Internet marketing workshop in Middleton Oct. 27

Expert Internet marketing know-how can be hard to come by, particularly when you're working flat out at running your own business. So, in celebration of Small Business Week 2009, the Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia (BRNS) initiative, with support from the Department of Economic and Rural Development's Community and Rural Division, is sponsoring internet marketing workshops in rural Nova Scotia. The speakers are all members of the Atlantic Canada Internet Marketing Association (ACIMA).

The local workshop will take place on October 27, from 9:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., at the NSCC Annapolis Valley Campus in Middleton. This full day of learning and networking costs just $79 plus tax, which includes lunch and copies of all the presentations to take home and share with your employees and colleagues.

The workshops will provide opportunities for group learning as well as free, expert, one-on-one advice. Topics include: * Making a Bad Website Good, with Rob Swick from AlphaSearch Internet Marketing: What makes a good website so effective? Rob will show you what makes a website strong, how to evaluate your own website (or think about building one), and some of the key ideas you'll need to keep in mind. * Social Media for Small Business, with Jeff White from BrightWhite Design Group: Jeff will walk you through the ups and downs of Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, RSS and other websites that could help you promote your business, locally and globally. * Winning New Customers using Search Marketing, with Peter Sickles fromAlphaSearch: Peter will explain how search marketing works, what you need to do to direct increased search traffic to your website, and how to win customers looking for your product & services. * Tactics, Tools, & Tricks, with ACIMA experts: Every Internet marketer has their own bag of online tricks and tips. From ways to advertise yourself for free, to online tools you can use to measure your site's performance, our panel will show you their favourite online tools, and tactics ideal for small businesses. * Email Marketing from Start to Finish, with Steve Lionais of ISL: Email campaigns generate an average return of $48.29 for every $1 spent; Steve will teach you everything you need to get your email marketing program up and running. * Live Website Reviews, with ACIMA experts: The workshop will conclude with live 'website review' sessions allowing you to have your website reviewed. Attendees will apply what they have learned to their own website. * Private Consultations, with ACIMA experts: Throughout the day, attendees will be able to sign up for free, private 1-on-1 consulting about their own website or Internet marketing plans. These sessions will be held in a separate room next to the main workshop room.

Currently, a promotion is offered for those who wish to attend one of the workshops. When registering online, a business or organization can use the code "highspeedns" to take advantage of a discounted registration fee of $49 plus tax, which includes lunch and copies of all the presentations to take home and share with employees and colleagues.

To secure your place on this innovative seminar call the Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia initiative at (902) 424-0183.