New Ventures Maine is launching an online, on-demand Grow Your Business Online course designed to provide small business owners the tools, skills and mentorship to build a successful digital presence. This course is a partnership with the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) and GoDaddy.

Grow Your Business Online will be offered beginning January 12 as an on-demand, online format. For participants who desire a facilitated experience, the course will be offered “live” and online in April, June, and September.

Using an online platform, entrepreneurs will complete lessons on topics that drill down their company’s brand, determine the most effective website type, create captivating content, engage best practices for getting to the top of search results, create and build a website, make the social media/website connection, use email marketing to grow sales, and understand cybersecurity to keep customer information safe. 

As part of the program, entrepreneurs receive free tools including a domain name, hosting package, web builder, branded email address, email marketing solution, and SEO for a two-year term. Business owners taking part in the program will have access to their choice of three (3) remote coaching sessions live with GoDaddy experts in April, June and September. Remote working/lab sessions are strategically scheduled for participating entrepreneurs to network and troubleshoot in a remote group environment as they develop their online presence.

“A digital presence is a requirement for today’s businesses,” said Karin Petrin, in a news release. Petrin is the business advisor and microenterprise specialist for New Ventures Maine and one of the facilitators of the workshops notes.

“This course will help business owners create an online presence from foundational digital content creation through complete development of a functional website,” she said. “We are excited to bring this free program and connection to global digital marketing experts to Maine’s rural entrepreneurs.”

Pre-registration is required and available online at bit.ly/classesnvme.

For more information or to register, contact Karin Petrin, Microenterprise Specialist at New Ventures Maine at 768-9468 or karin.petrin@maine.edu. There is no fee for the training.

New Ventures Maine is a statewide organization serving all 16 counties from six (6) locations and twelve (12) outreach centers. New Ventures Maine creates an empowering environment for Maine people to define and achieve their career, financial, and small business goals. Through tuition-free classes and individual coaching, they help people find good jobs, start or return to college, launch small businesses, manage their money and build their assets. All interactive classes and workshops are available online. Individual appointments are available by video conference or phone.

For more information on these classes and other programs and services offered by New Ventures Maine, visit newventuresmaine.com.