Thanks to the great staff and volunteers at the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development (DED) for highlighting this very important information, for startups and new businesses in Loudoun County VA, Northern Virginia, Washington DC or any other area of the country!

Here’s the original “Internet Checklist for DC, Northern Virginia and Loudoun or Fairfax startups” (originally posted in 2010; updated for 2013!) - read on for the DED’s summary blog…

Ten Tips for Start-Up Social Media Success

Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:59 AM by Kona Gallagher

By: Ted McLaughlan (Intro By: Susan VanEpps)

Entrepreneurs launching a new business today are wise to consider the options and opportunities provided by the world of social media. A 2012 Manta survey of 600 small business leaders showed 90 percent adopting an active role in social media, with 74 percent viewing it as important as in-person networking.

Among those leading the charge in Loudoun County is KME Internet Marketing co-founder Ted McLaughlan, who has 25 years’ experience in IT consulting. Here are just a few of Ted’s top suggestions for Internet marketing:

1. Establish an interactive website, with a clear “About Us” page, which includes your local address, phone (seek a local number), directions, service hours and payment methods. Use new photos or even videos of your new business – preferably photos with great people in them! Be sure your website works well with mobile phones or tablets – it should be just as easy to conduct business with you on these devices, as with traditional computers and laptops.
2. Note that designing your website and marketing or advertising your website are two related, but different activities. If you don’t have anyone on staff with these skills, get help!
3. Establish an attractive, consistent business and personal profile in all major, relevant social communities, like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
4. Spellcheck everything! For example, if you’re in Loudoun County, don’t spell it “Loudon”!

Read more at the Loudoun County DED blog site, and via their “Loudounpreneur” email newsletter!

The recent 2012 Dulles & Reston Chamber of Commerce Global Mixer was an unprecedented success, hosted at TriVision Studios in Chantilly. Several hundred Dulles area business leaders and chamber members gathered at TriVision’s beautiful, expansive multimedia recording and publishing studios, to sample international cuisine, share business information and build long-lasting relationships in the heart of the Loudoun-Fairfax Dulles regional business districts.

The TriVision Studios Team and Local Business Leaders

Find more pictures of this summer-ending local business event of the season, on TriVision’s Facebook page!

The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce include local and regional business members leading the growth and entrepreneurial spirit of the entire Dulles corridor, extending from the Dulles and Sterling areas of Eastern Loudoun County, to and through the Chantilly, Herndon, Reston and Great Falls areas of Western Fairfax. These Chambers essentially serve the business interests and provide collaborative relationship-building for the entire Dulles Corridor, coordinating economic development interests with the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce to the West of Dulles Airport.

TriVision’s partnership with these regional Business Chambers, local/state government agencies and other local businesses will soon include the “TriVision Seminar Series”, launching to match DC-area business superstars with innovative thought leadership and entrepreneurs through educative, entertaining and multimedia-driven events.

TriVision Studios is a Washington DC regional global creative media production and marketing agency headquartered in Chantilly, VA, providing industry-leading multimedia production and marketing solutions to Washington DC area businesses, Federal and International Government clients - with an overseas international presence in Afghanistan as well. In their 12,000 square foot full service, custom built video production studio, TriVision creates music videos, commercials and chroma-key productions for clients ranging from Chevrolet and the Discovery Channel, to the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art and the White House. TriVision also hosts live entertainment and performances, recordings and events; such as this first-of-its-kind local Dulles area Chamber business collaboration and social mixer.

The Trivision Studios Live Event and Recording Facility Studios

TriVision Studios also delivers full service marketing and advertising capabilities from creative print and DVD production to Interactive, Internet Marketing, SEO and broadcast advertisement strategies. TriVision is an integrated member of the Washington DC and Northern Virginia digital publishing and marketing business community, collaborating with leading regional IT, digital marketing specialists and SEO/Adwords subject matter experts such as KME Internet Marketing and AML & Associates.

