helped toward your own success!

Get the Facts about Reverse Mortgages

Instructor: Mel Ito

Wednesday, June 10, 2015 – 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.

A reverse mortgage may be a good stress reliever for some and for others it could be a nice addition to an already sound financial plan. The old cliché “get the facts” has never been more appropriate when considering a reverse mortgage. A program which began in 1989, has evolved into a very sound option for those who are age 62 or older and live in their home as a primary residence. Common false rumors and myths about reverse mortgages will be addressed. Sample illustrations and case studies will be used to explain the various programs and options. Whether you have an outstanding mortgage or not, age 62 or not, have heirs or not, the presentation may change your perspective on reverse mortgages. Mel Ito is a State of Hawaii Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator (HI-457461) and has done reverse mortgages since 2008. He has been in the banking/mortgage lending profession since 1983 and feel that now is a good time to educate the community about the benefits of reverse mortgages.

How to Protect Yourself against Identity Theft

Instructor: Sally Iwamoto

Friday, June 12, 2015 – 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Everyone deserves to live life on their own terms and with peace of mind. Having your identity stolen or threatened can change your life in an instant. Identity theft can take your mind away from your work and cause severe stress and affect your health. It can affect your income and interrupt family life. In today’s world even the largest companies are being breached! Lowes, Sears, HMSA and now even the IRS. Wouldn’t it be great to know that while you are living your life you have a service that is monitoring and protecting your identity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days of the year? There’s no price for peace of mind. For 13 years, Sally Iwamoto has been helping the people of Hawaii protect their income and assets through Life Insurance, Aflac, Disability Income Insurance and Annuities. She enjoys meeting with people and helping them reach their goals, including giving them “peace of mind.”

Starting a Business in Maui County

Instructor: Karen S. Arakawa

Monday, June 15, 2015 – 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

In this workshop, Karen Arakawa, Economic Development Specialist with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, will cover general information and requirements for starting a business in Maui County. Handouts, Website and other useful information will be provided in this informative workshop. In addition, the requirements for a Maui County Vendor Business License will be covered in this workshop.

Facebook Advertising 101

Instructor: Nicole “nico” Fisher

Wednesday, June 17, 2015 – 12:00 to 1:15 p.m. (Q&A til 1:30 p.m.)

Learning how to effectively use Facebook ads and ad campaigns will make your online marketing explode to greater reaches you could ever imagine! In this workshop, you will be provided with a Facebook Overview, together with information on ad products, targeting, and structure. Discussions will include Facebook ads vs. other social media, the new style of advertising, headlines, image and copy. This fascinating workshop is being presented by Nicole “Nico” Fisher. She is an energetic entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience as a Marketing Strategist, Social Media Consultant and Trainer. She is passionate about taking businesses from good to great through various marketing avenues.

Using Online Surveys to Grow Your Business

Instructor: Mckenna Hallett

Friday, June 26, 2015 – 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. 

At the heart of small business marketing are the campaigns that drive action. One important campaign type that is often overlooked is Surveys, Polls or Reviews. This 90-minute workshop will reveal very simple and effective best practices and considerations for the small business or nonprofit seeking to gain more traction with their audience. You will learn how to build a survey that allows you to gather valuable insights. More importantly, you will learn what to do with your new insights to bring increased sales or donations. Attendees of this presentation will also learn: The importance of listening and how to set your survey’s objective; developing good questions and understand how long is long enough; best practices as to when to survey, who to survey and how often; and what to do with the results once you have the data collected. Mckenna Hallett is owner of MyGoldenWords.com and she is a sales and marketing professional who also partners as a Certified Authorized Local Expert with Constant Contact. She has over two decades of experience with her own small business and a few decades more in sales and marketing for large and small businesses before that.