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How To Raise Money For Business In Atlanta

On 12.29.09, In Current Events, Entrepreneur, small business enterprise, by Gerard Spinks

Ms. Rands’ holding company, Kugarand Holdings, LLC acquired the Network of Business Angels and Investors (NBAI) in early 2005 to provide a forum for the clients of LAUNCHfn seeking to find angel investors to gain credible access to a thriving angel group.

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A few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a lady by the name of Karen Rands at a venture capital meeting held at C’est Bon restaurant in Lithonia, GA. Ms. Rands is the founder and creator of LaunchFn. At LaunchFn, small businesses get help developing and building their companies so that they can attract early stage capital and execute on their business strategies.

The network of small business investors, alternative lenders, angel investor networks, early stage venture capital sources and institutional capital investors has been cultivated over the years.

Ms. Rands’ holding company, Kugarand Holdings, LLC acquired the Network of Business Angels and Investors (NBAI) in early 2005 to provide a forum for the clients of LAUNCHfn seeking to find angel investors to gain credible access to a thriving angel group.

You can click on the calendar of events to find out more. For more info: You can find out more about Ms. Karen Rands and the NBAI and LAUNCHfn at the LAUNCHfn website.

This article is a republished article from my Atlanta Examiner writings Raising Venture Capital in Atlanta.

About the author

Gerard Spinks

Gerard Spinks is the CEO of Spinks Industries; an online marketing and web content producer based in Atlanta, GA United States of America. The company develops comprehensive online marketing programs for businesses who wish to reach customers and build their brand on the Internet. We build SEO enabled blog thematic websites designed to increase traffic which then increases potential sales through of your product/service brand.

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Is Real Estate Still A Sound Investment?

On 11.08.09, In Current Events, small business enterprise, by Gerard Spinks

Of course everyone tells you that now is the time to buy real estate and there is no better time to do it. Easier said than done. Yes, you can buy 3 bedroom properties for $5,000-$20,000 but you will find that no banks will touch or finance these properties.

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Of course everyone tells you that now is the time to buy real estate and there is no better time to do it. Easier said than done. Yes, you can buy 3 bedroom properties for $5,000-$20,000 but you will find that no banks will touch or finance these properties.

Why won’t the banks fund these deals? Because nobody wants to fund a 30 year deal for less than $100,000. The banks that are still solvent do not make money lending on mortgages under $100K.

So, what I am doing is looking to throw several properties together in an overall package and raising funds to buy the properties cash. The trick to real estate now is getting cash investors who believe in you and whom you can pay back on a refinance after the property is seasoned.

This is also much easier said by all the real estate experts than actual practice. You need to first of all create a cash flow statement for each property to show them your exact needs. It should display everything about these properties and let the potential investor know when they are getting paid back.

Don’t just buy properties for buying’s sake. You need to buy properties that make financial sense and that you can rent out fairly quickly because the rent that you offer is competitive (i.e. cheap). If you are not offering cheap rent, your property will sit for a year or more with you paying the mortgage.

Real Estate as a Sound Investment Vehicle

About the author

Gerard Spinks

Gerard Spinks is the CEO of Spinks Industries; an online marketing and web content producer based in Atlanta, GA United States of America. The company develops comprehensive online marketing programs for businesses who wish to reach customers and build their brand on the Internet. We build SEO enabled blog thematic websites designed to increase traffic which then increases potential sales through of your product/service brand.

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Wachovia Invests Small Change Into Black Owned Bank

On 10.10.09, In black business, Entrepreneur, small business enterprise, by Gerard Spinks

Wachovia sinks a small investment into Capitol City Bank and Trust.

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Wachovia has invested $600K into Atlanta’s Black Owned bank Capitol City Bank and Trust. I don’t know if I should be wowed about this or disappointed. I mean, come on now. Wells Fargo, Wachovia’s parent, received hundreds of millions in bailout money and only gives Capitol City $600K. $600K is one person’s house in Atlanta. In some places in Atlanta, that wouldn’t even buy the house and in the San Francisco Bay Area, that’s an average 3 bedroom home built in the 1970′s.

