October 21, 2011

Or, more specifically, what does your business need? If you’re like the majority of small business owners we’ve spoken with, then the answer is quite simply “more customers.” Solving that problem, however, isn’t so simple. It’s an ongoing challenge, evolving with the economy, markets and even technology. Once you think you’ve figured out how to reach potential customers in one channel—another one pops up. Think you’ve mastered Web marketing? Well, now you have mobile and social media…and more.

It’s an exciting challenge, though—one for which we at American Express OPEN continue to seek new solutions. And it’s with that in mind that we are working with General Assembly to bring together some of the brightest digital minds for a weekend of collaboration and a little competition. We’re holding the first-ever OPEN “Hackathon”, Nov. 5 and 6, at the General Assembly campus in New York City with the goal of developing solutions to some common small business problems.

And that’s where you can help. We want to hear what your most pressing issues are. Is it marketing to new customers? Maintaining relationships with existing ones? Managing cash flow? Add your comment below or e-mail me at scott@openforum. The responses will then be integrated into the challenges posed to the teams.

We’re calling this event “Reinventing Local,” because while technology has broken down many global barriers, there’s still much more that can be done to help small, local businesses attract more customers. So we’re hoping that by bringing together these designers, developers and tech entrepreneurs, we’ll come away with great ideas and maybe even the beginnings of new products.

I’m excited to see what comes from our Hackathon—and from this new relationship with General Assembly. For those not familiar with them, General Assembly is a New York-based community providing support, infrastructure and education for aspiring entrepreneurs to start and succeed in new ventures. Given their mission, this collaboration makes a lot of sense to us, and I look forward to doing more with them. In fact, during the Hackathon weekend, we’re also kicking off the first in a series of educational events and mentorship programs for local startups.

At OPEN, our mission is to help small businesses do more business. Working with General Assembly and other startups like them (including Veri, as we had recently announced with our Crash Courses) helps us open up more opportunities to tap innovative thinking toward creating real solutions. And, given the problems small business owners face, more ideas are always welcome.

So, if you have a specific business problem or even ideas of your own, share them below or e-mail me at scott@openforum.com. Let’s see if working together, we can Reinvent Local.

Related Topics

• Innovation
• Technology

Related keywords

Scott Roen, Article, hackathon, shop small, American Express OPEN

Join the conversation ( 6 )

• ERIC KREBS 6 months ago

  

  This is my second time in two weeks that I tried to contact AMEX by telephone. No one seems to ever be available by telephone anymore. I have better response when I call the IRS then I have with AmEx. Hopefully, this is not their new business model and just a glich when I call. Am I the only one that has had this experience? On a positive note, AmEx music is better than the IRS music.

• Best of New Jersey 6 months ago

  

  My internet publishing business is being severely challenged by market changes. How do I stay afloat right now and still do the long range planning that is necessary to grow my business.

• Stacy Brundage 6 months ago

  

  Do you have any advice about getting more customers that are specific to childcare business owners? My business is not a franchise. My after school program is full, but I need more toddlers (1-2 year olds,) two more infants, and 10 more 3-4 year olds, and 10 more five year olds. I really enjoyed the show yesterday. I have a website and have gathered my parents' email addresses. When potential clients come in, we add them to our potential clients log. I recently stopped using the local newspaper because it is too expensive, but I advertise in the local magazine (which is just as expensive but I get more referrals this way so I still use it). I also want to do things that are cost effective for customer appreciation. I really think I need to use an email campaign, attend functions where families are, like Fall Festivals, Trunk or Treats. I was even told to go places like the library, SuperCutss, hair salons, etc. I have been open for 16 months. I absolutely LOVE what I do. I just need more marketing tips. Stacy

  • community manager 7 months ago

    

    Stacy, here's some articles on OPEN Forum that may be useful:Top 5 Secrets To Hyper-Local Marketinghttp://www.openforum.com/articles/top-5-secrets-to-hyper-local-marketingHow to Thank Your Customers without Spending Too Muchhttp://www.openforum.com/articles/how-to-thank-customers-without-spending-too-muchThere are also some great tools available on the Small Business Saturday website that can be used to help market your business year round:http://www.openforum.com/keywords/small-business-saturdayWishing you great success!Julie (OPEN Forum Community Manager)

• Scott Roen 6 months ago

  

  Thanks for your comment Wythe, that is absolutely an ongoing challenge we hear all the time. Check out this article on the topic, some good points in there:http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/marketing/article/how-objections-to-social-media-are-killing-your-business-1?intlink=us-openf-nav-ymal-t9a7pv4r6

• Wythe Will 7 months ago

  

  My problem is probably a bit different from others - but then again maybe not. I am in a Sales & Marketing position in my company and my challenge is convincing management that Social media IS important! How do I convince management to invest more in social media?