Maximize Your Website Potential and Drive More Business
2025-06-20 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | ONLINE
Ready to take your online presence to the next level? Join us for an informative webinar focused on strategies to maximize your website’s potential. Gain insights into proven techniques that can elevate your online presence and drive business growth.
During this session, we will delve into optimizing your website for better search engine visibility, improving user experience, and boosting conversion rates. By applying these strategies, you’ll be better equipped to attract more visitors, engage effectively, and ultimately enhance your business success.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn and implement actionable steps that can make a real difference for your website and business. Register now and take the first step toward unlocking your website’s true potential.

How to Approach a Lender
2025-06-24 10:00 - 11:00
Learn how to confidently approach lenders and present your business in the best possible light. This session covers what lenders look for, how to prepare your financial documents and tips for making a strong pitch.
Initiated and powered by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), OCN aims to be the central hub where tech startups and scalable businesses can access the resources, expertise and connections they need to thrive, from concept to funding.

Defining Your Audience: The Power of Buyer Personas
2025-06-24 10:00 - 11:30
What is a Buyer Persona? A buyer persona is a semi-fictional representation of your ideal customer based on market research and real data about your existing customers.
Marketing to everyone the same way doesn’t work anymore. These in-depth personas help us relate to your customers uniquely and as real humans. Buyer personas can help you better understand who your customers are and how to best market to them.
The goals of this hands-on workshop include developing clear definitions of your typical buyers, a clear sense of the customer journey that customers take, and how to generate marketing strategy to start marketing to the right people.

Decoding Financial Statements: A Path to Better Decisions
2025-06-24 11:00 - 12:30
Join us for an interactive virtual workshop designed to empower small business owners with the skills to interpret financial statements effectively. This workshop is continuation of the Financial Projections and Beyond and will take a deeper dive into the financial statements. Attendees will learn how to analyze balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements to make informed decisions that drive growth and stability. Gain practical insights and strategies to strengthen your financial acumen and take your business to the next level. Don’t miss this opportunity to decode the numbers and unlock your business’s potential!
Speaker(s): Edward Dyer OKSBDC Business Advisor
All SBDC programs and services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. “Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.”

The Presentation Profit Formula: Designing Slides That Drive Business Growth
2025-06-24 13:00 - 14:00
Your slides can be your silent sales force. This session reveals how strategic slide design can enhance persuasion, boost conversions, and fuel business success. Attendees will uncover the formula for crafting sales-driven presentations, leveraging design psychology, and measuring the real impact of their slides.
Key Takeaways:
1. Design sales presentations that persuade and convert.
2. Apply visual psychology to influence buying decisions.
3. Measure and optimize your presentation’s effectiveness to drive business results.

What to expect when applying for a SBA loan - Tips to Know Before you Apply
2025-06-25 10:00 - 11:00
This workshop will clarify the lending review process. Increase the likelihood of obtaining funding for your project by understanding what lenders look for when reviewing your application. Whether you have been in business for a long time, are just getting started, or are considering purchasing an existing business this workshop has something for you.
* What not to say to your lender
* How to find the right lender for your project
* Completing the application
* Know your rights as a borrower
* Learn key financial terms

Selling on Etsy
2025-06-25 11:00 - 12:00
Etsy is a unique marketplace perfect for handmade items, vintage goods, and craft supplies. This workshop will walk you through the first steps of opening your shop. Topics to be covered include adding listings, payment and billing details, marketing options, keywords, and shipping basics.
Presenter: Lauren Denny, KTC Digital Media Instructor
This training series is presented in partnership with the Oklahoma Commercialization Network, powered by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST).
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Women’s Business Center (WBC) services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and language assistance services for clients with limited English proficiency will be provided if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact REI Oklahoma WBC at (800) 658-2823.
Initiated and powered by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), OCN aims to be the central hub where tech startups and scalable businesses can access the resources, expertise and connections they need to thrive, from concept to funding.

