Regardless of the ups and downs of the "new technology" businesses on the stock market, it is still clear that the Internet, B2B (Business to Business), and eCommerce will be a part of the success of today’s business world. There is a lesson to be learned from the last month’s activities on the stock market, though. The online businesses that are struggling are those which exist only in cyberspace. Take an existing physical business, add an Internet storefront that is dynamic, well managed, and interesting, and success is a realistic possibility. According to eMarketer there is a slow trend towards the Internet by small businesses.

* MORE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ONLINE, BUT WITH AMBIVALENCE How well are small businesses taking to the web? After all, with about 7 million active small businesses in the US alone, they ought to have a sizable impact on e-business. The 19th annual Dun & Bradstreet Small Business Survey, conducted in February and March 2000, found that US small businesses continue to proceed cautiously onto the internet. Nonetheless, they are definitely increasing their online presence. The basic shifts noted this year include: 70% of small businesses now have net access, up from 57% during the previous survey; 38% have web pages or sites, a 10% gain over 1999; 38% having websites transacted business, a modest gain from 33% last year.

Making that hit in the eCommerce world can actually seem very confusing and appears to be difficult. Most important, it’s hard for a business to maintain their web presence, and at times costly, if you have to hire or contract with a web development firm. The purpose of this seminar is to provide that knowledge and expertise to begin managing, promoting and developing your own eCommerce site. The emphasis is placed on those capabilities needed to open a store, create that inventory, manage the sales, and promote the store on an ongoing basis. We want just talk about it, we’ll do it, so you can go back to your place of business and takeover or create your own eCommerce capabilities.

What you will leave with:

• An appreciation of the impact of your eCommerce on your business.
• Knowing more about the Internet and the potential of the Internet.
• Able to select the resources needed to support an eCommerce capability.
• Planning an eCommerce presence that goes beyond your user’s and your expectations while also planning for problems.
• Practice at creating that storefront on the Internet, including creating that appealing, "keep coming back" look of your front door, creating your inventory, managing the inventory, and presenting your inventory to your customers, taking orders online by informing your customers of your policies for protection of information, capturing credit card/online check orders, and promoting your store locally and outside of your market area.
• Review of sales tax guidelines for the Internet and how to manage the changing nature of government concerns.
• Keeping contact with your visitors and customers well after their first visit is always the key to future sales. Find out how you can encourage their return visits to your eCommerce site.
• Review of other promotional strategies that will lead to capturing even more visitors using other web sources.

Who should attend?:

• Business owners and managers who are considering an eCommerce presence on the web.
• Web consultants looking to go beyond the design and development of informational web sites.
• Community leaders who are looking for away to encourage participation in eCommerce by local small businesses.

Program Faculty

Greg Smith is President of Rural Health Futures, Inc. and the Pratt Telecommunity Center, Inc. Greg has been in the technology field for more than twenty-five years and has extensive experience in technology application development. His computer knowledge, experiences in the health care and economic development fields, and familiarities with rural issues have created many unique opportunities for rural communities. Greg has led the development of many aspects of Internet use that have resulted in the creation of traffic for rural businesses, community shopping malls, and individual storefronts for eCommerce.

For more information about Greg Smith click here >>>

Find out what others have said about the Center’s efforts by clicking here >>>

America Online Foundation on the efforts of the Pratt Telecommunity center >>>

Costs

This seminar will be held at the Pratt Telecommunity Center located at 109 E. Third St. in Pratt, Kansas on Sept. 5th beginning at 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. A 30 minute lunch break is included so that participants can sample Pratt’’s interesting downtown area. Cost for the seminar is $125.00. Class size is limited to ensure that each participant has an adequate opportunity for exploring the technology. Seminar costs include refreshments to be served during morning and afternoon breaks. To register you can call (316) 672-5995 or register online by clicking on the link: register now! For available lodging check the Pratt community web site at www.prattkan.com.