09:00AM - Session 1: Online Technology Tools: Moving Your Business Online
This first session examines the exciting new world of cloud-based applications, and how these free or low cost, easy-to-use technology tools can be leveraged by small business. The intention of this session is to demonstrate the wide variety of choice available for online, on-demand computing, and to show that local server/desktop based IT infrastructure, together with its associated operational/maintenance costs, may no longer necessary for either startups or larger small businesses. Traditional objections regarding security/reliability/accessibility will be examined with examples to show how these can be overcome.

 

Some of the applications/services covered will include: 

Google Apps, Google Voice, Yugma, Freeconference, Skype, Basecamp, OpenOffice, Zoho CRM, Box.net, Dropbox, Mozy, Live Mesh, QuickBooks Online, Freshbooks, Working Point, Ping

10:45AM - Break. Complimentary beverages provided

11:00AM - Session 2: Email Marketing: The Basics & Beyond
This second session covers: all the steps to put together a successful email marketing infrastructure through the example of a single email marketing campaign, and then goes beyond the basics to show more sophisticated email marketing techniques such as split lists, Google Analytics integration, and social networking integration.

Some of the applications/services covered will include:

Vertical Response, Google Analytics

 

01:00PM - Lunch. Complimentary lunch provided

 

01:30PM - Session 3: Using Social Networking For Your Small Business

This third session covers the importance of social networking as an integrated marketing tool for small business. This session covers the main aspects of marketing using social networking tools, and how to establish a true online/offline dialogue with clients. The session examines the best social networking tools to use in a business context, and how to leveraging existing social networks for marketing. Includes: Networking basics, online and offline; The importance of "mavens"; How to construct a "pitch", and how to get a networking conversation started; The difference between the popular online social networks such as LinkedIn, FaceBook, and Twitter; The 5 phases of "doing" social media; About online personas and how to control them; How to avoid the 4 most common social networking mistakes; In depth techniques for the effective use of the common social networking platforms; and how to tie it all together in a marketing strategy.

 

Some of the applications/services covered will include:

LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Ping

 

03:30PM - Break. Complimentary beverages provided

 

03:45PM Session 3 (Cont.)

04:40PM - Bonus Session: Tying It All Together

The wrap-up session will be a practically based session demonstrating a variety of “road-maps” for small businesses that either making the transition to online computing or in startup mode. This session is intended to reinforce the learning of the prior 3 sessions via real-world examples and specific, actionable recommendations.

 

05:00PM - Finish