SUNY Canton SBDC Joins Nationwide 'Start Your Business' Social Media Campaign to Help New Companies

CANTON, NY (03/17/2014)(readMedia)-- The SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is partnering with its national affiliates to help would-be entrepreneurs through a six-week social media campaign.

America's SBDC and small business expert Rhonda Abrams launched the Start-Up Campaign on Monday, March 17. Through social media outlets Twitter and Facebook, the campaign will provide entrepreneurs with information, advice, and resources they need to get started with their new businesses.

Local efforts by the New York SBDC, including SUNY Canton's SBDC, will support entrepreneurs participating in the national campaign by offering no cost one-on-one consulting and startup trainings.

James King, NY SBDC state director said, "Social media has become such an important factor in today's business climate that campaigns such as this are a natural extension of the services provided by the SBDC."

The Six-Week Start-Up Campaign was inspired by the recently released third edition of Abrams' bestselling book, Six-Week Start-Up. This edition includes dozens of free startup resources as well as step-by-step guidance to start a business in just six weeks.

"SBDCs are the best-kept secret weapon for small businesses," Abrams said, referring to her own experience as a former SBDC client. "I know how valuable their expertise is and it's free. SBDCs continue to make a huge economic impact in this country every year – they really are on the front lines helping entrepreneurs create jobs and access desperately-needed capital to start and grow."

Throughout the six-week period, anyone who hopes to start, run, or grow a business receives daily guidance, worksheets, and links to free resources. Through Twitter and Facebook, they'll be encouraged to tell their own story and become an inspiration to others.

Those who are interested in beginning their entrepreneurial journey can follow @RhondaAbrams and @cantonsbdc on Twitter, or search the hashtags #6wkstartup and #ASBDC. On Facebook, see www.Facebook.com/RhondaAbramsSmallBusiness and www.facebook.com/ASBDC.

For more information or to set up a no-cost counseling session, please contact the SUNY Canton SBDC by email, sbdc@canton.edu, or call 315-386-7312. For more information on PlanningShop and the Six-Week Start-Up Campaign, visit www.PlanningShop.com/SixWeekStartUp.

About the Small Business Development Center

The SUNY Canton SBDC offers free direct counseling and a wide range of management and technical assistance services. Small business advisors help start-up companies develop business plans, assist existing businesses prepare to expand or offer resources for industry-specific topics. Business planning services are provided free of charge. It is one of 1,000 Small Business Development Centers to provide no-cost business consulting and training to more than a million existing and startup small businesses each year, creating and retaining 156,000 jobs. More information is available at www.canton.edu/sbdc.

About SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier College for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and certificate programs. The College delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, health, management, and public service to students in the North Country, New York State, and beyond. Faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to their academic credentials. SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as eight exclusively online bachelor's degrees. The College's 14 athletic teams compete in state-of-the-art facilities as provisional members of the NCAA Division III and the USCAA.

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