Lease Literacy: Renter Beware
2025-06-25 11:00 - 12:30
Navigating the leasing process can be a daunting task for small business owners, especially when it comes to retail spaces. Join us for “Lease Literacy: Renter Beware,” a comprehensive virtual workshop designed to demystify the leasing process and arm you with the knowledge needed to protect your investment.
In this workshop, we will cover:
Understanding the Leasing Process: Step-by-step guidance on what to expect when leasing a retail space. Decoding Lease Document Terms: In-depth explanations of common terms and clauses found in lease agreements. Identifying Potential Pitfalls: Learn to recognize and avoid common traps that can jeopardize your business. Our goal is to empower small business owners with the confidence and knowledge to make informed decisions, ensuring their lease agreements support their business success. Don’t miss this opportunity to become lease literate and safeguard your investment!
Speaker(s): Wayne Stone Broker/Owner Milestone Realty LLC
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals with appropriate advance notice. Please contact OKSBDC Training Manager Cindy Ruminer by email at cindy.ruminer@oksbdc.org or call 580-745-2877. All SBDC programs and services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. “Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.”

Patent Filing Considerations
2025-06-25 12:00 - 13:00
Intellectual property is becoming increasingly important when it comes to business valuation as well as success – especially for tech companies. A well-developed patent portfolio (along with an intellectual property portfolio, generally) conveys a high degree of technical and commercial sophistication to potential investors, customers, competitors, and licensees. It also proves that you value investment in research and development and are prepared to take appropriate steps to protect those investments. To keep all of your patent options open (particularly, outside of the U.S.), you must file a patent application before any public disclosure or commercialization of your invention takes place. The simplest first step is oftentimes filing a provisional application, which could potentially be done yourself – assuming it’s done right!
This presentation will focus on explaining patentability, what should be put into a provisional application, and what other information is needed to better ensure you properly protect your IP.

Visibility Boost with YouTube: Maximize Your Brand's Reach with Video Marketing
2025-06-26 10:00 - 11:00
Join us for an engaging webinar that shares tips to create video content that engages your audience and boosts your brand’s visibility. Follow along step-by-step. We’ll cover the essentials of setting up and optimizing your YouTube channel and we’ll share practical examples and expert advice for a video marketing strategy that connects with your target audience and maximizes your brand’s reach. Whether you’re new to YouTube marketing or a seasoned pro, this session is packed with insights that will help you elevate your brand’s impact with video content.

Best Ways to Grow Your Business on a Budget
2025-06-26 12:00 - 13:00
With so many marketing options available for small businesses, where should you allocate your budget and resources in order to maximize results? You’re not alone if you feel overwhelmed in how to market your business and stretch the budget in order to generate the best R.O.I (return on investment). This informative webinar will cover top-producing, cost-effective marketing methods to build brand awareness, increase repeat business and generate quality leads. In addition, I’ll share some of my favorite free marketing resources. Leave with action items you can implement right away!

Building Business Credit Made Simple to Secure Business Funding
2025-06-26 17:00 - 18:00
Business credit is the simplest but most misunderstood aspect of a company’s success. However, in today’s competitive business landscape, it is more important than ever for entrepreneurs to establish and maintain a strong business credit profile. Doing so not only unlocks a world of financing opportunities but also provides the foundation for expansion and growth. Additionally, a solid business credit profile can help you qualify for loans, credit lines, and better financing terms without relying on personal credit. At the end of the day, building business credit is about setting your business up for long-term success. By taking the time to establish and nurture your business credit profile, you can position your business for growth, sustainability, and profitability for many years to come.
There is no time like now to start building a robust business credit profile and change the entire trajectory of your company! If you truly want to unlock funding products and opportunities that most entrepreneurs dream of doing don’t miss this webinar!

ChatGPT and Canva: The Perfect Team For Fast, Fabulous Content Creation
2025-07-01 10:00 - 11:00
Creating content doesn’t have to be stressful or time-consuming. In this fun and practical session, you’ll learn how to combine the creative power of Canva with the time-saving magic of ChatGPT to create engaging social posts, polished flyers, blog drafts, and short videos—quickly and easily.
We’ll show you how to:

Use smart prompts in ChatGPT to generate copy and ideas
Design professional visuals using Canva templates
Script short videos—even if you’re not a video expert

Perfect for solopreneurs, small business owners, and nonprofit leaders who want to market with confidence, consistency, and creativity—without the overwhelm.
This webinar is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Canva or ChatGPT.

Small Business Insurance Needs Including Cybersecurity Threats
2025-07-01 11:00 - 12:00
Our speakers will discuss different types of insurance that should be considered for small businesses and how lenders and insurance carriers view the impact of Cybersecurity on Small Business. SBA will also provide program information and resources to assist your business.

