WebSite101 Course Outline & Description

Course Outline & Description: Web presence strategies for the Small Business professional. This course concentrates on key ingredients for a successful web site, from chosing an effective and useful domain name, site building essentials, definitions of important terms, community building techniques, effective strategies for search engine placement, newsletter and ezine production and finally the mechanics of home office emphasizing web resources like online billing and recordkeeping services, use of efax, time management, incorporation. It is about an overall comprehensive approach to online business having a focus on the entrepreneur rather than the corporate behemoth.

Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, entrepreneurs will fully understand the following:

1. Developing a solid niche for your business online and avoiding the "Buy your widget from me!" mentality through niche marketing to become, "Buy your multicolored, flex widget with bluetooth technology at BlueToothWidget."
   
   
2. Learning to refine and extend your niche to the world through helpfulness marketing, networking, virtual joint ventures, viral marketing partnerships and affiliation models.
   
   
3. How to keep the customer on your site by enlightening, entertaining and surprising them with valuable information. How to get them to return for more and keep them interested in your business above that of your competition.
   
   
4. Determine the appropriate online tools for effective ecommerce, including autoresponders, email handling, search facility, database tools, contact management and list building, archiving, shopping cart technology, secure online transactions, invoicing, billing and community building tools.
   
   
5. Establishing effective privacy practices and policies to establish trust with your online customer by keeping their information secure and protected. Third party seal programs for privacy monitoring and maintenance and available tools for keeping information inviolate.
   
   
6. How to extend your reach through newsletter production and list building, article writing and distribution, press releases online and advertising to highly targeted markets. Guerrilla marketing tactics for shoestring budgets.
   
   Assessment
   
   
   • The student will demonstrate an understanding of ecommerce business practices by developing a strategy for a fictitious ebusiness using elements covered in course.
     
     
   • By developing a minimum 8 page site (can be done in text in word processor document) using the essential elements outlined in the course and describing tools used to implement their strategy.
     
     
   • By completing an exam covering materials presented in the course and demonstrating understanding of key elements.
     
     Timeline:
     
   • Week #1
     In this lesson we will define the terms used in ecommerce, become familiar with core concepts and take a virtual tour of effective online businesses viewing components of ebusiness first-hand. Becoming familiar with customer experience online and seeing what works and what doesn't in ecommerce strategy. Familiarity with browser differences and stumbling blocks to effective online interaction with the customer such as page load times, multimedia use and clearly understandable site navigation.
     
     
   • Week #2
     This week is dedicated to understanding the niche market and how to make your product or service interesting, valuable and engaging for that targeted market. Clarifying who buys what you offer and how to find them online through networking, virtual joint venture projects and cooperative development of business ideas. Developing community with like-minded entrepreneurs and engaging in speculative cooperation, group brainstorming and gathering of diverse talent. How to find resources and share your knowledge with others.
     
     
   • Week #3
     This week is for defining your business goals and outlining an implementation plan while learning of available tools such as autoresponders, online forms, email handling, search facility, database tools, contact management and list building, archiving, shopping cart technology, secure online transactions, invoicing, billing and community building tools. More virtual tours to see these tools in action. Begin building your site using each of the tools.
     
     
   • Week #4
     This week is devoted to building the ecommerce site using discussed tools and strategies for either a fictitious business or your own. Effective search engine positioning and submission practices, community building, list building, newsletter production, customer interaction through online tools, marketing practices online and how to begin and then manage each of these.
     
     
   • Week #5
     Presenting completed project sites (or documents mocking up site) and assessing effectiveness of online tools used and ease of navigation and site usability. Take written exam covering course lecture material. Presenting sample newsletter for customer contact and retention.