Market your business online

Illawarra ITeC is about to spread its wings and offer wider services as the result of an Australian Government funding offer and the organisation’s Business Development Manager Virginia Wren couldn’t be happier.

Virginia says the extra funding will allow Illawarra ITeC to offer free workshops, seminars and online training to small business operators.

“This will help small businesses learn how to market their business online and/or extend their current website to meet a whole new customer base,” she says.

Virginia, who has been employed as a Business Adviser / Business Development Manager for the last seven years, came to her role after serving as Executive Officer of the Illawarra Area Consultative Committee.

She says there are a lot of small business operators who don’t understand how to market their business online, maybe don’t have the funds to pay for a new website, or who would just like to further develop their skills in this area.

“It’s all about working smarter not harder,” she says.

“The Stepping Up Online project, an initiative funded through AusIndustry’s Small Business Online Program, will allow small business operators to increase their skills from a very basic level of online marketing through to master class. This will be done through a series of seminars, workshops and online training available FREE of charge.

“There will be three options available for small businesses to get involved in the new ‘Stepping Up … from basics to masterclass’ program: Getting Started Online, which is a free half-day seminar. Also on offer is Stepping Up Online, a free half-day workshop and they can also tap into Advanced Marketing Online with our online training.”

The first Getting Started Online seminar will be held in Wollongong this week on Friday, May 7 starting 9.30m at the 313 Theatre Coniston – bookings essential.

Further seminars and workshops will be held in Mittagong, Nowra, Parramatta/Blacktown, Campbelltown, Narellan, Sutherland, and on the far South Coast at Batemans Bay and Merimbula.  

Gaining knowledge  

The Getting Started Online seminar will offer basic knowledge, support and encouragement for small businesses to enter and effectively operate online through their own website.

Virginia says it will go as far as teaching people how to establish a website, learn the basic tools to establish an online presence and be able to utilise all the web based business services available such as BAS online, Pay–Pal and eBanking.

The Stepping Up Online workshop will allow business owners to gain a more complex knowledge of how to negotiate the web based activities and boost their confidence in what they are developing to actually meet their real business needs.

The Advanced Marketing Online training is more likely to help more experienced businesses who have possibly had a website for some years and who want to move into serious e-marketing using the latest techniques by doing it themselves rather than having to pay for a website developer.

Virginia says anyone interested in finding out more information about the Stepping Up Online Project should visit the website www.itecelearning.com.au and register online asap as places at the free seminars are filling up fast. 

Alternatively you can phone Jessica Lendich on 1300 166 694 to find out further information she added.