The Act has several provisions, but one of the main goals is to change existing financial rules restricting private equity investing as well as those related to crowdfunding sites. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumpstart_Our_Business_Startups_Act

Many of these rules were enacted in the 1930s to protect [...]]]> In April of 2012, President Obama authorized the JOBS Act. (Jumpstart Our Business Startups.)

The Act has several provisions, but one of the main goals is to change existing financial rules restricting private equity investing as well as those related to crowdfunding sites.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumpstart_Our_Business_Startups_Act

Many of these rules were enacted in the 1930s to protect consumers from getting scammed.

However, these same rules are preventing modern day private equity investors from taking advantage of developments like high-speed Internet access, cloud computing and social media–changes that the rest of the financial world have incorporated.

For example, currently you must be an “accredited investor” to be able to invest in most private equity and venture fund opportunities. The income and net worth requirements to become accredited are out of the reach of 80% of Americans.

The Act modifies these restrictions.

Also, at this time US law prevents crowdfunding portals and sites from offering full crowdfunding services for equity investments as they do for reward and charity crowdfunding (the most common types).

Three of the main Titles of the Act were effective immediately (Titles I, V and VI).

Three others (Titles II, III and IV) are waiting on SEC approval which should come later this year. Once that happens, it will be much easier for entrepreneurs and small business owners to get funding from private equity and online investment crowdfunding sites.

How much dough are we taking about?

A research outfit named Massolution said the total crowdfunding market (mostly rewards crowdfunding but it gives us a starting point) raised around $2.7 billion last year, with that number expected to grow to over $5 billion in 2013.

I believe these changes open up many opportunities for small business owners.

It’s not exactly the same as a sales letter. It relies a lot on storytelling and community building, the same tactics good internet marketers use.

Some ideas will work, some won’t. Many crowdfunding campaigns are big stinkers.

And equity crowdfunding is a totally new area (This iteration, anyway. You could say the Green Bay Packers have been at it awhile.)

Most important, it provides entrepreneurs and growth businesses much needed capital in the middle of a tepid economic recovery.

It promises to be a booming area and another way to get rich in America.

-Joe

P.S.
Here are examples of real businesses using crowdfunding:

Crowdfunding News and Tips More Businesses Use Crowdfunding To Finance New Products

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/06/business/crowdfunding-for-small-business-is-still-an-unclear-path.html

“You want 3 dimensional marketing: in person, not on the web or remote. Get in front of people.

People send me email to ask if they can call! Why not send hard copy mail to ask if they can email?!

“No [...]]]> “Ignore critique unless it’s from respected sources. Otherwise your life is a pinball machine.

“You want 3 dimensional marketing: in person, not on the web or remote. Get in front of people.

People send me email to ask if they can call! Why not send hard copy mail to ask if they can email?!

“No such thing as writer’s block, just people looking for excuse not to write.

“Never generalize from a specific. One opinion is one opinion. If unsolicited, it’s no opinion.

“People who play “gotcha” are always at the bottom of the class. (You have a typo on your web site.)

“Calculation: On Facebook, are there more dumb platitudes or self-congratulatory posts? (Here’s my 3rd grade report card…)”

Get more epic tweets from consultant Alan Weiss here.

If iTunes doesn’t work for you go here:

http://podcasts.personallifemedia.com/podcasts/232-dishymix/episodes/177126-oren-klaff-pitch-anything-present

http://podcasts.personallifemedia.com/podcasts/232-dishymix/episodes/177127-oren-klaff-pitch-anything-part

Create your own local industry association

In a medium-sized city I organized all the chiropractors into an ad-hoc advertising association. They pooled funds to promote “advertorial” spots on local TV. See if you can find like-minded competitors and look for areas you can [...]]]> Here are four ways to generate foot traffic for your local business.

Create your own local industry association

In a medium-sized city I organized all the chiropractors into an ad-hoc advertising association. They pooled funds to promote “advertorial” spots on local TV. See if you can find like-minded competitors and look for areas you can combine forces for exponential results.

Create your own local party or event

This is a similar idea but involves organizing neighboring businesses for local promotions. What local event can you start to generate excitement? How about a weekly happy hour downtown with local bands? Or a mini music festival.

You can start small. Try co-promotions with one or two neighbors and build from there. I’ve staged hockey clinics, golf demo days, free massages days, battle of the bands, stand-up comedy marathons, etc.

Bring old customers back

It’s a mystery of the ages. Many businesses let old customers drift away with no attempt to get them back. Create an irresistible offer (it must be really good – don’t cheap out on it) and get those drifters back. They already know who you are so it is all gravy.

Use all your co-op

Check what co-op funds you have accrued with your top vendors. Have you used it all up? If so, ask your vendors about special funds set up to fund one-off promotions. This is different from your earned co-op. Often called “Key City Funds” or similar phrases, you have to feature that vendor in the promotion, but it is a great way to find extra money.