Financial Health Checkup
2025-07-08 09:00 - 10:30
This workshop aims to help individuals assess their overall financial well-being, going beyond just their credit score. The workshop focuses on four key components of financial health: spending, saving, borrowing, and planning.
Presenter: Tina Herndon
This training series is presented in partnership with Tinker Federal Credit Union.
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Women’s Business Center (WBC) services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and language assistance services for clients with limited English proficiency will be provided if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact REI Oklahoma WBC at (800) 658-2823.
Initiated and powered by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), OCN aims to be the central hub where tech startups and scalable businesses can access the resources, expertise and connections they need to thrive, from concept to funding.

Visibility Boost With YouTube: Maximize Your Brand's Reach With Video Marketing
2025-07-08 10:00 - 11:00
Join us for an engaging webinar that shares tips to create video content that engages your audience and boosts your brand’s visibility. Follow along step by step, we’ll cover the essentials of setting up and optimizing your YouTube channel and share practical examples and expert advice, for a video marketing strategy that connects with your target audience and maximizes your brand's reach. Whether you’re new to YouTube marketing or a seasoned pro, this session is packed with insights that will help you elevate your brand’s impact with video content.
This webinar is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, YouTube.

What Every Business Owner Should Know About SEO
2025-07-08 12:00 - 13:00
Organic searches on Google yield the majority of traffic for websites, and is a critical component of the buyer funnel.
Ultimately, getting users to convert from web traffic into an engagement is the goal.
Considering the higher cost of White Hat SEO (using marketing techniques within Google’s terms of service), it is very crucial for business owners to understand if they are ready to implement a long-term marketing strategy.
Is your website ready for SEO? Are you a good candidate for search engine optimization?
With the always-changing search algorithm, and the limited time business owners have, it can be a challenge to stay on top of the changes that affect their online presence.
Knowing the principals of SEO will help you understand the tactics being used by your competitors, and how to measure the success of your SEO.
Learner outcomes include, but are not limited to:

Understanding how search engine ranking algorithms really work and to clear up any myths or confusion surrounding this process.
Learning the parts of a website that search engines evaluate when determining the ordering of search results.
Knowing the 5 most important factors Google uses to rank a website (there are over 200 factors)
Understanding the difference between “White” and “Black Hat” SEO techniques.
Avoiding the implementation of techniques that rank the site higher in short term, but penalize it in years to come.
Evaluating the Return on Investment (ROI)
Estimating the cost of White Hat SEO
Knowing practical techniques

SEO for Tik-Tok
2025-07-09 09:30 - 10:30, 2025-07-14 09:30 - 10:30
Are you looking to boost your business on the world’s largest search engine? Look no further than SEO for TikTok! Our expert webinar will teach you the ins and outs of getting found on TikTok, optimizing your content for maximum visibility, and growing your business. With our help, you’ll be able to get found faster and make a bigger impact on the platform. Don’t wait – join us today and start building your brand!

Get Your Business on Google Search and Maps
2025-07-09 11:00 - 12:00
If you’ve wanted to learn more about Google and how your business can be found online, take time to join us as Maria Elena Duron, Google Trainer/Digital Coach explains why showing up when customers are searching online is more important than ever. Ensure customers can find accurate, updated information about your local business on Google Search and Google Maps, no matter which device they use. In this workshop, you will learn how to create and manage a Google Business Profile from start to finish. Attendees will also learn how to:
* Create or claim your Google Business Profile
* Manage your business info across Google Search and Maps
* Use your Business Profile to connect with potential customers
Attendees will have the chance to ask questions and get a copy of the presentation used by this Google Expert.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals with appropriate advance notice. Please contact OKSBDC Training Manager Cindy Ruminer by email at cindy.ruminer@oksbdc.org or call 580-745-2877.
All SBDC programs and services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. “Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.”

Secrets to Buying a Franchise
2025-07-09 12:00 - 13:00
This workshop will provide you with all the information you need to decide if owning a franchise is right for you, and how to find the right one. Page Nicol is a seasoned franchise consultant and owner, with over 30 years as a UPS Store multi unit owner, developer, and experienced consultant with FranNet. In this presentation you will learn:
* What are the pros and cons of owning a franchise?
* What are the common myths about franchising?
* What franchise concepts are working in today’s economy?
* How can you safely find and research a franchise before making a decision?
* How can you get financing to start your own business.