Local Business Leaders, including Ted McLaughlan (KME/TriVision Advisory Digital Marketing CTO)

STERLING, VA – Velocity 5 Sports Restaurant and ESPN 980 (AM Radio and Online Audio) will once again team up to present “Monday Night Live with Chris Russell” and “The Sports Reporters” broadcast live from Velocity 5 every week during the upcoming football season. During each live broadcast at Velocity 5 restaurants, patrons will be able to watch the broadcast and meet the Redskins “Player of the Game.” The player of the game will be a part of each broadcast and will be at Velocity 5 in Lansdowne or Sterling (Loudoun County) each week.

“Monday Night Live”, hosted by ESPN 980 Redskins Beat Reporter Chris Russell, features Washington Redskins players as guests. “The Sports Reporters” is hosted by veteran ESPN 980 personalities Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban. The shows will be held at the Velocity 5 locations in Lansdowne and Sterling due to their close proximity to Redskins Park. Velocity 5, the Northern Virginia area’s leading sports restaurant chain, also has locations in Arlington, Falls Church and Centreville.

The Velocity 5 restaurant chain was founded by Jim Speros, former assistant coach for the Washington Redskins in the 1980’s under Hall of Fame Coach Joe Gibbs. Jim was with the team during their winning 1982 season, coached with the Buffalo Bills and then went on to own several football teams including the Canadian Football League Grey Cup Champion Baltimore Stallions, and the Montreal Alouettes. Jim is extremely passionate about football and especially the Redskins. Bringing this type of access to his customers is a dream come true.

“We are extremely excited to renew our relationship with ESPN 980,” Speros said. “ESPN 980 is the voice of DC sports and the Home of the Redskins, and our partnership will allow Velocity 5 to become the headquarters for football in Northern Virginia once again this season. I am pleased to be able to offer this exclusive player access to my customers. It is nice to be able to bring the team closer to their fans. This promises to be one of the most interesting seasons in Redskins history, and we look forward to reviewing the games every Monday night with Chris Russell and his Redskin guests.”

“Monday Night Live” debuted last season and some of the players who appeared as guests at Velocity 5 included Ryan Kerrigan, Tim Hightower, Fred Davis, Niles Paul, Mike Sellers, Jamaal Brown, Graham Gano, Lorenzo Alexander, Kedrick Golsten, Anthony Armstrong, Stephen Bowen, Adam Carriker, Darrel Young, Sav Rocca and Jarvis Jenkins.

“We are also looking forward to expanding our charitable and fund raising activities associated with ‘Monday Night Live’,” Speros added. “The show is a great vehicle to help local charities, schools, churches and youth teams raise money with events centered on the live shows from Velocity 5.” Velocity 5 has been actively involved with fund raising events for Wounded Warriors, Cystic Fibrosis, the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society, Breast Cancer Awareness, local churches, schools and athletic teams. Velocity 5 also provides pre-game meals for high school football teams and cheerleaders from Stone Bridge High School, Centreville High School, Dominion High School and Potomac Falls High School.

“Our presentation of “The Sports Reporters” on Thursdays is also one of the highlights of our week,” Speros said. “Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban are extremely knowledgeable and entertaining, and our customers enjoy their in-depth discussions and guests. Velocity 5 is all about great food and great sports in Northern Virginia, and being on the “inside” with the Redskins, Chris Russell and ‘The Sports Reporters’ is a major part of our sports concept. We are looking forward to another great season with ESPN 980 and the Redskins. We encourage our fans and customers to come on out for these broadcasts and be part of the action all season long! This is a great opportunity for fans to come out and meet the Redskins players, take pictures and get autographs.”

“Monday Night Live” will be broadcast from 7:00 – 8:00 PM on Monday nights beginning on Monday, September 10th, following the Redskins season opener against New Orleans. “The Sports Reporters” will debut on Thursday, September 13th, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM.

A special edition of “Monday Night Live” will be broadcast on Wednesday, September 5th from the Velocity 5 Sports Restaurant in Lansdowne at 7:00 PM prior to the NFL season opening game between the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys.

For more information about this press release, contact Elysa Leonard, Splash Communications, LLC, at 571-426-5145, or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).   See the original press release at “Gateway to Loudoun”, Loudoun’s longest-running online community business blog.