What is Go-Digital?
Go-Digital is a short course to introduce business owners to trading online. The free course ran live between January - July 2017. Materials (videos / posts) will still be accessible until March 2018, however only minimal support will be available after July 2017.
Delivery of the course involved face to face workshops, online materials, Q&A sessions held by Webinar / teleconference, and ongoing support throughout the six-month period. Materials were provided in a modular format and participants have the freedom to select the sections they require, or go through all of the content.
The course walks people through step-by-step video instructions on elements of trading online such as building a simple website, or how to outsource this, how to use social media to attract customers, how to use Etsy, and how to photograph products.
The end-goal is to provide businesses with the knowledge and ability to sell their goods and services online through a fully-functioning and easy-to-use e-commerce website.
Why did we do this project?
Regional Development Australia Northern Inland is committed to encouraging growth in the region. The project provides businesses with additional skills to grow and / or create alternative opportunities in a changing marketplace.
This project was funded by the Murray-Darling Basin Regional Economic Diversification Programme.
Face-to-Face Workshops
The face-to-face workshops concluded in April 2017. The online materials are still available until March 2018 and Tiffany is available one day per week for questions or assistance.
Signup For Free Training
Access a selection of free modules from the Full Go Digital Course by clicking below.
Learn how to take your business online even if using computers terrifies you. Easy step-by-step video instructions.
Curriculum
Module 1: Introduction to Online Business and the Course
- Delivered by Face-to-Face Workshop
- Overview of Online Business options
- Who is it suitable for?
- Is it too late to learn?
- Options for the budget conscious
- Options for the technology-shy
- Options for the ‘I want someone else to do it - where do I start? ’
- How to stay secure while trading online
- Overview of the free course
Module 2: How to Build a Website in Squarespace
- Delivered over 4 weeks of video instructions
- Do I need a website?
- Positives and Negatives of having a website
- Step-by-Step exactly how to start, build, add information in Squarespace
- How to create a blog
- How to create an online store
- Q&A session at end of Module (can join via computer or phone) recorded replay available)
Module 3: How to use a Blog to attract Customers
- Delivered over 2 weeks of video instructions
- Do you need a blog? Options for and against
- How to research and plan posts so people will find them
- How to write posts
- How to optimise for Search Engines
- Types of Content
- How often to post
- How to create a content calendar
- Q&A session at end of Module (can join via computer or phone) recorded replay available)
Module 4: How to use Social Media to attract Customers
- Delivered over 3 weeks of video instructions
- Benefits of social media for business
- Negatives of social media
- How social media can be used in place of a website
- Which social media is best for your business
- How to use Facebook effectively without wasting hours
- How to use Instagram for business
- How to use Twitter for Business
- How to automate social media posts and have time for other things
- Q&A session at end of Module (can join via computer or phone) recorded replay available)
Module 5: How to create an Etsy Store
- Delivered over 3 weeks of video instructions
- Why Etsy?
- Benefits / Negatives of using Etsy to sell
- Step-by-step how to create a store, add products, add ‘About Me’ info
- Q&A session at end of Module (can join via computer or phone) recorded replay available)
Module 6: How to source or create Imagery for your Website
- Delivered over 2 weeks of video instructions
- Getting started with product photography for your business
- What makes a good image
- How to choose images for your website / blog / social media
- How to source images
- Easy ways to add text to images
- Q&A session at end of Module (can join via computer or phone) recorded replay available)
Module 7: Keeping the Balance in your online Business
- Delivered over 3 weeks of video instructions
- How to keep the balance between content creation and selling
- How to be more productive / effective in the online space
- Where to go for more resources when the course ends
- Q&A session at end of Module (can join via computer or phone) recorded replay available)
About the Facilitator:
Tiffany Gilleland moved to the Northern Inland region 20 years ago to study a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and Information Systems.
Since then she has spent 12 years working in Information Technology in the Education sector. Gravitating to entrepreneurial start-ups, she spent 12 months working on social media for an international photography start up, where the CEO had over 10 Million followers on social media.
In 2015, she started working with Regional Development Australia Northern Inland to help local entrepreneurs grow their businesses online. When she’s not working or behind the keyboard, you’ll find her travelling the region with a camera close to hand.
- B Commerce (Marketing and Information Systems)
- 12+ years working in Information Technology, and Education
- 3+ years working in various entrepreneurial start-ups
- 2+ years teaching experience
- 5+ years project management experience