Business Smart
2025-08-21 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | ONLINE
If you’re looking to start a business and have questions on where to begin, this workshop covers those first steps. Maybe you have a business idea and need to answer a few questions to give the idea more structure. Have you thought of a clever name, registered your business, or opened a bank account? Now what? In this workshop, we will be covering the following topics:

Market Feasibility
Key sections of a business plan
Factors to consider when determining legal structure
Where to find funding
Key resources for your business

The goal of this workshop is to provide direction to new entrepreneurs and introduce you to the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center. Attendees will have a better understanding of initial steps to starting their business.
Speaker(s): OKSBDC Advisor Shannon Spier ; OKSBDC Advisor Greg Jones
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.”

Intellectual Property Basics with USPTO
2025-08-27 13:00 - 14:30 | ONLINE
Are you interested in learning about intellectual property (IP) fundamentals? In this webinar, you will get an overview of four different types of IP while learning the importance of understanding each type.
In addition, learn about USPTO resources and initiatives for the small business community. USPTO experts will cover:

Patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets
Why innovators and entrepreneurs should consider protecting their IP
Local resources and assistance available through the USPTO and other agencies
Presented by the Texas Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Attendees will receive a copy of the presentation and will have the opportunity to ask questions.
Speaker(s): Presented by the Texas Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Co-Sponsor(s): Oklahoma SBDC
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.

Staying Ahead: Monthly Google and AI Developments
2025-08-28 11:00 - 12:00 | ONLINE
This is a professional collaboration between OKSBDC and Market in Moments with Maria Elena Duron.
Join us for a monthly deep dive into the latest Google updates and AI trends shaping the digital landscape. Each session will provide actionable insights to help you: Stay Ahead of the Curve: Learn about the newest Google algorithm changes, feature releases, and best practices. Harness the Power of AI: Discover how AI tools can supercharge your marketing efforts and drive better results. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting out, this webinar is your go-to source for staying informed and competitive in the digital age.
Speaker(s): Maria Elena Duron Market in Moments
Co-Sponsor(s):
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.”

What Every Business Owner Should Know About SEO
2025-09-02 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE
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:
1. Understanding how search engine ranking algorithms really work and to clear up any myths or confusion surrounding this process.
2. Learning the parts of a website that search engines evaluate when determining the ordering of search results.
3. Knowing the 5 most important factors Google uses to rank a website (there are over 200 factors)
4. Understanding the difference between “White” and “Black Hat” SEO techniques.
5. Avoiding the implementation of techniques that rank the site higher in short term, but penalize it in years to come.
6. Evaluating the Return on Investment (ROI)
7. Estimating the cost of White Hat SEO
8. Knowing practical techniques for your marketing that business owner can use to boost rankings without hiring SEO agencies.

Secrets to Buying a Franchise
2025-09-03 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE
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.

Visibility Boost With YouTube: Maximize Your Brand's Reach With Video Marketing
2025-09-04 10:00 - 11:00 | ONLINE
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.

Pre-Bid Strategy: What to Do Before the RFP Drops
2025-09-05 11:00 - 12:00 | ONLINE
Most government contracts are influenced long before they are officially advertised. Successful contractors understand that positioning begins during the pre-solicitation phase—well before the Request for Proposal (RFP) is released. This webinar will provide attendees with actionable strategies to navigate the early stages of the government procurement lifecycle and engage decision-makers when it matters most.
Participants will learn how to identify upcoming opportunities, build relationships with agency contacts, and shape procurements through informed outreach and targeted preparation. This session is designed for small businesses, certified firms, and government contractors who want to become more proactive, competitive, and responsive.
What You Will Learn:
· The stages of the procurement lifecycle and where pre-bid strategy fits in
· How to use federal, state, and local procurement forecasts
· Where to find early market intelligence and budget data
· Best practices for outreach to contracting officers, program managers, and small business specialists
· Techniques for identifying teaming partners and aligning with potential primes
· A discussion on proposal readiness before the solicitation is released

