e-NEK Education

The following education was offered as part of the e-NEK project during December 2009 and January 2010.  This education was designed to prepare the contest participants to complete there entries, but was also open to any Northeast Kingdom business or resident.  No further Internet Biz 2010 workshops are scheduled at this time, however, the slides from these workshops are available through the links below. 

There are additional education offerings available which provide basic business and Internet topics.  Please see Other Resources and Education for more information on these courses.

Business Use of the Internet 101

Goal: introduce the students to a range of Internet uses and how they could help a small business

Level: introductory only; describe each usage, show an example, and briefly cover the costs and benefits

Topics:

  • An overview of various small business uses of the Internet, including:
    • Market research
    • Web presence
    • e-commerce
    • Social networking
    • Involving your customers
    • Imbedding content on your web site
    • RSS feeds
    • Internal uses
    • Collaboration with customers, business partners, or employees
    • Supplier services
    • Monitoring
  • Choosing and planning Internet use that is good for your business
  • Resources to help you with this

Note:  Slides presented at this workshop and presenter notes can be viewed at Business Use of the Internet 101 Presentation.  If you have a slow Internet connection or cannot view the slides for any reason they are available as a PDF at Business Use of the Internet 101 Presentation PDF.

e-Commerce: Dollars and Sense

Goal: introduce students to the tasks involved in setting up an e-commerce site, its ongoing operation, and how this affects the rest of the business

Level: assume students have seen/used e-commerce and have a basic understanding of a brick-and-mortar retail or wholesale businesses

Topics:

  • Types of e-commerce (eBay, shared site such as artist guild, contact and we’ll talk, shopping cart)
  • Define your online marketplace (who would order what from you online – may be different from store sales)
  • Needed supporting services (shipping, returns, inventory storage, customer service, online payment)
  • Setting up an e-commerce site
  • Keeping your site and inventory current (out of stock, seasonal)
  • Bringing customers to the online store (very brief about online marketing – there will be a separate class)

Note: Slides presented at this workshop can be viewed at e-Commerce Dollars and Sense Presentation. If you have a slow Internet connection or cannot view the slides for any reason they are available as a PDF at e-Commerce Dollars and Sense Presentation PDF.

Internet Marketing

Goal: introduce students to marketing on the Internet, attracting customers to their web sites, and integrating Internet marketing into their overall marketing plans

Level: assumes students have a basic knowledge of marketing, and has a product or service which they wish to market on the Internet

Topics:

  • Importance of a marketing plan and budget
  • Define your online customers (who, where, what are they looking for)
  • Define your online products (may be different from store)
  • Define your online marketing message (and how it integrates with the overall plan)
  • Links to your web site (industry organizations, local chambers, directories, social networking sites)
  • Using social networking to market (Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc.)
  • Making your web site visible (search engine optimization)
    • Domain name
    • Text
    • Labels and headings
    • Internal web stuff (meta tags, titles, etc.)
  • What should the average business owner do, and what should a professional do?
  • Keeping your web site fresh
  • Measuring and tracking the success of your Internet marketing

Note:  Slides presented at this workshop can be viewed at Internet Marketing Presentation.  If you have a slow Internet connection or cannot view the slides for any reason they are available as a PDF at Internet Marketing Presentation PDF.

Schedule and Locations

Each topic was presented in classroom sessions in Newport and St. Johnsbury/Lyndonville, and also as a webinar.  A webinar allows you to see the presentation materials on a web connection while you hear the lecture on a telephone line.  You may also ask questions through the web session.  This will work with a dial-up Internet connection, but you will need a separate telephone connection to hear the lecture.

Schedule:

  • Business Use of the Internet 101:
    • Tuesday, December 15, 2009 from 8 to 10 a.m. – St. Johnsbury
    • Wednesday, December 16, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m. – Newport
    • Thursday, December 17, 2009 from 8 to 10 – webinar

Note:  Additional sessions of this workshop have not been scheduled.  Slides presented at the workshop and presenter notes can be viewed at Business Use of the Internet 101 Presentation.  If you have a slow Internet connection or cannot view the slides for any reason they are available as a PDF at Business Use of the Internet 101 Presentation PDF.

  • Internet Marketing:
    • Tuesday, January 5, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. – Newport
    • Wednesday, January 6, 2010 from 8 to 10 a.m. – webinar
    • Thursday, January 7, 2010 from 8 to 10 a.m. – St. Johnsbury

Note:  Additional sessions of this workshop have not been scheduled.  Slides presented at the workshop can be viewed at Internet Marketing Presentation.  If you have a slow Internet connection or cannot view the slides for any reason they are available as a PDF at Internet Marketing Presentation PDF.

  • e-Commerce:
    • Tuesday, January 12, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. – St. Johnsbury
    • Wednesday, January 13, 2010 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Newport
    • Thursday, January 14, 2010 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. – webinar

Note: Additional sessions of this workshop have not been scheduled. Slides presented at this workshop can be viewed at e-Commerce Dollars and Sense Presentation. If you have a slow Internet connection or cannot view the slides for any reason they are available as a PDF at e-Commerce Dollars and Sense Presentation PDF.

Newport Location:

Emory Hebard State Office Building

Vincent Illuzzi Conference Room

100 Main Street, Room 250

Newport, VT

St. Johnsbury/Lyndonville Industrial Park Location:

Charles E. Carter Business Center

Large Conference Room

1713 Industrial Parkway

Lyndonville, VT