With the assistance of SBDC, this training program will assist brick-and-mortar businesses with “Creating a Digital Presence”. Each small business will learn how to set up an online profile through Google, reach out to customers for a Google review, and learn how to create and post on Facebook and/or Instagram. The program will also teach participants how to use paid and non-paid advertising to generate leads that turn into sales. The program will culminate with business owners receiving a small grant to put towards online advertising that will potentially generate customer traffic.
The program will consist of two steps. Step 1 will focus on building a digital presence over four weeks. Step 2 will cover the unique paid/non-paid advertising channels, helping each business decide what is the most beneficial path for them. All sessions will take place in a group format and will be coupled with individual one-on-one consulting with SBDC consultants. Sessions will occur in-person or virtually based on current health and safety protocols related to COVID-19 in place at the time of the session. Sessions conducted in additional languages will be provided separately on an as-needed basis.
Each business owner will be assigned a SBDC business consultant to assist them with their paid advertising platform. The SBDC consultant will provide one-on-one assistance, customized to each business’ needs. The SBDC will continue to work with each client through the program and beyond. Every quarter, the SBDC will track and measure the success of each business as they deploy their marketing campaigns. The SBDC will track change in sales, jobs created, and increase in customer traffic.