Capitol City Bank and Trust Opening

Capitol City Bank and Trust Opening

I mean, I’m happy that Capitol City got the funding but this is mere change to Wells Fargo/Wachovia. I’m not sure if Wachovia is looking for a pat on the back or good will PR but at least this satisfies that if nothing else. At any rate, I’m happy for a little of something but I respect for.

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Gerard Spinks is the CEO of Spinks Industries; a web content producer and online marketing agency based in Atlanta, GA USA.

About the author

Gerard Spinks

Gerard Spinks is an author, writer, publisher, and CEO of Spinks Technologies, Gerard Spinks Publishing, and Spinks Industries based in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America.

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Sit Down With Obsessed Film Producer Will Packer

On 10.03.09, In black business, black famous people, Entrepreneur, hbcu, small business enterprise, by Gerard Spinks

Armed with a laptop, passion, courage, wisdom, and prayer, Will Packer made it from ZERO to 100 Million! You can too!

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For all intents and purposes, Will Packer is a star. His films have grossed over $100 Million in box office receipts in one year alone. But the greatest lesson lies in understanding what Mr. Packer did to excel to these levels.

In my radio interview with him on Beyond The Bling Radio, I go one on one with Will Packer.

Rainforest Films' Obsessed by Will Packer

Rainforest Films' Obsessed by Will Packer

This talented director, filmmaker, and CEO of Rainforest Films, has produced and directed Obsessed starring Beyonce Knowles and Idris Elba, Stomp The Yard, Stomp The Yard 2, and is presently putting the finishing touches on another blockbuster hit called Takers where he is working with Hollywood’s elite actors once again. You can download and listen to the complete motivating interview online here at Beyond The Bling Radio.

Get ready to get moving! This guy motivates everyone to action. Starting where we all start, with nothing but a dream and a prayer, Will Packer and Rob Hardy did what all true entrepreneurs do when challenged, they got busy. He removed all excuses for why he couldn’t succeed and started putting a plan together to realize his dreams. Armed with a laptop, passion, courage, wisdom, and prayer, this man made it from ZERO to 100 Million! You can too!

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About the author

Gerard Spinks

Gerard Spinks is an author, writer, publisher, and CEO of Spinks Technologies, Gerard Spinks Publishing, and Spinks Industries based in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America.

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Where Is Ronnie Devoe of New Edition?

On 10.02.09, In black business, black famous people, Entrepreneur, small business enterprise, by Gerard Spinks

Ronnie Devoe is a true hustler in all senses of the word. He came to fame with New Edition and branched out with Bell, Biv, Devoe.

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Ronnie Devoe is a true hustler in all senses of the word. He came to fame with New Edition and branched out with Bell, Biv, Devoe. Ronald Devoe Jr. is on his way to building a real estate power brokerage in Atlanta, GA. Put it this way, Mr. Devoe aspires to become the next Donald Trump. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Devoe Broker Associates is a real estate firm that represents both residential and commercial properties.

Devoe Broker Associates CEO Ronald Devoe Jr.

Devoe Broker Associates CEO Ronald Devoe Jr.

Ron DeVoe hosts various seminars, speaking engagements, network luncheons, and real estate mixers. He also hosted the popular radio talk show “Real Estate 101″ on 1380(WAOK) along side his one of his mentors Mary Gill from 2005 to early 2007. “I come from the projects of Boston, Massachusetts where many of my friends and family members were lifetime renters. Now it feels wonderful to know that I can deliver valuable information that will help my family and others make educated decisions about their financial future.”

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About the author

Gerard Spinks

Gerard Spinks is an author, writer, publisher, and CEO of Spinks Technologies, Gerard Spinks Publishing, and Spinks Industries based in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America.

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The Black Music Guide To Marketing

On 10.02.09, In black business, black colleges, black famous people, Entrepreneur, hbcu, small business enterprise, by Gerard Spinks

I had a discussion with a prominent Atlanta music artist and songwriter this morning that prompted me to discuss the marketing and sales of music. Urban music is responsible for the bulk of sales online but there are only a handful of artists who make it to the top level of even getting there. Marketing [...]

