The Small Business Online Program 

Our simple goal is to enable small businesses to get online, maximize the potential of the web presence and engage in e-business through the presentation of user-friendly material that will be easily accessible at times convenient to those who choose to participate.

The Small Business Online Program will be delivered using an integrated yet flexible learning approach consisting of live introductory/overview seminars and workshops interwoven with online learning assignments downloaded from the Small Business Online Qld web site.

About This Web Site

The Small Business Online Qld web site will be a repository of information and learning resources for small business owners. The program is currently in it's initial development phase and as the program develops the web site will aid the development of small and micro business understanding of the importance of having a professional web presence, how to get online, how to effectively market their web site and their business, and how to use eCommerce and other web applications to improve business performance. This web site will be the central platform for information sharing and learning within the Small Business Online Program.

The web site can be accessed by anyone, however to participate in the program, whether through the face to face seminars or directly online, you need to officially register. The online components of this program can be accessed 24/7. Participants have three options to raise questions about content… posting a question online to be answered by the resident mentor, telephoning a central number or raising the question at a face to face group mentoring session. All learning content is to be an online experience thereby making sure that face to face time is used effectively to respond to individual needs.

Those who wish to access information from the site without participating in the structured training can register with us now to receive eNewsletters and Online Updates. This web site is intended to become a prime destination for small business both regionally and nationally and will be linked with other regional providers of the Small Business Online program.

Please note that this program will not pay for developing a small business web site. If an operator wishes his mentor or any other web site developer to build or change a web site, then the business must pay. We will however, be encouraging associated web developers to offer a discounted service for work that comes as a result of this program.

Small Business Online Qld Activities

The material we propose to deliver via seminars and online learning material will fall under four main headings:

1. Your Business Online – The Foundations
2. Defining Your Web Site
3. Building Your Web Site
4. Marketing Your Web Site

Through our integrated, phased, program the content can be delivered using a combination of the following methods:

1. Demonstrations/info sessions – breakfasts/luncheons to focus small business on available online applications (groups)
2. General Business assessments to identify specific areas that can be improved by online applications
3. Q & A sessions with “expert panels” based on identified needs (groups)
4. IT systems mentoring by IT “experts” for business specific requirements (one on one)
5. Online interactive learning coupled with Dial a Mentor (one on one)
6. Periodic Online Q & A webinars
7. On-going reviews to provide feedback and encouragement (one on one)
8. Periodic articles in Quest Newspapers and eNewsletters

If you would like to get involved in this program please register with us now and we keep you updated on material as it becomes available on the web site and seminars as dates are confirmed.