How profitable is it? Here is one extreme example but shows what can happen–this is an excerpt from Craig Garber’s “How To Get Maximum Money With Minimum Customers”:

Here are 15 tools and tactics to find out.

Still, Business Insider tells the story of how Facebook ads are changing the online ad game.

Silva Life Systems

Love or Above

Modern Qigong

Fisher says, “…just look at those early Rocco ads and any copywriter who’s studied their Ogilvy will see that the ads actually look like something that the [...]]]> Copywriter Glenn Fisher tells the tale of Steve Rocco, skateboard entrepreneur and copywriter. He wrote ads for his own company, World Industries, in the 80s and early 90s.

Fisher says, “…just look at those early Rocco ads and any copywriter who’s studied their Ogilvy will see that the ads actually look like something that the great ‘O’ would have produced – if he were a skateboarder.”

You’ll discover:

- The Taiwanese Condo Queen and how she revolutionized NYC real estate. - The single characteristic that separates top salespeople from the pack. [...]]]> That’s what Barbara Corcoran was told when she split from her business partner. She used that as motivation to become a millionaire. In this speech she tells the whole story.

You’ll discover:

- The Taiwanese Condo Queen and how she revolutionized NYC real estate.
- The single characteristic that separates top salespeople from the pack.
- Why superstars have something to prove to someone from their past.
- What to tell interviewees to find champions. (Ken Michaels does this! )
- How to create the image of success and why it matters.
- How to get press coverage and calls from the media.
- The meek may inherit the earth but big mouths win in NYC.

- How to use valuable content to get noticed and become an industry leader.
- How to get in the news and raise your profile.
- The number one truism in sales: Everybody wants what everybody wants and nobody wants what nobody wants. (How she sold $1.2 million of apartments in one day using this principle.)
- There is never a good time to be pregnant.
- The two major types of people and why you need both in your office.
- A fair way to get rid of the dogs fast (They never get better if you give them more time).
- Why you need to get rid of complainers no matter how much they produce.

- Sneaky ways to make people love to come to work.
- How to use ridiculous fun to make more money.
- Why bad economies are the best time to make big moves.
- How entrepreneurs can kick the ass of established firms.
- Why failure is your best friend.
- How careful planning will ruin you.
- What happens when you challenge Donald Trump.

You’ll also get some good info if you find yourself doing too much teaching and not enough selling. Also, learn how to use blogging [...]]]> I’ve given thousands of speeches and watched many more. Few speakers get the audience involved like Marcus Sheridan. If you have to give presentations in your business, you’ll learn a lot.

You’ll also get some good info if you find yourself doing too much teaching and not enough selling. Also, learn how to use blogging and content marketing to potentially close 80% of your prospects.

914 Westwood Blvd., #327 Los Angeles, CA 90024 Email: joe@ditzelandco.com

Tuesday, 5:57am Los Angeles, CA

Dear Friend and Tech Marketer:

Consumers are researching products extensively online before they even think about calling a local [...]]]> This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Joe Ditzel's Tech Marketing Letter

Joe Ditzel’s Tech Marketing Letter

914 Westwood Blvd., #327
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Email: joe@ditzelandco.com

Tuesday, 5:57am
Los Angeles, CA

Dear Friend and Tech Marketer:

Consumers are researching products extensively online before they even think about calling a local retailer.

It’s the same in the world of B2B.

B2B Content Marketing: 2013 Benchmarks, Budgets and Trends reports that a whopping 91 percent of B2B marketers are using content marketing.

And listen to this…

The report says that 54 percent of B2B companies claim they will be spending more on content marketing over the next year.

How do they handle all that work? A healthy 65 percent of large companies outsource B2B content creation.

Why so much hullabaloo about content marketing?

I mean, it’s nothing new, right?

In 1895 John Deere published a magazine named “The Furrow” to help educate farmers on the changes in farming technology.

True, but…

Now a farmer can just hop on the ‘ol World Wide Web anytime and brush up on everything from crop cycles to the latest feed blends.

The secret of content marketing is to blend education with sales.

Freely answer your prospect’s questions, and help them overcome their problems and challenges.

They’ll trust you when it comes time to buy your products and services.

In other words, give them Results in Advance.

When they are ready to buy, price objections will melt away like snow in May.

Sincerely,

Joe Ditzel

Copywriter and Marketing Consultant
DitzelandCo.com

P.S. If you need assistance with creating content like white papers, case studies, and special reports for tech and software marketing, contact me in Los Angeles at joe@ditzelandco.com.

V1 – 1

Buyers control their movement through the buying [...]]]> In your population of prospects, under 15% will make a decision in the next 90 days. The large majority will not be ready to buy until 90 days from now or longer. As long as you’ve qualified them, when they say NO think “you only mean NO today.”

Buyers control their movement through the buying cycle more than ever before. For example, Forrester says that buyers are anywhere from two-thirds to as high as 90% to the point of making a purchase by the time they talk to any salespeople. That’s why you should do plenty of content marketing at the same time you are working the phones.