Entrepreneurship - How to Run a Successful Business and Still Have a Life!
2025-09-08 10:00 - 11:00 | ONLINE
Do you often find yourself pulled in various directions, uncertain about how to prioritize your time effectively? Do you feel exhausted or sluggish? Many of us end up putting our health on the back burner and end up feeling stressed and running in circles. The reality is the better your health, the more successful you will be and the more energy you can invest in both your business and your relationships. It’s time to try something new!
In this free LIVE Workshop, you will learn how to prioritize your health and break free from the constant pulls in various directions!
You will discover:
· Techniques for preventing burnout, ensuring you have ample energy for your business and achieving success.
· How to save time and be more productive!
· The importance of giving your best effort, having laser beam focus and how it leads to greater accomplishment.
· The reciprocal nature of building relationships and how it yields more business, referrals, and community connections and benefits your success.
· Strategies to schedule and protect personal time.
· The number one form of exercise you should do so you can maximize its benefits in less time.

LinkedIn From Profile to Pro-Fabulous
2025-09-09 10:00 - 11:00 | ONLINE
Join us to discover strategic approaches to amplify your LinkedIn presence. This session, led by Roni, will provide practical insights into leveraging LinkedIn’s platform to enhance your business’s visibility and expand your professional network. Learn how to optimize your profile, utilize LinkedIn’s advanced features for content sharing, and engage effectively with your connections. This webinar is perfect for business owners, marketers, and professionals at any level of expertise who are looking to maximize their impact on LinkedIn and forge meaningful connections.
This webinar is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with LinkedIn.

Content Marketing To Grow Your Business—Emails, Blogs & Posts!
2025-09-10 13:00 - 14:00 | ONLINE
Is Your Content Marketing Growing Your Business? With AI integrated with search and cookie control changes, your content can make a big difference for your marketing results. Content marketing is ruled by keywords, SEO and your ability to provide content that your audience values and shares. Learn how to identify and find content that encourages engagement and delivers your target market to your website, landing page or physical location. See how to encourage your target audience to share and refer your strategic content with their friends and family. Let’s identify the best content for your business or non-profit and reveal how to save time and accomplish your marketing goals while improving your search engine optimization and bringing more targeted contacts to your business or website and engage more with your business.
This Webinar Will Teach You:
· How to find, create, curate & develop content to achieve your goals.
· Time-saving tips, techniques & apps to help your content get noticed.
· How to increase your keyword results & SEO.
· How to attract & expand your list, subscribers, followers & referrals with content they value.
· How to move audiences from viewing your content to taking an action.
· How links create engagement by turning questions into content.
· How to use & repurpose content, pictures, & videos on multiple platforms.
· The structure & tools to make creating content fast, easy, & effective.
· How to get search engines moving on your content and where it does the most good.

Cyber 101 for Small Business
2025-09-11 11:00 - 12:00 | ONLINE
If you’re like many small business owners, you know that cybersecurity is important but may be unsure where to start. The good news is that you don’t have to be a tech guru to begin improving! In fact, renowned cybersecurity author Roger Grimes says that over 90% of all cyberattacks happen as a result of human error. This means that with some basic cybersecurity knowledge and practice you can drastically improve your business/personal cyber posture. Our practical course will cover social engineering, phishing, passwords, and some basic software/hardware policies you can follow to get started today! Attendees will have a chance to ask questions and will receive a copy of the presentation materials.
Speaker(s): Jessee Paxton Business Advisor
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.”

Plan Your Website for Online Success
2025-09-11 15:00 - 16:00 | ONLINE
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.

Business Start Up
2025-09-12 10:30 - 12:00 | ONLINE
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.
Speaker(s): OKSBDC Business Advisor
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.

Essential Insurance for Small and Medium Businesses
2025-09-15 13:00 - 14:00 | ONLINE
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.

Business Succession & Estate Planning
2025-09-16 10:00 - 11:00 | ONLINE
Building on the prior session, this workshop dives deeper into estate planning techniques that support a smooth business transition and multi-generational wealth transfer. Learn how tools like trusts, gifting strategies, and entity structures can help reduce estate tax exposure, maintain control, and ensure continuity for your business and family.

Marketing Strategies for the Holidays
2025-09-16 11:00 - 12:30 | ONLINE
Are you ready to maximize your marketing during the holidays? Are you wondering how your brand will keep up with the new hustle and bustle habits? Make plans to join Oklahoma SBDC Business Advisors as they walk through marketing strategies for this upcoming holiday season. Attendees will walk away with immediate strategies to ensure you maximize success during the holidays, along with a copy of the presentation and valuable handouts.

