Finalist Q&A: Advertising Spark

Advertising Spark teaches very small businesses how to advertise effectively using free and low cost tactics. They do this through an affordable tutorial that is a culmination of their 20 years of experience at some of the world's best known advertising agencies, coupled with scouring the best-selling books and the Internet for the latest ideas. They also teach classes in a traditional classroom setting.

How did you come up with the idea for your business, and what, or who, is your main source of motivation?

After quitting the corporate marketing world to stay at home with my kids, I began volunteering in my local community and nationally with SCORE. I began to meet a lot of very small businesses who were struggling with their marketing. These businesses had great aspirations and were run by some really super people. I was compelled to help and my love of marketing was taken to a new level. Consistently I saw that these very small businesses were lacking in some fundamental strategies on how to make their marketing effective. The more I helped people the more I started to write it all down. For a year I worked on putting together the highest quality of education, advice and step-by-step directions specifically geared for very small businesses with very small budgets. It was a truly a labor of love.

What is a unique feature of your business?

My book is only for very small businesses with very small budgets. It's a lot of what they need and none of what they don't need. I constantly search the Internet, social media networks and best selling marketing books and magazines to find the latest and greatest ideas--all compiled into one area. This is coupled with a thorough explanation of how to design your marketing strategy utilizing my 20 years of experience in the business. My book has over 260 resources for companies that can propel your marketing for free or at the lowest costs.

What are your thoughts on the connection between small business and the local community?

Small business is the local community! My experience has been that they are very involved members of the local community from politics to forming fun events that bring the local residents together. I can't imagine what my small town would be like without the involvement from our local retailers.

Why should the Idea Cafe regulars vote for you?

Please vote for me. My passion is to ignite the success of small businesses and I am devoted to providing quality advice that works.