OKC Women’s Business Breakfast
2025-07-10 08:00 - 10:00
REI Oklahoma invites you to join us for the OKC Women’s Business Breakfast – a monthly networking and business-building event. This opportunity enables you to interact with other women in business and potential customers, build your network and market your business!
Each month this exclusive networking meeting for women business owners, professionals and small business resource partners will cover a topic relevant to small business management and include a time of introductions so participants come away with new contacts and resources.
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for these breakfasts or other REI Oklahoma training events, please contact Lakisha at lmeade@reiok.org.
The OKC Women’s Business Breakfast is offered in partnership with the Pioneer Library System and the REI Oklahoma Women’s Business Center. The OKC Women’s Business Breakfast meets the first Thursday morning of every month (with the exception of January and July 2025).
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Women’s Business Center (WBC) services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and language assistance services for clients with limited English proficiency will be provided if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact REI Oklahoma WBC at (800) 658-2823.

Business Start Up
2025-07-10 10:30 - 12:00
It’s back to basics! If you want to start a business but aren’t sure where to begin, then this class is for you. In this workshop, our SBDC professionals will address many of the questions you should ask yourself before beginning the process of starting a new business. Attendees will learn about legal business structures, small business tax basics, best management practices, basic marketing strategies and market research. We will also talk about how to write a business plan and the importance of financial statements. After attending, you will have the opportunity to connect with one of our SBDC Business Advisors to get assistance in moving through the stages of your business venture. Attendees will receive a copy of the presentation along with helpful handouts, and have the opportunity to ask questions.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Language assistance services are available for limited English proficient individuals with appropriate advance notice. Please contact OKSBDC Training Manager Cindy Ruminer by email at cindy.ruminer@oksbdc.org or call 580-745-2877.

How to Avoid a Wage and Hours Claim
2025-07-10 11:00 - 12:00
QuickBooks Online -If you are a novice or a seasoned pro, learn some valuable time saving tips and tricks from the people that use it every day. After presentation, we have set aside time to answer your QuickBook questions.

Spend smart. Save strong. Secure your future. HAPPY FINANCIAL AWARENESS DAY
2025-07-11 15:00 - 16:00
How do you set your website up to win over customers? Your website has to attract and engage visitors, educate them about your products and services, and convert them into customers. Success begins with a plan!
This webinar will show you the key elements your website needs to succeed.
After the session, you’ll have a better understanding of:
· The critical role your website plays in your online marketing strategy
· The features and tools you’ll need to execute your plan
· How to get everything working together to achieve your goals
· How to set your website up to attract, engage, and convert your ideal customers
· Attendees will receive a free website planning workbook.

HR Business Basics for Small Business Owners
2025-07-14 11:00 - 12:00
This program will examine the requirements and complexities for small business owners to maintain when they have one or more employees. This program will provide an overview of setting up payroll including compliance rules, establishing policies & procedures, and the review and assessment of employer related insurance products including workers’ compensation insurance, EPLI insurance, and employee health & welfare benefits. This program will help small business owners understand the compliance issues, different choices available on the market, and risk mitigation of building a sound HR infrastructure for their businesses.

Essential Insurance for Small and Medium Businesses
2025-07-14 13:00 - 14:00
Discover essential insurance coverage for small and medium businesses, including property, liability, workers’ compensation, cyber, and more. Learn how to protect your business from various risks with the right policies. And navigate the current tough insurance market in California.

Virtual: Journey to Loan Approval
2025-07-15 09:00 - 10:00
This is an interactive workshop that helps participants understand the loan approval process. You will learn about credit reports, credit scores, and the factors that influence loan decisions. You will also gain insights into the requirements for various kinds of loans.
Presenter: Tina Herndon
This training series is presented in partnership with Tinker Federal Credit Union.
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Women’s Business Center (WBC) services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and language assistance services for clients with limited English proficiency will be provided if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact REI Oklahoma WBC at (800) 658-2823.
Initiated and powered by the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST), OCN aims to be the central hub where tech startups and scalable businesses can access the resources, expertise and connections they need to thrive, from concept to funding.