AI Visibility 360 – How to Be Found by People, Platforms, and AI Tools
2025-09-16 11:00 - 14:00 | ONLINE
Being found online is no longer just about keywords. It’s about showing up everywhere AI looks. This session walks you through the visibility layers that matter now—and how to build a presence that sticks.
What You’ll Learn:
Where AI search pulls from and how to be listed, ranked, and cited
The role of Google, directories, and structured content in modern search
How to build authority across your digital footprint
What makes your profile and site “AI-citable”
Visibility audits and quick wins for multi-platform search
– Built for:
• Experts, consultants, and local businesses ready to optimize for human search, machine learning, and future-facing platforms

Protecting Your Company's IP: What Every Startup and Small Business Needs to Know
2025-09-16 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE
Intellectual property is becoming increasingly important when it comes to business valuation as well as success. Your business could likely benefit from more than one form of intellectual property protection. As such, knowing the differences between patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets can prove invaluable when the time comes to develop strategies that protect any inventive concepts or creative expressions you might develop, along with any source identifiers you might use when you take your products or services to market. Additionally, if you have any confidential, proprietary information, you may consider developing trade secret protection protocols to better maintain the secrecy of that information. Underlying all of those potential protection strategies are the written agreements necessary to not only ensure that your company’s information remains confidential, but also that you or your company will legally own any intellectual property you may ultimately try to monetize.
This presentation will provide you with foundational knowledge on each of the four main types of IP (patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets) along with some related issues such as IP ownership and common startup mistakes, so that you will be better prepared as you start and grow your business.

An Overview of the Made in America Manufacturing Initiative
2025-09-17 11:00 - 12:00 | ONLINE
America’s manufacturing renaissance is underway—and small businesses are leading the charge. This workshop provides an overview of the new manufacturing initiative and introduces participants to powerful new onshoring manufacturing portals that give small businesses the tools they need to thrive in a changing global economy. Designed to reduce reliance on overseas production, these platforms make it easier than ever to connect with U.S.-based manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers. By leveraging this technology, small businesses can shorten supply chains, mitigate global risk, and bring production back home—supporting American jobs and revitalizing local communities. Whether you’re a manufacturer, product developer, or small business owner looking to reshore your operations, this workshop offers the knowledge and resources to make onshoring a reality—and a competitive advantage.

Oklahoma Women's Business Summit
2025-09-18 08:00 - 14:00 | Great Plains Technology Center, 4500SW Lee Boulevard Bldg 600, Rm 656, Lawton, OK, 73505, United States
On September 18th, we will be in Lawton for the Women’s Business Summit of Southwest Oklahoma. We have a fantastic lineup for the day and an amazing keynote speaker! This event continues to grow and get better each year.

ChatGPT and Canva: The Perfect Team For Fast, Fabulous Content Creation
2025-09-18 10:00 - 11:00 | ONLINE
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.

Business Smart
2025-09-18 11:00 - 12:00 | ONLINE
If you’re looking to start a business and have questions on where to begin, this workshop covers those first steps. Maybe you have a business idea and need to answer a few questions to give the idea more structure. Have you thought of a clever name, registered your business, or opened a bank account? Now what? In this workshop, we will be covering the following topics: Market Feasibility Key sections of a business plan Factors to consider when determining legal structure Where to find funding Key resources for your business The goal of this workshop is to provide direction to new entrepreneurs and introduce you to the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center. Attendees will have a better understanding of initial steps to starting their business.

Maximize Your Website Potential & Drive More Business
2025-09-19 10:00 - 11:00 | 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.

12 QuickBooks Online Tips & Tricks
2025-09-23 10:00 - 11:00 | ONLINE
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 QuickBooks questions.

HR Basics for Small Business
2025-09-23 11:00 - 12:30 | Wes Watkins Technology Center, 7892 Highway 9, Wetumka, 74883, United States
Hiring and managing employees can be challenging for small business owners. This workshop offers a practical overview of key HR essentials, including hiring best practices, employee classification, compliance with labor laws, basic policies and procedures, and recordkeeping. Whether you’re hiring your first employee or refining your current processes, this session will help you build a solid HR foundation and avoid common pitfalls.

