Small Business
If you are interested in obtaining copies of these materials, or if you would like a regional coordinator to present on any of these topics, please contact your regional coordinator. Refer to About Us for contact information.
A Beginner's Guide to e-Commerce -
(Online Module)
The objective of this training is to prepare and encourage people to begin small-scale Internet-based and e-commerce selling activities as a means to enhance economic growth. Adequate preparation for entering into e-commerce activities involves first stimulating belief and confidence in the ability to use e-commerce to achieve personal goals and provide examples of success stories in which similar people have used basic e-commerce activities to sell home-produced products. As clients recognize the value of their personal life skills that can be used to produce value-added products that could be sold through e-commerce they begin to see the possibility for opportunity. Starting with simple approaches to e-commerce, such as selling on online auction sites is an excellent starting point for the client seeking to generate "extra" money from personal skills.
Connecting Communitites -
(Online Module)
Connecting the community and its members to the world through the Internet is becoming increasingly essential for community vitality. Yet, within rural communities, this task can be challenging. Connecting Communities, the most recently released curriculum in the National E-Commerce Initiative, is designed to help rural communities conquer this challenge. Developed by William Shuffstall, Sheila Sager, Rae Montgomery, & Dana Noonan, this guide is designed to enhance the use and adoption of information technology tools and infrastructure in rural communities.
Direct Marketing Food Specialty Products -
(Online Module)
The curriculum, revised by Connie Hancock, Jay Jenkins, and Jennifer Nixon, University of Nebraska Extension; and Glenn Muske, North Dakota State University Extension, hopes to increase the number of food producers implementing one or more online marketing strategies. The new ZMag format engages, for example, grocery store, gift shop, or food specialty shop owners who would like to sell directly to the consumer, with interactive content such as videos, interesting links and a host of additional resources.
Doing Business in the Cloud
-
(Presentation)
Take advantage of multiple cloud-based applications for small businesses including backup, accounting, marketing, invoicing, and many more. This presentation provides a definition, characteristics, and concerns and benefits of the cloud as well as popular cloud applications for small businesses.
Electronic Retailing: Selling on the Internet - (Online Module)
This self-paced course will introduce potential etailers to the concepts that govern conducting online business and sales. Using interactions, such as games, simulations and you-fix-it case studies, participants will learn the basics of selling online, from understanding what motivates consumer decisions and trends to making practical choices for efficiency. This course is suitable for Extension educators and clientele alike.
Getting your Business On the Map -
(Presentation)
Does your business appear on Google Maps? What about MapQuest? Yelp? This presentation provides a hands on approach to make sure your business appears on these mapping services every time a potential customer searches for your small business products/services.
Helping Artisans Reach Global Markets - (Online Module)
The purpose of this Program is to provide educational information to crafters (artisans) on the benefits and methods of utilizing e-commerce to strengthen their businesses. The content of the course provide artisans with sound, research-based information to make decisions on whether or not to develop a Web page, how to do it, utilize resources, and evaluate effectiveness. Though the benefits of e-commerce are well documented, there are limitations to its effectiveness in some cases.
Marketing Your Business Online - (Presentation)
Want to attract more visitors to your website and increase sales? This presentation goes over a six-step process to more effectively market your business online ranging from better understanding your customers to tracking progress and adjusting your online marketing strategy.
Mobile e-Commerce
- (Presentation)
This presentation provides multiple strategies for small businesses to tap into the fast growing mobile market. Strategies to accomplish this includes adapting your website to mobile customers, improving online marketing, utilizing social media, QR Codes, digital coupons, and more.
Turning a Profit Online - Using eBay and Paypal to Sell Your Small Business -
(Powerpoint)
A critical part of running a business is marketing. Online presence is a great marketing tool providing businesses with an around the clock presence but also being able to receive online payments safely. This topic focuses on the steps to setup accounts in popular sites such as eBay and PayPal.
Objective: Learn to setup eBay and PayPal accounts for businesses.
Security Squad: Keeping your Equipment and Information Safe -
(Online Module)
Understanding why security is needed is the first step to better securing your business and data. For a small business, a breach in data security can result in serious financial consequences. Being aware of the potential security risks helps you minimize your risks and leads you to take proactive steps to solve the potential problems. The Security Squad Video Series was produced to help the small business owner formulate a plan of action to address security concerns. The videos and supplemental workbook activities will help address areas that affect the security of your business and customer information.