Get Connected is part of the Shelburne County eSmart initiative. The program is specifically designed to empower rural-based small businesses in Shelburne County, Nova Scotia to explore, develop and implement a growth strategy using web-based technologies. GetConnected will give you the knowledge you require to make strategic business decisions about when and how to invest in your online presence. This four-month program aims to provide participating business owners with the tools and skills they need to connect with new customers both locally and worldwide.
Learn more about:
- Business issues related to expanding into new markets
- How to use the Internet for market research and assessing your competition
- What makes an effective website
- Developing a social media strategy and tapping into the benefits of sites such as Facebook and Twitter
- Online advertising and email newsletters
- How to track and measure the success of your online presence
- eCommerce.
By participating in GetConnected business planning sessions, online learning modules and hands-on skill development activities, you will learn how to use the Internet's tools to grow your business.
Program Details
The program runs from November 2011 to March 2012 and includes the following components:
- Application and selection process.
- Online learning modules and activities covering the following topics:
- A two-day business development workshop and introduction to eMarketing at the CBDC offices in Shelburne on Tuesday, November 14th and 15th, 2011.
- Using the Internet to size up the competition and explore new markets.
- Trade and export issues related to market growth.
- Branding and Sustainability issues to consider when you expand your business into new markets.
- Online Marketing: websites, effective design, usability, search engine optimization, designing for conversion, analyzing traffic.
- Social Media: using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube. Measuring your Social Media ROI
- Online communication tools and email newsletters.
- Advertising including Google Adwords, Facebook and others.
- Introduction to eCommerce.
- Development of a growth strategy facilitated by an ACSBE business counselor.
During the program experts in several topic areas will provide guidance and be available to answer your questions.
Program Investment
The program costs $200 plus HST.
Business Commitment
Either you or a designated person in your business must commit to the program throughout its four-month duration. The time required to complete each online module will vary, but you should expect to spend at least eight hours a week for each module. Some modules will last two weeks.
The deadline to register for the program is October 20, 2011. Interested entrpereneurs can find out more by contacting Shelburne CBDC Executive Director Dixie Redmond at 875.1133 or Dixie.Redmond@cbdc.ca