Leveraging AI and ChatGPT In Digital Marketing
2025-09-23 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE
This comprehensive webinar, “Leveraging AI and ChatGPT in Digital Marketing: Unleashing the Power of Conversational AI,” is designed to elucidate how state-of-the-art AI tools like GPT-4 can revolutionize your digital marketing strategies. The webinar offers in-depth insight into the integration, utilization, and benefits of AI and ChatGPT in improving customer experience, personalizing content, and enhancing marketing effectiveness. Throughout this webinar, participants will learn:
1. The fundamentals of AI and the GPT-4 model
2. The role of AI and ChatGPT in digital marketing
3. Practical applications of AI and ChatGPT
4. Implementation Strategies
Whether you’re a digital marketer looking to optimize your strategies, a business owner seeking to enhance customer interactions, or an AI enthusiast wanting to understand the practical implications of GPT-4 in marketing, this webinar provides a platform to equip you with the knowledge and skills to stay at the forefront of the digital marketing revolution.
Join us to navigate the AI-powered digital landscape and unleash the full potential of your marketing strategies. Discover the transformative power of AI and ChatGPT in digital marketing, and start reaping the rewards of this technological revolution today!

ESOP 101: A Conversation About Employee Ownership
2025-09-24 10:00 - 11:00 | ONLINE
Join us for an engaging conversation on Employee Stock Ownership Programs (ESOPs). We’ll explore what ESOPs are, the benefits they can offer both employers and employees, how they work, and strategies for managing them effectively. Whether you’re new to the concept or ready to explore implementation, this session will equip you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about employee ownership.
We are proud to partner with Shamrock Bank, an employee-owned institution, to bring real-world insight into how ESOPs can transform businesses, inspire employees, and build long-term success.
Come discover why ESOPs are more than just a retirement benefit — they’re a powerful tool for growth, succession planning, and creating a thriving workplace culture.

Fund Your Business With Sponsors
2025-09-24 10:00 - 11:00 | ONLINE
Would You Like To Do What You Love and Have Someone Else Foot the Bill?
Have You Ever Thought Corporate Sponsors for Your Business, Show, Book, Charity, Speaking or Events?
America’s most successful companies partner with sponsors. Why not you?
Linda Hollander can help you. She is the author of the #1 best-selling book, Corporate Sponsorship in 3 Easy Steps and the CEO of Sponsor Concierge.
Linda has consulted with many entrepreneurs to help them profit from the awesome power of corporate sponsors and has 20 years of experience in business.
Her corporate sponsors have included Microsoft, Wells Fargo, Epson, Citibank, Fed Ex, Health Net, Southwest Airlines, Bank of America, Staples, American Airlines, Wal Mart and IBM.
Here’s what you’ll discover:
* How to identify your potential sponsors
* How to attract your sponsors
* The biggest mistakes most people make
* Creating your sponsor proposal to get big bucks
* Spotlighting your assets
* Know how much money to ask for (Don’t sell yourself short)
* Getting your sponsors to renew again and again
Who Should Attend:
* Speakers
* Business Owners
* Authors
* Event Producers
* Social Influencers
* Non-Profit Charities
This presentation is only for people who want success now. Those afraid of rapid business growth need not apply.

Preparing for Capital and Exploring Funding Options for Your Business
2025-09-24 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE
Whether you’re a startup founder, a growing business owner, or simply exploring how to better position your company financially, this session is designed to give you actionable insight into securing the right kind of funding to support your goals.

We’ll begin by covering the fundamentals of understanding and preparing for capital, followed by strategies for managing and approaching business debt effectively. We’ll also explore the current state of business lending—what’s changing, what lenders are looking for, and how to stay competitive in today’s market.

Content Batching 101: How to Create a Month of Marketing In a Day
2025-09-25 10:00 - 11:00 | ONLINE
Tired of scrambling to post on social media or send out marketing content? In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to plan and create a full month of marketing content—all in one focused session. Discover how to organize your ideas, write captions quickly, and use tools like Canva and ChatGPT to design visuals and streamline your process. You’ll walk away with a repeatable system that saves time, reduces stress, and keeps your business visible online. Perfect for busy small business owners, solopreneurs, and nonprofit leaders who want to stay consistent without being overwhelmed.
