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For Hopkins, it's all about the buzz
08/14/2008 - By Lindsey Robbins, Staff Writer, The Gazette
For Hopkins, It's All About The Buzz
Most small and minority entrepreneurs face a difficult choice during the early years of their startup: Do they get out and spread their name, or do they stay at the office and work on the bottom line?
MinorityBuzz.com, a virtual advertising and marketing source in Largo, tries to provide a compromise.
Since August 2007, Odessa Hopkins, a government information technology contractor and owner of Another Approach Enterprises, has worked to increase awareness for minority-owned businesses through Internet spotlighting and trade show promotions. So far, more than 300 businesses have turned to MinorityBuzz.
"We allow our members to work," said Hopkins, 49, of Glenn Dale, adding that many startups don't have the money to spend on continuous print advertisement.
Hopkins' idea for the group came from helping a candle-maker show her wares at an expo, where the woman couldn't afford to rent a booth. Hopkins was soon approached by several other small-business owners, hoping she could help them. She then decided to establish something to help these entrepreneurs, using only her own money.
Having grown up in the poor areas of New York City's Harlem, Hopkins said she always wanted to accomplish more than anyone ever thought she could.
"Small businesses are intimidated by the loan and advertising process," Hopkins said. "But they see me as one of them."
Hopkins' marketing resources include a free basic listing at MinorityBuzz.com, $75 to add a Web site listing and longer description, $545 to add a commercial and $1,295 to be included in the postcards and showcase materials Hopkins brings to the 15 trade events she visits each year. Each fee covers a year of service.
"Regardless of what level you come in at, we just want to see you come in," Hopkins said.
Her seemingly constant presence at business events over the last year has earned her group recognition from the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce and the nickname "Baby Chamber," which James C. Dula, CEO, often uses when introducing Hopkins.
"What I like about her program is that it gives exposure to the local business community," Dula said. "Most small-business budgets don't allow for outreach; it's one of the primary problems we have at the chamber … Odessa is an asset. She provides another avenue."
Khary Harvin, franchise owner of WOW Café and Wingery in Bowie, said in an e-mail that MinorityBuzz has brought in more customers than when he advertised with yellowpages.com, an online version of the phone book listings.
"I wouldn't say that business has exploded beyond control but we most assuredly have gained some steady customers who come back time and again," he said, adding that Hopkins and her family were some of his first customers. Khary is one of MinorityBuzz's premier, or showcase, members, the top category.
Cindy Freland of Maryland Secretarial Services in Bowie started out with a free membership and expanded to a paid membership four months later, after receiving a call from a physician looking for someone to type up 1,000 pages of his handwritten math formula. Prior to MinorityBuzz, her 11-year-old company had tried other advertisers with little success, Freland said.
MinorityBuzz encourages networking among members and is a promising resource for small businesses, said Marilyn Johnson of Marilyn Johnson's Sewing and Creative Fabric Design Studio in Laurel. Johnson has been a premier member since March.
Hopkins said she is still only breaking even with MinorityBuzz after several months of losing money, but she hopes obtaining 1,000 members by the end of the year and finding sponsors for the feature business leader presentations she hosts on the site will help her turn a profit.
Visit www.MinorityBuzz.com to begin your Journey! or call 1-877-433-3810 today!
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