Council helps business get digitally savvy
Winchester City Council is offering small businesses the chance to perfect their on-line marketing.
Digital Business Skills is a tailor-made suite of three training sessions specifically designed to help small businesses develop their knowledge of the internet, social media and the benefits of getting their business online.
The training courses are being repeated due to their popularity when the courses were initially run this spring. Winchester City Council is providing this training free of charge to any Winchester District-based small- or medium-sized businesses located in Alresford, Bishop’s Waltham, Denmead, Wickham, Winchester and the rural parts of its District.
The Digital Business Skills training programme could help your business to: increase your online presence and become more competitive; find and engage with new customers; increase your customer base; widen your geographic reach; access new markets and improve sales and profits.
All three free workshops take place at Guildhall Winchester from 4pm to 8pm and are run by the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM). The first session on Thursday 10 September entitled Understand your customer and digital marketing covers the important basics of marketing right through to online channels.
Developing your business online is the subject of the second session on Thursday 24 September. This gives an introduction to online, e-commerce and multi-channel marketing.
The final session on Thursday October, Grow your business through Social Media, gives an introduction to blogs, social media and rich content which will keep your customers engaged with your business. By the end of this session delegates will know how to use the main media channels to promote and grow their business, understand the issues of Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and how to blog effectively.
For maximum benefit, it is recommended businesses sign up to all three modules.
Lyn Symonds, from Creative Crafts, a retailer of hobby and craft materials in
Winchester, who attended the training courses held last spring, said:
This training will invigorate the desire to do more with online marketing.
Cllr James Byrnes, Winchester City Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Local Economy, added:
The training should benefit start-up businesses, established businesses wanting to enhance their on-line presence as well as sole traders and entrepreneurs. From developing a website to using email marketing and social media, the Digital Business Skills training will equip businesses with the skills they need to benefit from the rapid growth of e-tailing and ultimately increase their bottom line.
Places are limited to one per business and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis so book early to avoid disappointment. A cancellation charge of £85 is applicable for attendees who register but do not attend.
To find out more about the course content or book your place, please visit: www.winchester.gov.uk/business/business-support-advice/training-networking/. Alternatively you can contact the Economy and Arts team at Winchester City Council at businessgrants@winchester.gov.uk