Seminar to help local businesses boost online sales
THE Local Enterprise Office Wicklow has organised an upcoming seminar on trading online which will take place at Wicklow County Campus, Rathnew.
Consumer behaviour is changing and online spending is increasing rapidly so there is a big opportunity for Irish businesses to grow and access a wider market, expand their business and create more jobs. Statistics suggest that only 32 per cent of small companies are engaged in e-commerce sales in Ireland and that 70 per cent of the €850,000 spent online by Irish consumers per hour is going overseas.
In response to this, a ‘ Trading Online Voucher’ scheme, financed by the Department of Communications, Climate Change and Environment, was set up to encourage small businesses to develop their online presence through a website or digital marketing strategy by availing of a Trading Online Voucher of up to €2,500 or 50 per cent of their eligible expenditure.
Applicants for the Trading Online Voucher must attend a trading online information sem- inar and LEO Wicklow will be hosting one of these free seminars with trainer Noel Davidson of The Entrepreneurs Academy Ltd takes place Tuesday, January 23, from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
The programme will cover how to spend your voucher wisely, how to target customers, barriers to being online, how to be visible in online searches, setting up your website, a live demo on building a website and social media marketing and how to develop a digital marketing strategy for your business.
Participants will also be advised on how to fill the application and how to draw down the voucher if suc- cessful.
LEO Wicklow runs a number of these seminars throughout the year.
Businesses looking to apply for the Trading Online Voucher must be trading for a minimum of 12 months to qualify, employ less than 10 employees and be located in County Wicklow.
For more information on the upcoming seminar or the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, call the LEO Wicklow on (0404) 30800.