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I had a discussion with a prominent Atlanta music artist and songwriter this morning that prompted me to discuss the marketing and sales of music. Urban music is responsible for the bulk of sales online but there are only a handful of artists who make it to the top level of even getting there. Marketing your music has two distinct components to it: 1. Consumer Marketing and 2. Retailer Marketing.

Gerard Spinks' Book The Ballers Guide to Major Figure$

Gerard Spinks' Book The Ballers Guide to Major Figure$

Obviously, you must build brand awareness of the artist to the consumer because this drives sales at retail. When marketing to the consumer you must use programs such as PR web or other free PR services to build and tell stories about the artist to make the consumer familiar with the artist. This must be done way more than once and in fact should have stories done at least once per week or more. When the consumer is browsing the music section at Best Buy or Walmart and see the CD in the store, they will subconsciously remember that artist and their story. This influences buying. It does NOT guarantee a purchase it simply influences the buyer.

Retailer marketing is tough with tons of retailers closing lately but it is a separate function that involves reaching out to individual store level buyers and building a relationship with them. Marketing collateral should be sent to the store level buyer once per week to stay in front of the retailer. In other words, you should find out all the buyers at the stores in your region and create post card flyers and send to the buyer each week. By store level, I mean find out the buyers at the Walmart in Atlanta, Lithonia, Conyers, Douglasville, Birmingham, Mobile, Memphis, and Nashville for example. Work these stores if this is the area that the artist is from and can get to for in store signings.

The buyer should get to the point where they consistently see the artist name and by the time you send them an order form to buy your title, they already have familiarity with the artist. This should be done for at least 6-12 weeks.

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About the author

Gerard Spinks

Gerard Spinks is an author, writer, publisher, and CEO of Spinks Technologies, Gerard Spinks Publishing, and Spinks Industries based in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America.

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American iPhone Application Architect

On 10.01.09, In black business, Entrepreneur, small business enterprise, by Gerard Spinks

Spinks Industries is looking for an iPhone and Mobile Platform Application Architect.

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Spinks Industries is looking for an iPhone and Mobile Platform Application Architect. Must be highly proficient with the iPhone SDK and have architected and built enterprise applications for the iPhone. The candidate must be an American citizen and must be highly proficient with designing application architecture, database architecture, and security layer architecture for the iPhone.

iPhone Application Architect needed

iPhone Application Architect needed

The individual must know how to design native iPhone applications that reside on the iPhone itself and applications that go across private intranets to query and update databases. Knowledge of Internet Security is a must have. This application must be like Fort Knox and never, ever have a security hole it or get breached by hackers as data is passed across the Internet.

Please contact us at Spinks Industries via email on our corporate site.

About the author

Gerard Spinks

Gerard Spinks is an author, writer, publisher, and CEO of Spinks Technologies, Gerard Spinks Publishing, and Spinks Industries based in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America.

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Black Enterprise Spinks Industries Partners with Americas Top Brands

On 10.01.09, In black business, black colleges, black famous people, Entrepreneur, hbcu, small business enterprise, by Gerard Spinks

We are now representing some of America’s top brands in a deal with The Google Affiliate Network.

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We are now representing some of America’s top brands in a deal with The Google Affiliate Network. Gerard Spinks, CEO, says that the deal will further Spinks Industries’ mission to continue to build passive income and multiple streams of income while representing America’s top consumer brands.

Spinks Industries CEO Gerard Spinks

Spinks Industries CEO Gerard Spinks

Mr. Spinks has selected brands to represent that personally meant something to him and his firm and/or products that we have actually used and know their quality. Out of many brands, Spinks Industries, decided on a handful that include Converse, iRobot, Barnes and Nobles, Dickies, PUMA, The Finish Line, Blockbuster, KMART, SONY Playstation, Skechers, and Hooked on Phonics.

Mr. Spinks believes these brands have name awareness and are of the highest quality standards. He selected the brands due to his affiliation with numerous groups. Mr. Spinks has also had long time personal use with many of the brands and knows their quality. It was easy to pick, support, and promote these brands.

About the author

Gerard Spinks

Gerard Spinks is an author, writer, publisher, and CEO of Spinks Technologies, Gerard Spinks Publishing, and Spinks Industries based in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America.

