Pittsburgh Events Not To Miss In September

Along with fall flavors like pumpkin spice and back-to-school excitement, Pittsburgh will host several events this September to end summer in a memorable way. There's a little something for everyone this month and here are a few top events according to NEXT Pittsburgh:

(Curated from NEXTPittsburgh)

Festival of Combustion - September 5

The Festival of Combustion will take place at the Carrie Furnaces in recognition of Pittsburgh's historic beginnings in the steel industry. The festival will feature participatory art and tours of the historic site and processes. Admission is only $15.

"Design your own glass mosaic, fire yourself a ceramic vase, watch makers cast molten lava and see live welding and metal fabrication demonstrations right before your very eyes. Learn about all of these historic processes that are part of our region's legacy at the Carrie Furnaces - where over 1,250 tons of molten metal was once poured daily."

Thrival Innovation and Music Festival - September 21- 27

A great event for entrepreneurs and innovators, Thrival Innovation will include 30 programs and 26 musical performances throughout the city. The locations will highlight Pittsburgh's booming startup culture.

"Packed with immersive innovation-focused events, interactive programs and a music festival, Thrival's itinerary will span six 'themes,' with weekday sessions focusing on everything from women in leadership and robotics, to city policy, and education technology and clean energy.Dubbed 'Thrival Marquee Events,' evening programs include guest speakers, pitch showcases, PIT Talks, a block party and more. On day four, Thrival returns to its old stomping grounds at Bakery Square for programs at UPMC Enterprises, Google and TechShop."

India in Focus - September 25 - November 9

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will host an event to celebrate the culture and innovations from India. India in Focus will feature a large-scale street party with musical and dance performances, art and theater.

"Don't miss the kick-off when India in Focus takes the festivities outdoors during the Sept. 25th Gallery Crawl. At the helm of the free large-scale party will be DJ Rekha - who has appeared everywhere from edgy NYC clubs to the White House. Rekha's wildly popular parties showcase her distinct blend of Bhangra, Bollywood and contemporary electronic dance music. The multi-talented DJ also designs sound for Broadway, produces programs for NPR and leads workshops at the Smithsonian."

No matter what your interests are, Pittsburgh has several events to explore this month. For the rest of the top 12 events check out NEXT Pittsburgh's list. What events do you plan on attending?

Image by John

Growing Pains: Retain Customers While Raising Prices

Many growing businesses have to raise the prices of their products or services at some point. As costs increase and multiply, your business will lose money unless you adapt. So, instead of losing money, you can raise your prices and hope for the best. In order to encourage customers to remain loyal to your business, make sure you emphasize the benefits that are coming with the price increase. For example, you can offer technology upgrades or improved customer service. Here are a few other reasons for raising prices:

(Curated from Pittsburgh Business Times)

• You can slowly introduce price increases to customers in small increments instead of putting the new price out there all at once. "From the clients perspective, gradually phasing in price increases is preferable to pushing through the total increase immediately."
• If you offer several services, you can raise the price of only one at a time. So, when a customer uses more than one service you can "remind them you ar holding the line on pricing for the other two."
• Another great way of introducing a price increase to customers is by converting the numbers to cost per day. For example, saying your product or service only costs an extra 50 cents a day seems much more reasonable than an additional $15 a month.
• For customers who are reluctant to pay the price increase, you can offer an option allowing them to keep the old service without the new benefits to keep the original pricing. This won't be a popular choice because most customers will want to try the additional benefits before making their decision.

Once you've established a reason for increasing prices, consider the best way to communicate the new price to customers. You should give them a heads up before raising prices. Letting customers know ahead of time about a price increase shows you considered their needs and preferences before making the decision. Also, give them your reasons for raising prices and emphasize the benefits they will receive as a result. They know businesses need to turn a profit to keep providing services and products so they will be understanding if you explain your position.

Finally, end on a positive note! Let me your customers know you appreciate their patronage and thank them for it. If they feel appreciated, customers will be more willing to see your side of the issue. If you need more business advice, check out our small businesses resources! We offer everything from consulting to technology training.

Image by Andrew Magill

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How Can You Give Your Company An Edge Over The Competition?

In a competitive market, companies need to keep things fresh in order to stay ahead of the curve. The best way to get an edge over your competitors is through innovation. Unfortunately, many innovative ideas aren't recognized for their value until it's too late and they don't realize their full potential. So, how can you recognize and foster innovation at your company? The key is to connect the creative thinking behind new ideas with the linear thinking needed for ideas to generate results. Here's how to cultivate an innovative culture at your company:

(Curated from Pittsburgh Business Times)

The managers and other people in charge at your business need to be receptive to new ideas, even if they seem outrageous. Cooperation and open-mindedness are essential to innovation. The workplace climate should encourage employers no matter what their position at the company to share new ideas. Leaders need to be able to recognize good ideas and get them started.

"People are open to offer creative ideas because they trust how those ideas will be received. People are open to hear creative ideas because they trust the intent behind their ideas."

In a world where it seems like all of the good ideas are taken, start thinking outside the box. Don't limit yourself or your employees to the constraints of reality. If you seriously consider ideas that are commonly labeled as wishful thinking, you will be able to generate ideas with real potential. 

"To wish for something or to take mental risks in one's thinking are powerful tools for turning off rational filters. Without the interference of rationality, organizations can think about and play with ideas and fragments of ideas in a free and innovative way."

After you find an idea or two you can use, consider all of your options before trying to bring it to life. There are so many ways to transform an idea into a real product or service so to get the best results you should keep all of the options in mind. Good leadership is key to connecting all of theses elements together and fostering true innovation. While it may take time and seem difficult, innovation is an effective way to make your business more appealing to customers. How do you foster innovation at your company?

Use Social Media To Improve Sales

In addition to traditional methods of selling such as cold calls and direct marketing, social media offers yet another platform to sell. So, how can you use social media effectively to help your products fly off the shelves? First, establish your online presence. You can do this by optimizing all of your social networks and defining your brand. Once you have an online brand, you can establish yourself as an expert in your field or industry. You want to be a leader in your field and actively engage with others on social media.

(Curated from Pittsburgh Business Times)

"The best leaders in social media attract the best following of people because they contribute the most. You must learn to be highly engaged, positioned as a thought leader and trusted as an authority figure in your business." 

Listening is a key aspect of marketing, even online marketing. So, your next step will help you find your voice as an expert in your field because it involves 'listening' to other experts. You can 'listen' by reading and viewing the content of others and then responding, commenting, and sharing that content. This demonstrates engagement and will establish you as a community member. It's like online networking where you can build relationships with other people in your industry.

"Set a personal, daily goal for making new contacts on the social network that is most appropriate for you. People do business with people they like and trust. Focus on building rapport instead of being the pesky salesperson pitching his stuff from the first minute he shows up on the network. Nobody likes this person."

Social selling is a skill worth developing because it connects people all over the world and will increase the size of your audience. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ allow users to measure data easily as well. Data measurements will help you develop a more effective online marketing strategy. Does your startup do social selling? Leave a comment and let us know!

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