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This Is A Full Media Online Marketing Assault

On 10.01.09, In black business, Entrepreneur, small business enterprise, by Gerard Spinks

Our cumulative September ’09 sweeps numbers are an astounding 10,799 total click throughs/reads.

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Spinks Industries September 2009 sweeps numbers are in and have just been compiled. The results are staggering and proves that an aggressive marketing plan gets results. We measure results by clicks and actual reads of web stories. We did not factor in impressions. Impressions are valuable because this tells you how many people saw the title but we measure success in actual click throughs to the site and/or reads.

Spinks September 2009 numbers were 10,799 Total Click Throughs

Spinks September 2009 numbers were 10,799 Total Click Throughs

Our WordPress stories received 2,706 click throughs for the month of September. Our Spinks Industries articles received 968 Page Views for the month of September with visitors showing up from the USA, Canada, India, the UK, The Netherlands, Belgium, Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, and Mexico. The average web visitor stayed on our site for 3 minutes and 38 seconds up from 90 days ago where they stayed for an average of 10 seconds.

Our Atlanta Examiner stories were read 6,850 times where the average amount of reads in the Business and Finance section of the newspaper for the month is 1,135. Our Ezinearticles were read 275 times. Our cumulative September ’09 sweeps numbers are an astounding 10,799 total click throughs/reads.

This proves that email marketing is dead and completely ineffective for doing any sort of marketing or brand awareness. In comparison, we delivered 1,000 emails to a highly targeted niche that we service in the Government market. Only 2 people clicked through and read the email. What is the moral? Google Wave will most likely destroy email which is a blessing and a great thing and you must put a full court press team together to get true marketing results.

See our programs online at Spinks Industries.

About the author

Gerard Spinks

Gerard Spinks is an author, writer, publisher, and CEO of Spinks Technologies, Gerard Spinks Publishing, and Spinks Industries based in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America.

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Bank of America CEO Finally Leaving His Post

On 09.30.09, In black business, Entrepreneur, small business enterprise, by Gerard Spinks

Kenneth D. Lewis should have been fired long ago. Bank of America’s executives have been joyriding, yachting, and living luxuriously for quite some time while they put increasing pressure on American citizens and remove jobs and send them to India.

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The CEO of Bank of America, Kenneth D. Lewis, is leaving his post as of the end of 2009. After betting Bank of America’s future on the housing market that collapsed, this guy is finally giving up the reigns and leaving in December.

Bank of America bought Countrywide and Merrill Lynch and subsequently ended losing tons of money in the housing market debacle.

Bank of America CEO Kenneth D. Lewis

Bank of America CEO Kenneth D. Lewis

While Bank of America received bailout funds to help it stay afloat, it continues to harrass homeowners who cannot pay their mortgages due to job losses and ironically, Bank of America is one of the firms who is aggressively outsourcing most of it’s core business functions to India and other countries to lower expenses. The bank is continually trying to lower costs which means lowering it’s tax basis and lowering the wages of it’s workers.

Under Kenneth D. Lewis, bank shares have dropped in value and the bank reduced it’s quarterly dividend to 1 cent from 64 cents for shareholders in 2008 and shares are 33% lower than in April of 2001 when Lewis became the CEO. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 14 percent during the same period. The stock closed yesterday at $16.92 on the New York Stock Exchange.

“Their loan portfolio is horrible looking and it’s not going to be easy for them,” Mike Williams, research director at Gradient Analytics in Scottsdale, Arizona, said in an interview before Lewis announced his departure. “They would have been better off without the Merrill and Countrywide acquisitions over the next few years.”

Kenneth D. Lewis should have been fired long ago. Bank of America’s executives have been joyriding, yachting, and living luxuriously for quite some time while they put increasing pressure on American citizens and remove jobs and send them to India. Bank of America has people stressed out, collection calls happening everyday, and has people jumping off bridges all over the United States while corporations in India are having a great time reveling in the glory of getting new jobs and new business from America.

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About the author

Gerard Spinks

Gerard Spinks is an author, writer, publisher, and CEO of Spinks Technologies, Gerard Spinks Publishing, and Spinks Industries based in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America.

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